Tourism flourishes in June, July

An unprecedented increase in the figure of Arab and foreign visitors to Egypt was noted during June and July 1997. Cairo airport sources said yesterday, July 31.

The same sources also said that the increase in the number of tourists had topped last year's numbers by more than 21 percent .

From the beginning of the June through June 26, the airport authorities received about 160,000 foreign tourists along with more than 150,000 Arab nationals.

The source attributed the rise to more visitors from Arab countries and the return of British and Russian tourists.

The June number is lower than figures quoted by the government’s statistics office for May 1997, when 331,000 tourists visited Egypt, but the Tourism Ministry said that the June numbers boded well for the rest of summer season.

Tourism Revenues are one of the most important main sources of Egypt’s hard currency.

In June 1996, Egypt earned 191 million US dollars from the industry. 1997 figures aren't yet available.