Egypt pleads with Italian tourists to return

The Local (Italy) ^ | 12 Jun 2014 14:02 GMT+02:00

[DeaconBenjamin]

Tour operators in Egypt have this week held a conference to urge Italian tourists to return, after instability in the country prompted a crisis in the travel industry following the 2011 ousting of dictator Hosni Mubarak.

Around 700 tour operators gathered this week at the ‘United for Egypt’ conference held at the Port Ghalib resort, La Stampa reported.

Organizers from both countries hoped the meeting would give a much-needed boost to tourism to Egypt, which has seen a dramatic fall-off in recent years.

“In 2008 in Egypt there were 1,073,159 Italian travellers. That number literally collapsed and in 2013 local tourists to the coast numbered just 504,110,” Hisham Zaazou, Egypt’s tourism minister, was quoted in La Stampa as saying.

The Egyptian tourism industry has been in difficulty since Mubarak was driven out of power in February 2011, after a 30-year rule, prompting fears among travellers of instability in the country.

Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi was elected president the following year, only to be ousted in a military coup in July 2013. Last month Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, a former army general, won fresh presidential elections with a reported 96.9 percent of the vote.

While some tourists have returned to Egypt, Ahmed Abdallah, governor of the Red Sea Governorate, said that Italians were more cautious than other nationalities.

“The influx of Italians is the only one that immediately saw a collapse of dramatic proportions,” he was quoted as saying. “The Russians continued to come, they make up 55 percent of the visitors, and nor have the Germans abandoned [Egypt].”

Paolo Mieli, president of publisher RCS, urged fellow Italians to return to Egypt. “For us Italians this country has for so long signified mystery and fascination...we must return, because this is a bit like our home.”

But the Italian foreign ministry remains wary. “Considering the progressively deteriorating security situation we advise against travel in the entire Sinai peninsula,” the ministry said in its latest travel advisory.

“We advise against all but essential travel in Egypt to a number of places and tourist areas in northern Egypt, the continental coast of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea,” the Italian foreign ministry said.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Well, revolutions, unrest, and ongoing violence do put a damper on tourism, don’t they?

I’ve heard similar talk about how tourism to Mexico is way down, due to the drug cartel violence in Mexico. Unfortunately, you just have to accept that tourists don’t want to go someplace where there are such great dangers.

[jocon307]

I would never voluntarily go to any Muslim country, but I think we need to remember that they quickly threw the Muslim Brotherhood out of power when they appointed as governor (or whatever his title was) of some important tourist area the man who had masterminded the slaughter of several dozen tourists years ago.

Interesting that he was available for the job, but nevertheless the Egyptians said: NO WAY.

And good on them for that.

They know which side their bread is buttered on, which is more than you can say for a lot of people. Esp. many here in the good old USA.

[P-Marlowe]

When Egypt becomes a majority Christian nation, I will consider visiting there. In the meantime I think it is best to avoid all Islamic hell holes.

[Huskrrrr]

I visited Egypt in 2004. Overall a great experience, I was treated well by the locals. I went with several friends who spoke Arabic and felt safe during my entire stay. I definitely would not return today.

[left that other site]

I had always wanted to travel to Egypt, but in recent years, for some reason, the desire has left me.

I can’t possibly imagine WHY!/s

[SunkenCiv]

“In 2008 in Egypt there were 1,073,159 Italian travellers. That number literally collapsed and in 2013 local tourists to the coast numbered just 504,110,” Hisham Zaazou, Egypt’s tourism minister, was quoted in La Stampa as saying... Mubarak was driven out of power in February 2011... Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi was elected president [sic] the following year, only to be ousted in a military coup in July 2013. Last month Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, a former army general, won fresh presidential elections with a reported 96.9 percent of the vote... Ahmed Abdallah, governor of the Red Sea Governorate, said that Italians were more cautious than other nationalities. “The influx of Italians is the only one that immediately saw a collapse of dramatic proportions... The Russians continued to come, they make up 55 percent of the visitors, and nor have the Germans abandoned [Egypt].” ...the Italian foreign ministry remains wary. “Considering the progressively deteriorating security situation we advise against travel in the entire Sinai peninsula... We advise against all but essential travel in Egypt to a number of places and tourist areas in northern Egypt, the continental coast of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea,” the Italian foreign ministry said.

Thanks DeaconBenjamin.

