Egypt hopes to attract 14.5 million tourists in 2012April 30, 2012 - 13:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Egypt's Tourism Minister says he expects visitor numbers to bounce back to pre-uprising levels this year after travelers stayed away amid Arab Spring unrest. According to AP, Mounir Abdel-Nour said Monday, April 30 at a hotel conference in Dubai that Egypt is aiming to attract 14.5 million tourists this year. That would put it close to the 14.7 million tourist level the North African country drew in 2010. Abdel-Nour says visitor numbers plunged by a third last year as travelers made nervous by violent street protests avoided the pyramids, beaches and other sites for which Egypt is known. Egypt depends heavily on tourism to create jobs and bring in foreign currency. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |