Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

With Collapse of Nation’s Tourism... Egyptian-African Recovery Soon


Tue 31 Mar 2020 | 10:45 PM
Gehan Aboella

The world before the novel Coronavirus will definitely be different after... the political and economic map would be reshaped, especially with the collapse of the largest health systems in front of the novel Coronavirus. Undoubtedly, the tourist map in the world will change its destination as the countries that are least exposed to the epidemic or that have managed to survive it are scheduled to flourish after the epidemic is over especially after the collapse of the great tourist dependent countries, led by Spain, which has collapsed first, followed by the Milan Stock Exchange in Italy, Berlin and London.

Africa will go up as a tourist

As a result, Hany Salama, head of the Tourism and Aviation Committee of the Egyptian and African Businessmen Association, affirmed that Coronavirus would alter the map of tourism in the world. Salama said that the effect would raise Egypt and Africa’s places as a tourist destination after the direct follow-up of the association to the repercussions of the Corona crisis on tourism, which is a very important source of income locally and globally. Salama said that tourism is closely related to the global aviation movement, and because Africa has an important role among the continents of the world, EgyptAir took interest in Africa a long while ago; this well-established company was the first to expand day within the continent and is still willing to expand within the continent once the epidemic is over.

Charming views

“That is why we, the Egyptian African Businessmen Association, had to shed light on the future of tourism and aviation and try hard to communicate with the concerned businessmen in the sector to discuss the circumstances after the Coronavirus, especially since there are many factors that will affect the tourist world map,” Salam affirmed. He added that Africa's tourism plan 2030 should be in the forefront in the coming years, especially after the collapse of the super-tourist countries, led by Spain, followed by Italy, Germany and London.

It is expected that tourist delegations would visit African destinations after recovering from the coronavirus scourge

The crisis will reveal the beautiful face of Africa

He revealed that, the losses in the tourism sector increased in Africa and the Arab countries because of canceling many reservations and stopping flights; and the losses are continuing. He explained that the aviation industry in the Middle East region was affected, for example, in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, as a result of a decrease in reservations by 70%, as well as Lebanon from the previous year.  Head of the Tourism and Aviation Committee continued, on the level of North Africa, Morocco did not have statistics indicating the tourism decline, at first, but tourist groups were quickly postponed and the Moroccan Royal Airlines suspended flights on March 8 for most of Europe's destinations, and after that it was strongly affected.  Head of the Tourism and Aviation Committee pointed out that Tunisia, like most Arab countries, was paralyzed in the tourism and air transport sectors, and the number of arrivals decreased by 40% at first.

Egypt will witness a tourism boom after the crisis

Salama said that the crisis revealed to the largest airlines in Africa and the world, which were affected by the importance of government support, noting that Egypt, which is the hub of Africa and the cornerstone of the continent, was greatly affected by hotel reservations at the tourism level. Salama pointed out that Egypt canceled many flights to the Far East, America and West Africa, explaining that EgyptAir flies to more than 75 international destinations.

The Egyptian national carrier plays a great role in Africa and expands in the depths of Africa to Johannesburg in the south and West Africa.

Wonderful and unique nature

Salama continued, EgyptAir, one of the first international companies to be present in Africa, despite the decision of the political leadership to close the Egyptian airspace on March 19 in order to preserve all Egyptians. However, EgyptAir did not stop to bring back Egyptians stranded abroad so far; the Minister of Aviation managed to return 48 Egyptians who got stranded in London without material costs. Salama added, air transport will gradually return to carry goods or passengers, the tourism industry will return, the world map will change, and Egypt and Africa will lead the map economically.

Greenery, water and clear skies

Contributed by: Ibrahim Shabrawy