Egypt travel firm 'owed $7.7 million by Thomas Cook'

The London-based news agency cited Blue Sky Group's, chairman, Hossam El-Shaer, who did not give further details about the debt.

Thomas Cook declared bankruptcy last month after it failed to secure a last-ditch rescue, leaving 600,000 tourists stranded worldwide. The 178-year-old firm was the world's oldest tour operator.

The company's sudden closure has caused the loss of tens of thousands of jobs and put the future of hundreds of hotels in jeopardy.

It is estimated that the travel operator has left a sum of around $220 million in unpaid bills, with industry experts saying that the final bill could be much higher.

International impact

According to Blue Sky, Thomas Cook's collapse has led to the cancellation of 25,000 reservations in Egypt booked up to April 2020.

Blue Sky had expected to receive around 100,000 visitors to Egypt next year via Thomas Cook.

The firm, which also ran its own airline, had operations in 16 countries.

The head of Turkey's Hoteliers Federation said last month that the firm's demise could mean 600,000 to 700,000 fewer visitors annually for Turkey. 

Tunisian Tourism Minister Rene Trabelsi also weighed in on the matter, telling Reuters in September that hotels in the country are owed some 60 million euros ($66 million) for stays in July and August by Thomas Cook.

The threat of such dramatic losses saw one resort owner allegedly barricade British tourists inside the Tunisian resort on Saturday night in an attempt to get them to settle their bills.

Turkey's government threatened to take legal action against hotel owners found guilty of evicting tourists or forcing them to pay after the Thomas Cook closure.