Egyptian tourism experts have indicated that the general tourism situation in the country is witnessing a significant deterioration.  They estimated that the industry is facing $5 billion in losses due to repeated kidnappings of tourists in the southern Sinai by groups of Bedouin, with many tourists needing to flee to avoid capture.

 

The experts agree that tourism as a bleak future in light of the decline in summer tourism, a lack of clarity of vision for the 2013 winter season, continuing insecurity, and calls for sabotage, all of which obscure the light at the end of the tunnel.  In the meantime, security experts are insisting on the need to ensure the security of tourist groups if Egypt is to escape this crisis that has damaged its reputation internationally as per a report in Albawaba.

 

According to statements by Magdy Selim, head of domestic tourism in the Ministry of Tourism’s “Elaph,” tourism is continuing to deteriorate, especially due to the increasing abduction of foreign tourists.  In particular, the industry is negatively affected by the repeat kidnapping of three Korean tourists, following the kidnapping of Americans in the same area of the southern Sinai.

 

He pointed out that the southern Sinai, and especially Sharm el-Sheikh, are considered one of the most attractive places for tourism due to the stable security situation over the past years.  Therefore, the crisis between the Bedouin and the government and security agencies must be treated quickly in order to resolve outstanding problems and stop the kidnapping of tourists.  Selim believes that a third kidnapping incident involving foreign visitors would be a fatal blow to the tourism industry, and a declaration of its disappearance from Egypt.