The slowly recovering tourism industry of Egypt has taken another step backwards. The revolutionaries who had come out on the street in January this year and helped to oust President Hosni Mubarak have become disenchanted with the miiltary leaders who took over after Mubarak’s departure.
The week long protests have once again started attracting large crowds to Tahrir Square – estimated at up to 800,000 people on Friday November 25, 2011. Although a new interim Prime Minister was appointed by the military, it appears that a large number of Egyptians want Field Marshall Tantawi to step down and let a new interim council guide the country until fresh elections are held.
The Arab Spring seems to have turned into
a winter of discontent as another large group of people also protested near the Ministry of Interior’s headquarters in favour of the army – showing signs that people want peace to prevail and want things to get back to normal.
Tourists have once again started canceling trips to Cairo and the economy which is heavily dependent on tourism will face another major setback. The Egypt Tourism Authority which was actively promoting the country during the recently concluded World Travel Market in London will have to redouble its efforts to woo back the tourists who were planning to spend their winter vacations in Egypt.
