The United Nations World Tourism Organization’s secretary-general, Taleb Rifai has congratulated new Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi on his election and his outspoken support for the $13 billion Egyptian tourism industry.
"I warmly congratulate President Morsi on his recent win and welcome his strong commitment to tourism, a major pillar of the Egyptian economy": said Mr. Rifai.
"Tourism to Egypt, one of the leading foreign exchange earners and job creators in the country, is showing clear signs of recovery, boosted by political support at the highest level. UNWTO offers its full support to the Egyptian tourism sector and will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities towards its full recovery": Mr. Rifai said.
This June, Egypt’s prime minister, Kamal El-Ganzouri appointed Mohamed Ibrahim to take over the position of Minister of State for Antiquities from Zahi Hawass, who was widely seen as a corrupt ally of President Mubarak. Ibrahim has also spoken to the world press about his current government’s commitment to Egypt’s cultural heritage and tourism.
UNWTO reports 14 million international tourists arrived into Egypt in 2010, generating US$ 13 billion in tourism receipts. The agency says arrivals were down 32% in 2011, following the pro-democracy movement of the ‘Arab Spring’ that changed the political and cultural face of North Africa and the Middle East.
It reports that results for the first five months of 2012 show tourist arrivals in Egypt up 29%.
By Gretchen Kelly