[originalbuckeye]

I have always wanted to see the pyramids, the Sphinx and Luxor. Sadly, I don’t believe Egypt will be safe enough in my lifetime. So sorry all those American taxpayer dollars that funded the ‘Arab Spring’ has made Egypt even less safe.

[gasport]

“Kiss my culi.”

[left that other site]

I guess we will just have to be content with Zawi Hawass on the History Channel. LOL.

Actually, we DO get to see stuff on TV that we would NEVER get to see if we traveled there.

Since I have an Israel Stamp on my Passport, I am highly unlikely to visit any muslim country anytime soon anyway.

[hal ogen]

We spent 2 weeks privately exploring Egypt a year before Mubarek’s overthrow. It was a wonderful experience. While our contacts with people was generally great, it seemed to have an uncomfortable underflow. Abu Simbel, Memphis, Luxor and so forth were incredible. That said...we wouldn’t go there today.

[Chode]

guess they don't want to...

click the pic

[xzins]

Yes, it does become a tourist issue when they think they’re going to die if they visit your country.

[wetphoenix]

I was to Hurghada and Cairo in 2004 too.

[dfwgator]

Why would anyone visit a Muslim country?

[Liz]

The new Egyptian president is former armed forces chief, and Defence Minister, Field Marshal Abdul Fattah al-Sisi...who stepped down from both posts

YOU'LL LOVE HIM FOR THIS---During the post-Morsi uprising, then-Gen al-Sisi did not accept Obama’s phone call......signaling that the military leader was determined to keep the Obama admin from interfering in al Sisi's plans to drive the pro-Morsi Muslim Brotherhood out of Egyptian politics.

Gen al Sisi is revered by workaday Egyptians who consider the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorst organization (as Americans do). Gen Al-Sisi drove blood-thirsty Muslims out of Egyptian politics and has vowed to rebuild the 63 Christian churches torched by the Muslim Brotherhood during the post-Morsi uprising.

Gen al Sisi, 58, received a masters degree from the U.S. War College in Carlisle, Pa, in 2006.

=====================================================

BTW, Gen al-Sisi also holds the key to the murders in Benghazi........the Benghazi secrets Obama and Hillary will not divulge. B/c right now, sitting in an Egyptian jail is a man al-Sisi arrested for inciting terrorism. That man is Gehad al Hadad....once employed by the tax-exempt Clinton Foundation.

THE CLINTONS IN-HOUSE MUSLIM TERRORIST The Clintons tax-exempt foundation employed this guy--- Muslim Brotherhood activist Gehad al Haddad who was a Clinton employee AND M/B activits simultaneously. The stupid Clintons "knew nothing"----and did not even know "Gehad" is Farsi for "jihad."

Gehad also knows how the Muslim Brotherhood launders money to finance terrorism, using "tax-exempt foundations."

As far as I know, Egypt does not have any limitations on obtaining information from terrorists---like prohibiting waterboarding, etc.

Rest assured---we will know everything---all in good time.

[MasterGunner01]

I remember the Jamaica of PM Michael Manley (People's National Party). Manley was a great admirer of Fidel Castro.. He served as Prime Minister from 1972-1980 and 1989-1992. Manley was a socialist and during is first term he managed to take his country from 25% unemployment to 75% unemployment. He pulled off this coup by encouraging the worst possible behavior towards the life blood of the island — TOURISM. It got so bad that by 1979, travel agents would not book clients to Jamaica and cruise ships avoided it like the plague.

Manley was thrown out in a landslide election in 1980. And it took the next eight years to undo the damage his policies did to the island's economy. The islanders brought him back for a four year term in 1989, but he had learned from his first term. The government of Jamaica during the eight years between Manley's first and second terms, mounted a huge public relations offensive, including TV ads targeting the American tourist market. The PR campaign was successful. When Manley was elected for a second term, everyone (including his own party big shots) told him to NOT do or say anything to screw up the recovery of the tourism industry. By and large, Manley managed to not screw up his second term as PM.

[factoryrat]

See beautiful Egypt! Get beheaded by crazy jihadi muslims! Now what infidel could pass up an offer like that?

[Jack Hammer]

See the pyramids, stay as a hostage.

[Joe Boucher]

Always your decision to spend your money somewhere or on something.
I will not be spending any of my coins in Egypt or any mooselimb country.
They can all starve for all I care.