Egypt predicts tourist return after 2011 drop

[April 30, 2012]  DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Egypt's tourism minister says he expects visitor numbers to bounce back to pre-uprising levels this year after travelers stayed away amid Arab Spring unrest.

Tourism Minister Mounir Abdel-Nour said Monday at a hotel conference in Dubai that Egypt is aiming to attract 14.5 million tourists this year.

That would put it close to the 14.7 million tourist level the North African country drew in 2010.

Abdel-Nour says visitor numbers plunged by a third last year as travelers made nervous by violent street protests avoided the pyramids, beaches and other sites for which Egypt is known.

Egypt depends heavily on tourism to create jobs and bring in foreign currency.

[Associated Press]

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