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Souvenirs for sale at the Pyramids of Giza.

Caitlin Kenney/NPR
 

I spent the two weeks before Christmas traveling through Egypt, which is experiencing a sharp downturn in tourism. On a Nile cruise, our 128-cabin boat was only at about half capacity. Our tour guide, Hatem, told us he is working less and worries that it's only going to get worse. Hatem and his financee, also a tour guide, are even thinking of postponing their upcoming wedding.

According to Reuters, tourism accounts for 6.6 percent of Egypt's GDP, and though the number of visitors has been on a healthy uptick for years, the country is starting to feel the pinch of the financial crisis. The number of hotel bookings is down 30 percent in January 2009 compared to the same month in 2008.

I lost my job shortly after booking my ticket this summer, and had I learned about it any earlier, I probably would have canceled my trip. I'm so glad I didn't.

categories: Economic Scene

12:00 - December 31, 2008

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