About 2.5 million tourists visited Egypt in the first half of 2001, despite the latest Palestinian uprising against 34 years of Israeli military occupation, according to Tourism Minister Mamdouh Al Beltaji.
In remarks published Thursday in the Al Ahram newspaper, the minister said that “these figures are positive in light of the tension and violence” which have hit the tourism sector in the whole region.
Both Israel and Jordan complain that tourism is the latest casualty of the deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Tourism is Egypt's largest foreign currency earner, with attractions such as the Great Pyramids of Giza and other Pharaonic sites helping to bring in $4.3 billion in 2000 – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
