Egypt Tourism Nervous Over Possible Alcohol Ban

The ability to ban alcohol again created a certain fear of the tourism industry in Egypt. The industry fears the prohibition of alcohol, although experts believe it is unlikely that it imposed.

The fear was triggered when the government of Mohamed Morsi has decided not to issue a liquor license. This decision was announced last week. The Party for Freedom and Justice has decided not to issue a liquor license in some urban areas to prevent the spread of debauchery in Egyptian society.

Freedom Party and the conservative Justice who have close ties with the Muslim Brotherhood has again raised the debate among tourism stakeholders. Although the ban is not likely to affect any tourist destination, including Sharm El Sheikh and other resorts of the Red Sea, there is a growing fear of conservatism that could spell the end of the tourism industry. 

Some newspapers in Egypt see as the new catastrophe for tourism. However, experts believe that there is a marginal possibility something like that. The stakes are too high for the Egyptian government to ban the sale of alcohol in tourist destinations.

No matter how the Egyptian government might see tourism as anti-Islamic, it can not ignore the importance of tourism to the local economy. Such a measure is likely to worsen tensions.

The Egyptian people are very concerned about the economy and do not approve of any gesture that could adversely affect the tourism industry. The Red Sea resorts were built with their own rules and ways of life that are very different from the rest of Egypt. It is very unlikely that a government can intervene in this environment.

Experts believe that this ban is more likely to be imposed in places like Luxor and Aswan. There is a feeling in the government that tourists continue to visit these destinations, even with the prohibition of alcohol. However, this is not the case for the stations of the Red Sea.

However, long-term, no one is sure that the Liberals will be able to provide sufficient strength to avoid the prohibition of alcohol. If and when such a ban will be introduced, it could only hurt tourism and this strongly.

Egypt has only begun to find some relief to tourists even as unrest continues. Last year, 11.5 million tourists visited Egypt, which is more than 17 per cent in 2010. However, the figure is still well below 2009.