CAIRO: Tourism is gradually stabilizing in Egypt's famous Khan al-Khalili bazaar. Sales rates and purchasing movement since the January 25 Revolution increased from 0 to 40 percent. Various nationalities of tourists are once again visiting the popular bazaar after a near stand-still for three months, said shop owners in the area. Owners have demanded an increase in security presence to quell anxiety and fear to help promote tourism. Anwar Fouad, who owns a shop in Khan al-Khalili, said, "there is a big difference between tourism now and before. Now only about 11 groups visit the area daily to revive hopes for restoring tourism. "We hope to compensate our losses in the summer with the flow of Arab tourists, especially with the increasing holidays in the upcoming two months," Fouad added. Mohamed Reda, a worker in the bazaar, hopes that tourism rates are restored. He said purchasing rates increased to 40 percent recently, confirming that restoring tourism will contribute to the financial recovery of workers and bazaar owners in Khan al-Khalili, a hotspot that attracts all tourists to Egypt. Arabic here.
