Zahi Hawass and the future of Egyptian Tourism
With the ousting of the Mubarak regime last year, so went Zahi Hawass, Minister of Antiquities, and the face of ancient Egypt. An article at the Huffington Post looks into what happened to Hawass since (not much, seems like he is sitting around hoping to be reinstated…), and it provides some other interesting info:
- Tourism revenue in Egypt dropped by a third to $8.8 billion in 2011, and industry observers say the damage has been much worse.
- Occupancy rates in Luxor have dropped as low as 4%, down from an average 61%, and beach resort Sharm el Sheik’s rate has dropped from 70% to 8%.
- The Building and Development Party, which won 13 seats in the 2011 election is the political wing of the El Gama’a El Islamiyya movement. In 1997, it claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack on foreigners in Luxor where 48 tourists died.
- The Muslim Brotherhood’s official news site has promised to invest $20 billion in the tourism industry.
There is a new Minister of Antiquities, but I can’t even find a photo of him. If Egypt wants their tourism industry to rebound, reinstating Zahi Hawass will not only give them a proven performer, but a familiar face will ease the fears of potential visitors.
Egypt is cheap right now, and given that tourism is Egypt’s number one source of income, the new Muslim leaders will look after tourists. Now is a perfect time to visit – cheap and no crowds at ancient sites.
Zahi Hawass lined his own pockets by organising the massive theft of artefacts, he also stole numerous articles for himself. He was removed for his involvement in fraud, though he is guilty of far more. He even oversaw the theft of stone blocks engraved with information directly mentioning the Sphinx building, never before had blocks been found mentioning the construction of the Sphinx. Hawass was also involved in the killing of a number of grave robbers whom stumbled on very special artefacts under the village. Hawass has single handedly ruined the chances for humanity to understand the truth regarding the lost civilisation that built the Sphinx and other very ancient sites – reinstate him?
The following comments require proof at the very least, and the most, they are potentially libelous and delusional!
“Zahi Hawass lined his own pockets by organising the massive theft of artefacts, he also stole numerous articles for himself. He was removed for his involvement in fraud, though he is guilty of far more. He even oversaw the theft of stone blocks engraved with information directly mentioning the Sphinx building, never before had blocks been found mentioning the construction of the Sphinx. Hawass was also involved in the killing of a number of grave robbers whom stumbled on very special artefacts under the village. Hawass has single handedly ruined the chances for humanity to understand the truth regarding the lost civilisation that built the Sphinx and other very ancient sites – reinstate him?”
Where is the money that supposedly Zahi Hawass stole from the SCA and the various exhibits that are still traveling the world? How could he steal engraved stone block and how did he kill grave robbers? Who are these people who Zahi supposedly killed? Did he use a light sabre or perhaps an Indiana Jones bullwhip to carry out the killings?
Obviously the comments above lacks common sense and proof! Sounds like one of those whackjobs who just want to roam the Plateau and dig around the Sphynx to try and find their mythical Hall of Records. What a bitter individual…Zahi Hawass would never let him or other associated whackjobs on to the Plateau so good luck with getting the Muslim Brotherhood to accomodate your craziness!
Hawass is a charlatan, a bully and a fake. He singlehandedly slaughtered modern Egyptology and made it a closed shop to the outside world. His so-called understanding of Egyptology was laughable, his techniques inept, his assumptions wholly incorrect and his choice of similarly inept co-workers who wittingly or unwittingly assisted him in perpetrating his atrocities agains art, culture and ancient history, should be recognised for the crime it is. This wretched little man has put the advancenent and promotion of Egyptology back 100 years. He should be locked up, with the key to his cell thrown away. Unlike the tombs he unlocked and emptied for his own personal gain!