CAIRO (AFP) — Egypt’s tourism industry, hit hard by the September 11 terrorist attacks, got a big New Year’s boost as thousands of people, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his family, flocked here to celebrate.
Tourist arrivals in Egypt recently increased significantly, and more than 40,000 people arrived Monday alone, the tourism ministry said in a statement recently.
Hotel occupation rates also reached record levels on New Year’s Eve, with full occupancy at most places near ancient sites, the ministry added.
For the most part, the tourists are visiting the main Egyptological sites, especially near Cairo, Luxor and Asswan, as well as the Red Sea resort areas such as Sharm ElSheikh, Taba and Dahab.
Blair and his family arrived in Egypt last week for a private visit to celebrate the New Year at Sharm ElSheikh.
The hijacked jetliner attacks on New York and Washington hit the country’s tourism industry hard and officials said in October that business in the sector had plunged by between 40 and 45 percent and expressed concern it would decline even further.
Hotel occupancy rates dropped to 59 percent in the wake of the attacks, against 72 percent in September 2000.
In response, the government cut international airline fares and offered other incentives to visitors, while national carrier EgyptAir offered them fare reductions of up to 40 percent on domestic flights.
Tourism is Egypt’s main source of foreign currency, providing record revenues last year of $4.3 billion.
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