I wonder what percentage of Egypt’s economy is tourism driven? I would think that (excepting Israel) no country in the middle-east comes close to the tourism revenue that Egypt does. What happens if this uprising destabilizes that revenue stream for the long-term? Egypt does produce some energy, but not nearly enough to keep it afloat.
Desecrating historical and religious artifacts are done by terrorist looters. Such people should be shot on sight in the act of committing such crimes. A good part of Egypt finances come from tourism and trade. With such actions, the stability of the nation and their national eocnomy could collapse and throw the entire country into chaos which is probably what the terrorists and extremists hope to do.
According to this, it’s 11% of the GDP and one in eight jobs.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/factbox-protests-and-egypts-tourism-industry
Since Muhammad is the final prophet Islam hates all that came before Muhammad. Egypt has no oil so it had better protect its antiquities and tourism business. But remember when 60 European tourists were gunned down by the pyramids?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxor_massacre
CHRONOLOGY OF ATTACKS on TOURIST TARGETS IN EGYPT:
a DETAILED HISTORY from 1992 to the PRESENT.
http://www.usdivetravel.com/T-EgyptTerrorism.html
1997: Egyptian militants kill tourists at Luxor
More than 60 people have been killed after an attack on a group of foreign tourists visiting a temple in southern Egypt.
French tourist killed and 20 wounded in Egypt attack
Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:20am EST
By Will Rasmussen
CAIRO (Reuters) - A bomb killed a French teenager and wounded at least 20 other people in a crowded square near a popular tourist bazaar in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Sunday, officials said.
Egypt
Flag of Egypt
Still current at: 30 January 2011
Updated: 29 January 2011
This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Travel Summary and Safety and Security section. We advise against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez. We recommend that British nationals without a pressing need to be in Cairo, Alexandria or Suez leave by commercial means where it is safe to do so. British nationals in other areas of Egypt where there are demonstrations should follow the advice below and stay indoors wherever possible.
Egyptian tourist massacre
http://fraughtwithperil.com/markrogow/2010/02/28/egyptian-tourist-massacres/