Number Of Tourists In Egypt See Gradual Increase

Number Of Tourists In Egypt See Gradual Increase

A gradual increase in the number of tourists in Egypt has been noted by the tourism minister, Hisham Zaazou. He indicated that tourist arrivals increased by 17 percent in 2012 compared to 2011. Tourism income also saw an increase of 13 percent in the same period.

Although no specific figures were revealed, the percentage point to around the possibility that the number of tourists in Egypt may have reached 11.5 million in 2012. It also resulted to a tourism income of around $9.9 billion.

But the most recent figures are still 22 percent lower compared to the number of tourists in Egypt in 2010. Tourism revenue was also lower by 25 percent compared to 2010.

The January 2011 uprising resulted to the huge reduction in the number of tourists in Egypt. The unrest resulted to the overthrow of the former Egyptian leader, Hosni Mubarak.

Before the Arab Spring, tourism made up around 11 percent of the economy of Egypt. The minister also revealed that the victory of the Muslim Brotherhood in the presidential elections will not affect tourism in Egypt as he supported the protection of the resorts along the Red Sea, where a number of tourists in Egypt would visit.

Zaazou said they performed better than expected when it came to the number of tourists in Egypt. He added that the number of tourists in Egypt in 2013 may reach the same level as 2010.

Even though Zaazou was optimistic in the tourism outlook for Egypt, the second anniversary of the uprising in January 25 will be marked by marches and rallies in Cairo.

A recent advisory from the Foreign Office advised against travel in North Sinai as well as some areas in South Sinai. The resorts in the Red Sea were among the exceptions in the advisory for tourists in Egypt.

Posted by Melanie Mendoza on Friday January 25 2013, 4:47 AM EST. Ref: Telegraph. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Travel. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0