Tourists desert Egypt as protests rage

by Tom Little

By Giza’s Great Pyramids, souvenir vendors wait restlessly in the shade, watching for the handful of tourists who still make their way down the empty street to the once-bustling landmark.

Only a few tourists come each day to browse the hundreds of pictures of Egyptian gods and pharoahs that cover the walls.

Morsi’s removal cheered Attiyah. Like many of the vendors, he thought the Morsi government was harming Egypt’s tourist industry, which once accounted for some 10 percent of GDP.

Tourists like Westcott and Gary are increasingly rare.

Surrounded by hundreds of alabaster pyramids, glass ornaments and papyrus scrolls, Manaf said only one or two tourists had visited his shop each day since June 30

He was adamant that the tourism ministry needed to do more to promote Egypt abroad.

Zaazou said he is bullish about the future, and aims to bring 13 million tourists to Egypt this year.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Aug-07/226592-tourists-desert-egypt-as-protests-rage.ashx#ixzz2bGqrYKso
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)