How will Israel’s war on Gaza impact the local tourism industry? That was the key question posed on the talk shows last night — and “don’t worry” was the key message:

  • The Tourism Promotion Board: “Ever since the war broke out, we have been in contact with tourism partners to ensure that our tourism markets know that the situation in Egypt is stable … we saw more tourists come in during October than we did during the same period last year,” Tourism Promotion Board chief Amr El Kady told El Hekaya’s Amr Adib (watch, runtime: 4:52). Last week alone we saw five flight operators announce new routes to Egypt, he added.
  • The House Tourism Committee: Although the conflict has “definitely affected” tourism numbers, the outlook for next year is stable with reservations in January and February remaining unchanged, committee chair Nora Ali told Kelma Akhira’s Lamees El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 4:58).

** Tourism Minister Ahmed Issa spoke to Reuters on the issue. We have coverage in the news well, above.

Egypt wants to take in more wounded Palestinians, Health Ministry says: Kelma Akhira picked up the Health Ministry’s announcement that another 17 injured Palestinians crossed the border into Egypt for medical treatment yesterday (watch, runtime: 2:06). “We are prepared to take in and treat all kinds of illnesses and injuries … we are trying and we’re taking in all the cases that cross the border,” Health Ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel Ghaffar told El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 4:32). “Our hospitals are prepared to take in much more than the 17 Palestenians who arrived today.”

WHO calls for humanitarian ceasefire:“We need the international community and international leaders to pressure the Israeli government to ensure the safe passage of aid to Gaza,” World Health Organization spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 3:40). “We have been somewhat successful in delivering aid but we don’t have the necessary capabilities to deliver enough to sustain the people in Gaza.” We have the latest on Gaza in this morning’s War Watch, above.

El Sisi’s meeting with the president of South Sudan got some airtime: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi yesterday discussed the status of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations during a meeting with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, Ittihadiya said yesterday. The two highlighted the need to reach a binding agreement regarding the filling and operation of the dam. A third round of negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan wrapped up at the end of the October without signs of a breakthrough. Ala Maso’uleety (watch, runtime: 7:43) and Masa’a DMC (watch, runtime: 1:53) had the story.

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