Mubarak’s Egyptian Resort: Get out
Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh acknowledged that attracts millions of tourists from around the world is tired of its most famous guests: Hosni Mubarak.
The deposed president, residents say, is bad for business.
“We want him to leave,” said Ahmed Fahmy, a construction worker who lives here. “He has created many problems and affected tourism. Tourism is dead now.”
Added Mohamed Nasr, who operates a limousine service: “Everybody wants to” Mubarak to leave. “Tourism is now not good … My company is nothing. ”
Fahmy said road to the other side of Sharm el-Sheikh International Hospital, where Mubarak has stayed on a strict police protection, since prosecutors began questioning him on Tuesday.
The sight of riot police helmet form a human chain around the perimeter of the official hospital black pyramid-shaped differed sharply with palm trees, souvenir shops and sunburned European tourists who wander in the past, looking with curiosity about them.
This week, the prosecutor formally arrested Mubarak of Egypt 15 days in connection with hundreds of activists were killed during the street protests that toppled the power February 11. His two sons, Gamal and Alaa was transferred to Tora prison in Cairo this week.
Egypt’s revolution succeeded in overthrowing a dictator once untouchable. But it has also crippled the country’s vital tourism industry, which according to some conservative estimates, accounts for 10% of the Egyptian economy.
Sharm el-Sheikh, a Mecca of international diving and nightclubs, which normally receives about 5 million tourists a year, was particularly affected.
The beaches of Sharm “as affectionately known locally, is all but deserted. Once bustling port in Namma Bay is usually calm, except for the last time puttering boat motor drag screaming tourists riding inner tubes.
Hotel operators felt they were below 30% capacity to what is normally the peak tourist season.
“You have to be 35% in just a tie,” said Mohammed Abbas, leader of Iberotel Lido Hotel. The last half of February, the hotel was 6% to 8% of capacity.
Abbas said the current free fall in tourism revenue is worse than the decline after three bombings in the Sinai to Egypt in 2004, and after a series of shark attacks last November.
A British tourist Jane Dixon said he did not think twice about getting her teenage son and daughter in Sharm el-Sheikh.
“Its no different from the possible threat to London, she says, sitting in a rooftop pool overlooking the Red Sea.
“You are as likely to be riding the tube, he added, referring to the London Underground system.
However, political instability plaguing Cairo Dixon kept visiting the pyramids.
His 15 year old son, Josh, was surprised to see the power of riot police outside the hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh.
“It was very good,” he said. “I did not know the president was going to stay there. There are guards everywhere fear. I’m pretty sure.”
When asked why tourists do not come any more, the hotel and nightclub operator Mestekawy El Adly had a simple answer: the revolution.
“For the first time in the history of Egypt 7,000 years ago, a pharaoh in the study. All his family is under consideration,” said Mestekawy.
But Mestekawy, who says he opened his first store and hotel in Sharm el-Sheikh when he was little more than a campsite in the desert, in 1980, Egypt’s hopes largely peaceful revolution that will pay long- term.
“Egypt is no longer slaves. Egypt is free and open to the world by peaceful means, “he said.” It will bring back tourists in large numbers and that is what the country needs. ”
Egypt has a long way to go before its security forces to embrace transparency.
The secret police approached CNN camera man, because he was shooting the sunset on the Red Sea on Friday. Without showing any identification, plain-clothes officers attempted to confiscate the camera, until a final sentence does not state secrets were shot.
Nearby, workers outside a souvenir shop called the motto frequent passing tourists.
“Welcome to Egypt,” they said.
No Comments