“No political force, political party, president or government working in a democratic, responsible framework, and therefore accountable to public opinion … could follow policies that harm tourism in Egypt,” he said.
“Four million people work in tourism, while more than 14 million are impacted by it indirectly,” he added, saying Egypt had the potential to achieve, by 2017, tourism revenues of $25 billion, double the figure it earned in 2010, pre-uprising.
Tourism constitutes 11 percent of gross domestic product.
Egypt expects to receive more than 12 million tourists by the end of 2012, a 23 percent rise over the previous year.
Many in the tourism sector fear recovery would be slow if President Mohamed Mursi imposes Islamic strictures on the sector such as banning the skimpy swim wear and alcohol that are a normal part of a beach holiday for many foreign tourists.
The Brotherhood has not indicated it would do either.
Source: Yahoo! News – Egypt expects 23 pct more tourists in 2012: minister
