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Egypt's pyramids experiencing low patronage

Egypt's pyramids experiencing low patronage

Egypt

Recent Jihadists attacks in Egypt is hurting the country’s tourism industry. One of such tourists attraction sites affected is the pyramids.

A street hawker by the foot of the pyramids of Guizeh, Saïd Ramadan said he now borrows money to make ends meet as a result of the Jihadist attacks that has chased tourists away.

“I make almost nothing now because there are no tourists anymore. I have no money to buy clothes for my children”, Ramadan said.

Ramadan,42, lives in a brick house, near the archeological site, West of Cairo.

He is not the only one complaining as some Egyptian places of interest are reported to have been deserted. Even the sea resorts by the Red Sea has stop attracting visitors.

The biggest blow was the October 31st, Russian charter plane crash in the peninsula of Sinai which killed 224 passengers.

“ There are no Russian, British or American tourists anymore visiting the pyramids “, Ramadan said.

Many U.S. travelers are reported to have also canceled their trips to Egypt, with some tour operators avoiding the country.

The coaches which blocked the parking lots of the pyramids of Khéops and Mykérinos have disappeared while most of the hotels have been deserted.

Some business owners in the area are disappointed because tourists do not ride on camel’s back or on horseback anymore as a result of security issues.

An Egyptian couple who are photographers said they use to make 114 euros a day, “now when we make 100 pounds a day, we are lucky “.

Although, armed men and police officials guard the area, authorizing only the passage of tourist buses, to avoid any potential Jihadist attack, only a few tourists still visit the site.

Dozens of plain-clothes policemen are also involved in securing the place, making random identity checks.

In January, five policemen and two civilians were killed by a bomb blast in an apartment near the pyramids. IS claimed responsibilty for the attack.

Tourism is a major industry in Egypt. It accounts for 5 percent to 6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. Egypt is also often a starting point for people exploring Jordan and parts of Northern Africa.

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