In Egypt, tourism threatened by parliamentarians ?

Egypt has been announced as the fastest growing tourist destination by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) in terms of increasing the percentage of visitors from one year to the next. However, Egyptian parliamentarians sometimes make comments that risk undermining these efforts after the attacks on the Copts and absurd comments on the export of dog meat…

An increase in the number of tourists by more than 55%

A result that should satisfy tourism professionals in Egypt and government finances. In 2017, 8.5 million tourists arrived in 2017 and a percentage of +55 % compared to 2016.

2018, looks like a good vintage

Last August, a government official told a news agency that Egyptian tourism revenues jumped 77% in the first half of 2018 to $4.8 billion compared to the same period last year. The number of visitors during the first half of 2018 jumped by 41% compared to 2017.

The government has launched some economic reforms

After the 2011 revolution, the economy and tourism experienced a sharp decline that affected the whole of Egypt. The government has launched a major economic reform programme, one of the measures of which has been to allow the Egyptian pound to float. The budget deficit is going in the right direction. The unemployment rate has also risen from 12.5 to 9.8 per cent and the country hopes to be below 9 per cent in 2018-2019. The IMF has just granted a new loan.

The Copts, a minority still threatened

The Alexandria Military Court sentenced 17 people convicted of a series of attacks on Coptic churches to death.
19 people were sentenced to life imprisonment and ten others to 10 to 15 years’ imprisonment. The suicide attacks that took place in late 2016 and early 2017 killed 84 people and injured 166 others and were reportedly sponsored by the Islamic State Group of Sinai.
Convicted persons may appeal. MP Margaret Azer, vice-president of the Human Rights Committee, refused to qualify Coptic Christians in Egypt as a minority, arguing that they were citizens with the same rights as Muslims. Can you believe it?

The VP of the « Human Rights Committee » would like to export dog meat

Margaret Azer, the same parliamentarian who mentioned Copts, suggested that the country export meat from dogs to countries like South Korea to solve the problem of the large number of stray dogs in Egypt. Mrs. Azer spoke to the press and said that her suggestion was a more humane way to get rid of dogs (one can understand the doubts of the Copts of Egypt).
It is to be hoped that animal advocates will react. Many Asian enthusiasts have the unfortunate habit of eating dogs, but governments are beginning to take action, including in China.

The fight to end the dog meat trade

Sometimes the struggle to stop the dog meat trade may seem hopeless, but fortunately, many organizations, activists or celebrities use their voices to stop the dog meat trade. If you are looking for non-profit organizations to support in the fight to end the dog meat trade, check out the ones below for inspiration!

Dog Foundation :
www.facebook.com/SoiDogPageInEnglish/
Humane Society International :
www.hsi.org/issues/dog_meat/
Animal Asia : www.animalsasia.org
Change for Animals : www.changeforanimals.org/
CARE – Coexistence of Animal Right on Earth :
www.facebook.com/careanimalrights/

We are pleased to see the beginning of Egypt’s recovery and especially the increase in the number of tourists. But really that this beautiful country really cares about its minorities and avoids this vice-president of the Human Rights Committee saying anything.

Serge Fabre