It seems tourist season is closed for many of the millions who visit Egypt each year as tour companies

(TRAVPR.COM) EGYPT - May 8th, 2012 -

Report by egyptlastminute.com

Missing out on the chance to learn about Egypt's ancient wonders firsthand is disappointing, but Tanis Miller isn't taking any chances with her 14-year-old daughter's safety.

"Unfortunately, I really think that the tourist season for my family to Egypt is closed this year. There's just too much instability," said the 35-year-old mother from northern Alberta.

Miller and her daughter were among a handful of travelers scheduled to go on a school trip to Egypt in March. The political climate prompted the school board to nix the trip, and the group made a last-minute itinerary change. They'll be heading to Spain and Portugal instead.

It seems tourist season is closed for many of the millions who visit Egypt each year as tour companies, travelers and cruise lines cancel and divert their upcoming visits to avoid political unrest across the country. It might be a year or more before the industry recovers, experts say. more info here : http://www.egyptlastminute.com/

Last year, 14.7 million tourists visited Egypt, and tourism generated $11 billion in revenue, according to the Egyptian Tourist Authority in New York. Tourism in Egypt makes up about 11 percent of the gross domestic product, the tourism organization said.

Most of the tourist bookings for February have been canceled, the tourist authority said.

And the phone has stopped ringing for future bookings, according to Brandon King, president of a small California-based company called Nile Valley Tours.

King's company has canceled a half-dozen February tours, and it looks like the same number will be called off in March. The political upheaval comes during peak tourist season in Egypt and a critical booking period for next fall and winter.

"Hopefully in a year or two, everything will be back to where we were," King said.

The uncertain state of the Egyptian government means things are unlikely to turn around anytime soon, and the situation will remain volatile even when the streets are clear of protesters and things begin to appear more normal.

"The problems that catalyzed the latest demonstrations, including high food prices and high unemployment, would remain, so Egypt would be perceived by outsiders, correctly, as a tinderbox," said Timur Kuran, a Duke University economics, political science and Islamic studies professor. more info here : http://www.egyptlastminute.com/

"And many people would decide to go elsewhere, would decide that this is not the right year to go to Egypt," Kuran said.

That lack of tourism is likely to aggravate the economic woes and frustrations of Egyptians who rely on tourism to make a living.

Report by egyptlastminute.com

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