05 January 2012

Battle over bikinis looms for Egyptian tourism

.... "People are very worried," said Ahmed, while approaching sun bathing guests to offer them massages at the hotel.

"Especially by Al-Nour (the main Salafi party). With the Brotherhood, at least we can have a discussion," he said.

"But the Salafis are different. They are used to sitting in mosques saying: "God commanded this, and the Prophet commanded that. And now suddenly they are involved in politics. It won't work."

The country has seen a near 30 per cent drop in tourist revenues in 2011, the government says, as sporadic and sometimes deadly political unrest dominated the news. [AFP] Read more