By Emily King
The Arab Spring has settled and the US has downgraded its previously travel warning for Egypt to “alert for sporadic unrest,” but the nation is hurting for visitors. In a country where tourism makes up 11 percent of the economy, destinations across the sands are cutting prices to entice travelers back to the shores of the Nile. This is a great year to take advantage of the deals and the lack of crowds and visit an otherwise packed tourist spot for less money.
Prices at hotels have dipped 25 percent across the country, and even at the Great Pyramids renting a room has gone down in price almost 50 percent since last year.
The number of tourists in Egypt for 2011 dropped to 9.8 million from 14.7 million the previous year--business relying on the flow of visitors are desperate for a turn-around.
Despite super low prices and a lower warning level, safety is still a major concern. Violence is escalating in the country once again. Last Friday, two American tourists and their local guide where kidnapped at gunpoint off of a major highway. The women and guide were released a few hours after being abducted.
This is only the latest in a recent string of traveler kidnappings by Bedouin tribesmen opposing government control. A bus of 25 Chinese workers was captured earlier this week and released shortly after. In late January a group of masked gunmen killed a French tourist and injured two others during the robbery of a currency exchange shop. Fifty European tourists were also held captive by gunmen last month and released hours later. A hotel popular with Israeli travelers was attacked by four gunmen who fled at the arrival of authorities. Riots in Cairo and Suez continue to break out into brutality, resulting in many injuries and deaths.
If you are up for the risk, take advantage of the cheap travel available all around Egypt. For the most part visitors to the ancient sites and regular stops for travelers are safe. As always when going to a country with “sporadic unrest,” check with locals or a guide throughout the day to keep track of areas you may want to avoid as riots continue.
