Egyptian tourism is on its way to a revival, the Minister of Tourism has told a leading Kuwaiti paper. Mounir Fakhry Abdel-Nour added in his interview to Al-Seyassa Al-Kuwaiteya that the lifting of Egypt's curfew show the country is regaining its stability and security. Nighttime curfews imposed by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces were finally lifted on 15 June. Egypt spent 138 nights under curfew, with official restrictions on movement during set hours. "Egypt is ready to receive any number of tourists and ensure their safety," Adel-Nour said."Figures show that tourism activity is reviving and getting back to its normal rates." Egyptian tourism looks like falling more than 25 per cent in 2011, according to data released by CAPMAS last week, which predicts visitor numbers of under 11 million, down from 14.8 million in 2010. Tourism revenue for the year may also drop to US$10 billion, down from $12.5 billion in 2010. 800,000 tourists visited Egypt in April, down from 1.24 million in the same month last year. "I expect the number of tourists will jump back to its normal rates by the beginning of this season in September and October," Abdel-Nour added.
