Artists turn the spotlight on tourism at Sharm carnival

Expectations are high, as a group of 65 artists from 24 countries head to the annual arts and culture carnival in Egypt's Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The carnival, which runs this week, aims to boost the resort's tourist trade after a Russian airliner crashed in Sinai last month, killing all 224 passengers and crew on board.

The international participants, including artists from France, Belgium, Denmark, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia, will work jointly on a mural to promote peace in Sharm.

The carnival, organised by the Ostraka Foundation for Arts and Culture, will include an international exhibition against violence, and will conclude with concerts by Egyptian singers.

Bad news for tourism

On Saturday, Egyptian tourism minister Hisham Zaazou said that the number of tourists coming to Egypt would not exceed nine million by the end of the year, 13 percent fewer than the previous year.

Egypt's tourism revenues are expected to fall by 15 percent compared to last year, dropping to $6.2 billion

As a result, Egypt's tourism revenues are expected to fall by 15 percent compared with last year, dropping to $6.2 billion.

According to Zaazou, Egypt is losing EGP 2.2 billion ($281 million) every month the UK and Russia continue to suspend flights to Egypt in the aftermath of the crash.

The minister also said that the tourism sector relied heavily on Russian and British tourists, who constitute 66 percent of visitors to Sharm el-Sheikh, while Russian tourists alone account for 52 percent of tourists in Hurgada, another major Red Sea tourist destination.

Reviving a struggling sector

The deteriorating condition of Egypt tourism and its anticipated knock-on consequences have inspired several official initiatives - and even social media campaigns - to save the day.

On 11 November, Egypt's president made a surprise visit to Sharm el-Sheikh airport, in an attempt to reassure tourists that the vacation destination was safe.

"Our visit today aims to reassure people inside and outside Egypt," he said after greeting some foreign tourists.

"We want people who come here to be secure and safe and to live and go back safely to their countries."

Dozens of Egyptian celebrities have also flocked to Sharm el-Sheikh to promote tourism and reassure both domestic and foreign holidaymakers that the city was safe.

Accompanied by dozens of Egyptian people, officials, and judges, the celebrities rallied in the city's main streets, carrying banners inviting tourists to return, while a delegation from al-Azhar, Egypt's leading Islamic institution, welcomed tourists arriving at Sharm al-Sheikh airport.

"We are here to send out the message that the city is safe," South Sinai governor Khaled Fouda told local Egyptian television channel Sada el-Balad.

In addition, a Twitter campaign using the Arabic hashtag I am going to Sharm was launched by Egyptians to show solidarity with the resort city and encourage others to visit.