“Egypt is a neighbor of both the Gaza Strip and Israel. Therefore, objectively speaking, he has something to worry about,” said a local blogger.
In light of recent events in the Middle East, including the acute conflict between Israel and Palestine, Egypt fears two things: an increase in the number of migrants from the tense regions and a potential reduction in the flow of tourists to the country. The author drew attention to the troubles that may befall the country of pyramids.
With the start of hostilities in the Middle East on October 7, the Egyptian authorities have shown caution in their statements, calling for peace and cautiously supporting the Palestinians as a “brotherly people”. At the same time, ordinary Egyptians expressed their support for Palestine more clearly, although, as the blogger noted, this can be described as “couch support”. There were no demonstrations in support of Palestine on the streets of Egypt, unlike in neighboring countries.
However, the main concerns now are related to two factors: an increase in the number of migrants and a possible reduction in the flow of tourists to the country. According to the author, the reduction in tourist flow has become an especially acute problem in light of recent events, when Americans and tourists from other countries have become cautious about traveling to tense regions.
“There is an acute shortage of currency in the country and the main hope is tourists who will “throw” this currency,” the blogger said. “Egypt’s response to the conflict is as restrained as possible and is aimed at maintaining peace and security in the country.” However, the possible consequences for the tourism sector remain uncertain.
Egypt may also face a new wave of migrants. “Egypt, as a friend of the Palestinian people, must accept on its land those who want to flee from there in a troubled time, even if they are women and children. And many criticize Egypt for not yet opening the checkpoint from the Gaza Strip,” the author is confident.
However, the country of the pyramids already has enough displaced people, including millions of refugees from Syria, Libya, and Sudan. This flow of migrants creates social and economic challenges for the country. “Everyone suffered, except for the owners of the apartments that are being rented out. From the prices, you can understand that the demand exceeds the supply, despite the burdensome situation in the economy,” the blogger added, noting that the country cannot handle an additional several million refugees from Palestine.
It appears that Egypt faces a difficult choice, calling for peace and supporting Palestine, but also facing internal challenges related to migration and the tourism sector. Meanwhile, the country of the pyramids, according to the author, in the last couple of years “in terms of the standard of living and well-being of the population, it has confidently slipped down.” And, what is remarkable, Egypt stopped being cheap.