Planting olive trees and lighting candles are only the symbolic manifestations of Sharm El-Sheikh's will to survive. Dina Ezzat and Reem Nafie report from the Red Sea resort While the visual effects of the devastation brought on by the 23 July terror attacks on Sharm El-Sheikh are still as clear as can be, the Red Sea resort is desperately trying to overcome the shock catalysed by the violence that left 64 people dead. "The olive trees that we planted tonight, and the candles that we lit, will forever carry the name and hold the memory of those innocent lives that were lost here in Sharm El-Sheikh, the city of peace," Mrs Suzanne Mubarak said on Sunday. She was addressing an assembly of a few hundred guests who gathered by the beautiful coast to remember the victims of the attacks, and to call for a better tomorrow. Amongst the speakers at the event were movie stars Hussein Fahmi and Mahmoud Qabil, who urged Egyptians and foreigners alike to continue visiting the resort. Fahmi also called on his colleagues in the entertainment industry to use Sharm El-Sheikh as a location for their upcoming productions. Children who were born and grew up in the bustling Red Sea resort sang songs for peace. Ambassadors from nations as diverse as the UK and Mexico also joined in the commemorative event. The gathering, a combined effort by the Suzanne Mubarak International Movement for Women and Peace, along with several non-governmental organisations, and a group of entrepreneurs, took place at the Sharm El-Sheikh International Peace Park. Mrs Mubarak condemned terrorism "categorically... in all its forms," and urged attendees to "continue to construct our common future and charter a path where global security replaces the cycle of conflict and terrorism that has affected the world". Raafat Mohamed, a Sharm El-Sheikh taxi driver, hoped the sentiments would soon result in improvements on the ground. "I haven't had any serious work for the past 10 days," he said. "I cannot go on like this." His concerns, combined with an ardent wish for a return to normality, reflected the feelings of many of the city's residents. A great many foreign and Egyptian tourists, after all, have canceled the bookings that were expected to keep Sharm El-Sheikh's hotels, restaurants and taxis busy until the end of the year. The popular Neama Bay boardwalk is nearly deserted these days. Waiters urge pedestrians to step into their restaurants for a meal. Raafat, the owner of a coffee shop, told Al-Ahram Weekly that he was sceptical about things picking up anytime soon. "This has done us all harm; it was our high season, after all, and now look where we are." Hotel owners, especially those used to hosting Italian tourists -- who have traditionally been the bulk of the resort's clientele -- are frustrated with the 10 days (so far) of empty rooms. They don't think things will change any time soon. Fahmi Ismail, owner of a three-star hotel close to the Ghazala Gardens resort that was damaged by the bombings, said he only had two occupied rooms. "At this time of the year we never had any vacancies," he said. Nearly two weeks after the bombings, the reality of what the vicious attacks may have done to the city's livelihood is starting to sink in. Ismail said he was forced to let go of six of his 20 employees, "until the situation gets better. I can't afford to pay everyone when I'm not making any money." The government has urged hotel and shop owners not to sack their employees -- obviously a difficult demand to meet. Haitham, who works at a five-star hotel, said four of their night shift employees were let go last week, after 65 per cent of the hotel's bookings were cancelled. When asked to comment on the latest unemployment figures, the South Sinai governor's office said they were "not ready yet". If there is one business that is thriving, meanwhile, it is security. Strict measures that were once non-existent in this self-proclaimed City of Peace have now become routine. Metal gates have been built at the entrances of all hotels, preventing cars from driving up to drop off hotel guests, who must now walk to the reception area -- where they pass through a metal detector and have their luggage thoroughly inspected. Hotels that did not have security metal detectors and metal gates are now promptly installing them. Some reconstruction, meanwhile, is taking place. At the Ghazala Gardens, the hotel is being rebuilt "as soon as possible" -- according to engineers on the site -- to help heal one of the city's worst wounds. Still, the area remains sadly deserted. Banners that say things like, "we will not give in", and "no to terrorism, yes to prosperity" are everywhere. A busy schedule of events is being planned for the coming weeks and months in an attempt to inspire tourists to come back to Sharm. Popular Lebanese singer Nancy Agram flew in early this week, making public appearances on the streets and speaking to tourists. Agram told tourists how fond she is of Egypt, and that they should tell all their friends to come. She also visited those injured in the bombings at Sharm El-Sheikh International Hospital, handing flowers to the patients and speaking to the doctors about their situation. The nation's biggest football stars are also planning to visit. Veteran striker Hossam Hassan told the Weekly that he and his colleagues want to come to the city "to promote it, and meet with the tourists there to comfort them". The business community is also doing its part, contributing money for rebuilding efforts and to support the victims' families. Hussein Salem, owner of one of the city's five-star hotels, has donated LE1.5 million towards reconstruction efforts. Kuwaiti businessman Nasser Al-Kharafi, chairman of Al-Kharafi Group, has donated LE2 million to the victims' families. Saudi Arabian mogul, Prince Al-Walid Bin Talal, has donated LE5 million to be distributed equally amongst the victims' families. But, as many of the city's residents attest, donations are not going to do the trick; in the end, it's the tourists who need to come back. For the city's residents and workforce, the flow of tourism from across the world to this Red Sea resort is not just about making money -- it is the very core of their livelihood.
