For over two to three decades, the tourism culture has flourished in Egypt. There is a large potential in the tourism industry in the country. Egypt is a country that attracts many Europeans due to its rich heritage and culture. Egypt is a country with large and rich historical background. If we look at the statistics during 2007-2008, the number of tourists visited Egypt were about 11 to 12 million. With every passing year, this number increases. The most attractive places for tourists are the historical places like “pyramids”, “Sphinx “of Gaza strip, river Nile and museums. From the archeologist’s point of view, Egypt is a country with rich educational background in the field of archeology. This tourism has empowered great economic and social benefits to the country Egypt. For Egypt, tourism is one the greatest source of income earning. Many private sectors are incorporated in this industry for the benefits of local masses. However the public and private sector both have a close competition for providing best of tourism facilities to the tourists. This competition is good for the country. The national policy makers in Egypt are giving due importance to tourism in their annual policies (Zaki, 2003). They know how much advantage they can derive from tourism. Along with the historical places, Egypt government is spending too much on providing recreational activities for the foreigners. One of the magazines published in Egypt provided a very good atmosphere for the tourists. According to that magazine, visiting Egypt is the best time to visit those heritage and culture that was centuries ago and that heritage and culture is alive in Egypt today. According to the writer of the magazine, it is a place where Moses got His revelations, it is a place where the kingdoms were highly planned and it is the place where river Nile history is waiting for the historians to come and explore. Egypt tourism is focused on the beautification of Nile valley and at the same time Cairo is made attractive for the tourists.
Economic advantages of tourism in Egypt:
If we look from outsider’s perspective, the international tourism plays an important role in the economic scenario of the country. But the facts and statistics have not worked much on this aspect. From the national accounting data, the economic impact can be found when the country’s income generated through hotels, restaurants and transportation sector. These fields get the chance to provide employment to the local people. So in case of Egypt, the international tourism has recently provided jobs to a large number of people. The reports show that in the year 1999 to 2000, Egypt has earned 10 billion dollars that are about 12% of the GDP of the country (Tohamy, June 2000). It means that tourism has a very good relation to the growth of the country. This contribution of the tourism is a direct contribution to the economy. Similarly, the employment sector seeks 2 million jobs due to tourism in Egypt. Thus creating large scale circle for the people to earn and benefit from the tourism. Employment is the indirect effect of economic growth. Tax revenue is one of the other aspects of tourism. Due to increased tourism, taxpayers in the form of indirect taxes also give a boost to the economy. A study conducted in the same year of 1999 to 2000, the tax collection, was about 5 to 6% of the direct and indirect taxes. The exports sector is one of the other sectors that show a positive trend due to tourism. Usual tourists use their currency as a mode of payment and that is also a great advantage for the country’s foreign resources sector. And the balance of trade is growing with such steps taken by the tourist’s foreign currency and exports.
These were the economic advantages that Egypt draws from the tourism industry. The studies are showing an increasing trend in the country, means the future of tourism will flourish in the country. As the studies clearly showed an increase for the last two decades, so the sectors inside the country are totally at the receiving end.
Social advantages of tourism in Egypt:
Besides economic advantages, the cultural and social advantages are also outnumbered due to tourism in Egypt. Egypt tourism is mainly due to its rich historic aspect along with it rich cultural background. In Egypt the various places depict how the mankind constructed and maintained the historic places. These historical places are seen by the tourists with great interest. The history revolves in front of eyes, and one does not believe how the people of past lived with all the necessities in the same way as we are using (sis.gov.eg, 2009-08-24.). The culture of this country is the one that exists nowhere else. The places show uniqueness. And this uniqueness is one of the basic attractions for the tourism. Egypt is getting an advantage of culture mix by promoting new recreational activities in the region. People with many and different cultures come and enjoy the tour as the Egyptian’s are providing their best to entertain the tourists. Tourism has caused people to know about the culture of the Egypt. They interact with the people and people of Egypt come to know about the rest of the world.
References:
sis.gov.eg, 2009-08-24.. [Online] Available at: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hellochina/egyptambassador09/2009-08/24/content_8608649.htm
Tohamy, S., June 2000. policy view point. [Online] Available at: http://www.eces.org.eg/Uploaded_Files/%7B02ADE2E4-F995-4CDE-82CE-32BB9A4A15E9%7D_ECESPVP5e.pdf
Zaki, D., 2003. Egypt Competitive Advantage. [Online] Available at: http://pc.parnu.ee/~htooman/EuroChrie/Welcome%20to%20EuroCHRIE%20Dubai%202008/papers/EGYPT%20COMPETITIVE%20ADVANTAGES%20INTRODUCING%20ATTRIBUTE%20IMPORTANCE.pdf
