The Russians have arrived
*
Reality can exceed the most optimistic predictions: this at least is the case with Russian tourism to Egypt. Ten years ago, in this paper, I predicted that by the year 2000 the number of Russian tourists to Egypt could increase from 25,000 a year now to 250,000.
I was wrong. The number of Russian tourists last year was 453,000, and this year they occupy the second place, after Italians, in the Egyptian market.
To increase the number of Russian tourists I suggested that more mid-range, three-star accommodation be built. Egyptians agreed to the idea of low prices but went their own way. Instead of building three-star hotels they offered four-, and sometimes five-star accommodation at discounted rates.
Price and quality are among the main reasons for today's situation. But they are not the only reasons.
"Egyptians have very positive feelings towards Russians," said Mamdouh El-Beltagui, minister of tourism, during our recent meeting in Cairo. They well remember the economic and military assistance offered by Russia in the past and of which the High Dam is a potent symbol. Russians in Egypt are aware of such feelings. Improvements in the economic situation in Russia has added to the increase in tourism but still less than two million people can afford to spend their holidays abroad. Almost a quarter come to Egypt.
On 26 August our countries celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations. And for the moment Russian tourism to Egypt plays the same main role in our relations as the High Dam 40 years ago.
* This week's Soapbox speaker is a senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences. Between 1986-2000 he was the Egyptian correspondent for Pravda, and later Trud.
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 24 - 30 July 2003 (Issue No. 648)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/648/op7.htm