Egypt eying new hope after Islamist approach

GIZA - Reuters

Those making a living from tourism are glad to see the back of ousted president Morsi, believing his Islamist rule would have killed tourism. REUTERS photo

These days there may be more mummies than tourists in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, and few footprints in the sand around the Pyramids.

Visitors to Cairo’s wonders are scarce, a little over a week after the military deposed the first freely elected leader and deadly street violence shook the capital, making life harder for the millions of Egyptians who depend on tourism. But for those making a living from the visitors, there are signs of hope. They are glad to see the back of ousted president Mohammed Mursi, believing his Islamist rule would have killed tourism. “I’m smiling from ear to ear, even though we haven’t seen a disaster for our business this bad in all our lives,” said Mohammed Khodar in front of his perfume shop - one of the few businesses around the Pyramids that is not shuttered. “Under Mursi prices rose, there was violence and the tourists went to beach resorts, not here. We want a democracy that can help with tourism, not religious rule,” he said.