VOA慢速英语--由于外国游客稀少，埃及经济受到影响

At the Pyramids of Giza, a few tourists walk among Egypt's ancient wonders. At Red Sea resorts, visitor numbers are well below what they were in earlier years.

Coronavirus cases in Egypt remain under control. But, officials, hotel owners and tour guides agree that the tourism season, starting in October, is going to be difficult.

That could be bad news for the economy. Tourism makes up to around 15 percent of Egypt's economy. Officials said the economy was losing around $1 billion each month after tourism mostly stopped in March.

Since July 1, 220,000 tourists have visited the Red Sea province and South Sinai, which is home to the Sharm el-Sheikh resort. That number represents less than 10 percent of last year's levels, said Ghada Shalaby, a deputy¹ minister at the Ministry² of Tourism and Antiquities³.

Egypt has asked the International Monetary⁴ Fund (IMF) for $8 billion in new loans this year.

Samir is a trader who has been working at the pyramids south of Cairo for around 30 years.

"We used to see about 50 buses here. Now there are none," he said. He has been selling his possessions to pay for his son's school fees.

"We only had one bus, a week ago, full of Russians. They took some photos and left."

Westerners often come to see Egypt's historic⁵ sites and golden sands between October and May. They want to avoid the cold at home and the heat of Egypt's summer.

Shalaby said visitors are slowly returning to the resorts by the sea. But Shalaby said that safety was more important than increasing tourism numbers.

Nile cruises⁷ will likely begin in October, but it is unlikely that bookings will pick up without a return of charter⁸ flights.

"We hope that next year tourism will be working," said Tharwat Agamy of the Egyptian Travel Agents Association.

The Egyptian government has moved to protect the tourism industry with emergency financing⁹. More than 9,000 tour guides will receive $32 monthly until the end of the year.

Officially recorded daily coronavirus cases have fallen to under 200 from about 1,500 in the middle of June.

Officials say the places that tourists visit and hotels are subject to controls. Those entering the country are required to take PCR tests, a special kind of medical test. But the European Union has not added Egypt to its safe travel list.

At Cairo's Khan al Khalili market, a popular place for tourists, many stores are closed.

"There is no one," said Sayed Abdel Khaleq, a silver shop owner.

Words in This Story

tourist – n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure

resort – n. a place where people go for vacations

cruise⁶ – n. to travel on a boat or ship to a number of places as a vacation

fee – n. an amount of money that must be paid

photo – n. an image made from a camera

booking – n. an arrangement to have something (such as a room, seat, or place) held for your use at a later time

charter – adj. hired for temporary use

1 deputy   

n.代理人，代表，副职；adj.代理的，副的

参考例句：

• John will act as a deputy for me during my absence.我离开期间，约翰将代理我的职务。
• She is the deputy headmistress of the school.她是那所学校的代理校长。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 antiquities   

n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯

参考例句：

• There is rest and healing in the contemplation of antiquities. 欣赏古物有休息和疗养之功。 来自辞典例句
• Bertha developed a fine enthusiasm for the antiquities of London. 伯沙对伦敦的古迹产生了很大的热情。 来自辞典例句

4 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

5 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

6 cruise   

v.巡航，航游，缓慢巡行；n.海上航游

参考例句：

• They went on a cruise to Tenerife.他们乘船去特纳利夫岛。
• She wants to cruise the canals of France in a barge.她想乘驳船游览法国的运河。

7 cruises   

v.乘船巡游( cruise的第三人称单数 )；以快而平稳的速度长距离行驶；巡航；轻而易举赢得（或获得）

参考例句：

• Cruises on the Thames in London, have become an annual attraction. 在伦敦泰晤士河上的巡航已成为一年一度的引人注目的事。 来自辞典例句
• Throughout the year traders and recruiters arrive from far, dry cruises. 一年到头，总有商人和募工者经过干渴的长途航行来到这里。 来自辞典例句

8 charter   

n.特许状，执照，宪章；v.特许，发给特许执照

参考例句：

• This new law amounts to a tax evader's charter.这项新法律简直成了为逃税者开的许可证。
• We will charter a steamer to convey the goods.我们将租一艘船运送这批货物。

9 financing   

n.筹措资金

参考例句：

• The main source of our outside financing is bank loan. 我们向外筹措资金的主要渠道是银行贷款。
• They live in a symbiosis with governments that they are financing. 他们与他们服务的政府互利共存。