Be Nice to Tourists! again..

June 24, 2006

A new advertisement from the Egyptian government has now gone up in various places. This one again emphasizes the economic benefit that comes from tourism. The text reads:

200,000 work opportunities for us and for our children

with every million tourists who visit us.

Then at the bottom the situation is summed up: "Tourism is good for all of us." The pictures help to highlight the range of people who are helped by tourism. I can immediately identify a farmer, a tour guide, a cleaning person, a shop owner, a waiter, and a building restorer. Not visible in that square of pictures is anyone who looks like a politician or wealthy businessman.. instead they are all common people happy to be working. The message: "It could be your job that is supported by tourism, so be nice to those tourists!"