Bakkar: Salafist party to refrain from decisions damaging to tourism

Nader Bakkar, the official spokesperson for the Salafist Nour Party, announced during a national dialogue with the Egyptian Federation of Tourist Chambers on Wednesday evening that the party will not take any decision for a period of one year in the coming People’s Assembly (the lower house of parliament) that might damage the country’s tourism sector. Bakkar explained that the Nour Party is calling for a new initiative to overcome the current economic crisis "by endorsing a political truce for a specific period, which could be a year, during which the government, presidency and various political forces can execute an agreed upon legislative and economic agenda for an economic renaissance." He also pointed out that this step will be sufficient enough to reactivate the economy and to resolve the tourism crisis in the current period. Bakkar made it clear that it is not possible for an official to close a crucial and ongoing activity like tourism, affirming that a balance may be struck between the party's principles and the country’s economic requirements. Salafist Nour Party confirmed that they will not close down beach tourism since it is an essential part of tourism in Egypt. A number of party representatives, the minister of tourism, and the head of the Egyptian Federation of Tourist Chambers attended Wednesday’s meeting. Last week, Elhamy El-Zayat, head of Egyptian Federation of Tourist Chambers, told Ahram’s Arabic-language news website that since the 5 December clashes between opponents and supporters of President Mohamed Morsi at the presidential palace, Egypt has been losing 250 million dollars on a weekly basis. He also expressed concern at the low tourist figures seen in Egypt this Christmas holiday. From Ahramonline