In Egypt, the tourism crisis in Luxor
Audio 02:15
The Luxor souk, emptied of its tourists, November 18, 2020 © RFI / Edouard Dropsy
By: Edouard Dropsy
5 mins
The Egyptian tourism sector is suffering due to the Covid-19 health crisis.
In the Valley of the Kings, 650 km south of Cairo, an entire economy is collapsing in a country where tourism, the primary source of income, represents 13% of GDP.
Publicity
From his hot air balloon, Captain Kareem has been flying proudly over the Valley of the Kings for 11 years.
At the beginning of October, the Egyptian authorities again authorized tourism professionals to relaunch their activities for the start of the season.
But the tourists are not there.
“
Business is not good at the moment.
Last year, during the tourist season, there were 35 hot air balloons taking off at the same time.
Normally, this one receives 16 people, but there we are only 8
”, regrets Captain Kareem.
And that day, it was Arsany and his family, Egyptians living in Dubai, who came to admire the view.
"
We are lucky enough that there are not many people, but it is not good for our country, because there is less tourism and less inflows of money for the country, he
observes. -he.
I hope that the coronavirus crisis will be over soon
”
Usually crowded, the Sphinx-lined esplanade at the entrance to the Luxor temple is surprisingly empty.
In the souk, three out of four shops are closed.
“
Today there is the big Egyptian market in Karnak.
I only take 10 pounds because I'm not busy.
An elegant way for this driver to say he's hungry.
And that he breaks his prices to be able to take care of his children.
“
I don't work.
How can I feed them and give them money to send them to school?
Business is not good because of the coronavirus.
Everyone stays there, no business, no work.
"
The year 2020 was to be the year of the resumption of tourism in Egypt after ten years of decline in attendance due to the 2011 revolution and the attacks that shook the country during the decade.
For Amr El Cheikh, a tour operator working throughout the region, it's a big blow: “
Before, everything was perfect.
Now it's a big crisis.
Everyone here suffers after the closure of European borders.
"
While Egypt is resisting the Covid-19 epidemic rather well, its dependence on tourism could exacerbate the emerging social crisis.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Egypt
Tourism
Coronavirus
On the same subject
Covid-19: global tourism plunges by 70%
Tunisia: government announces financial aid for the tourism sector
International report
Egypt: tourism at a standstill