by Mahmoud Fouly
LUXOR, Egypt, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Masrya, a 24-year-old German, immediately booked a flight to Egypt's Luxor once she knew the monument-rich city was finally reopened to tourists.
The name "Masrya," which means "Egyptian woman" in Arabic, was given by her father who loved Egypt a lot and was a frequent visitor to the North African country.
"I really love Egypt. I love the people here, the culture, the sun and everything. Everybody looks happy and friendly here," Masrya told Xinhua in Luxor, without providing her full name.
"I can say it is really safe to visit Egypt even alone," she said.
Egypt reopened Luxor's archeological sites, hotels and museums for tourists from the beginning of September, after the number of COVID-19 infections and fatalities remarkably went down in the country.
For the first time in about six months, groups of tourists were seen in Luxor's famed Karnak Temple Complex and around its main giant pylon behind an avenue of 40 sphinxes, 20 on each side.
Anthony from the Netherlands was also among the first foreign visitors of Luxor after tourism resumption in the city.
"I feel that locals are very happy to see tourists coming back to Egypt. I know it's a very difficult time for Egypt and I really hope tourists would come back because there's so much to see here," said Anthony, who also did not provide his full name.
"It's been a very pleasant experience in Egypt," the Dutch tourist added.
Officials in Luxor have been implementing the government's coexistence plan to maintain anti-coronavirus precautionary measures while resuming economic activities.
Egypt has so far confirmed 99,280 COVID-19 cases, including 5,461 deaths and 74,626 recoveries. Total recoveries in the country have exceeded 75 percent of the cumulative cases.
Tourism is one of the main sources of national income and foreign currency in Egypt, as its tourism revenues hit a record 13 billion U.S. dollars in 2019.
"The tourism sector has greatly been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. We have now resumed tourism in Luxor in accordance with the precautionary measures instructed by the Health Ministry," Luxor Governor Mostafa Alham told Xinhua.
"I expect refreshment of the tourism sector during the coming few months, particularly with the beginning of the new winter tourism season that starts in October," the governor said.
The bazaar outside the Karnak Temple Complex, with several stores mostly selling souvenirs, wasn't very crowded with foreign customers, but locals are still hopeful that the number of tourists will increase in the coming few weeks.
"The tourism resumption in Luxor after six months of suspension is like a feast to all of us," said Awad Bushra, 43, a souvenir store owner at the bazaar.
"Although the number of tourists is still limited, officials in Luxor reassured us that there are many bookings of foreign tourists to visit Luxor during the imminent winter tourism season," the man explained.
Momen al-Qady, a 38-year-old tour guide from Luxor who has been working in the tourism sector for 15 years, told Xinhua that most people in Luxor work directly or indirectly in tourism.
Hotels in Luxor reopened after receiving hygiene safety certificates from the government responsible for ensuring their implementation of strict anti-coronavirus precautionary measures.
"It's not my first time to visit Egypt and I am very happy to come back and visit Luxor. The authorities here are doing their best to ensure our safety and it's quite safe here," said Daniel, a 46-year-old tourist from Switzerland, without revealing his family name.
"I honestly encourage everyone to come to Egypt and visit Luxor," the Swiss tourist told Xinhua. Enditem
