|
================ |
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
Z T I NEWSLETTER 2 A Comparative Study Between the Tourism Industry in Washington, DC and Cairo by Ali Zohery Introduction This research is for the purpose of comparing the tourism in Washington DCMetropolitan area and its impact on the local economy to the tourism in greater Cairo and the impact of the tourism on the local economy. The tourism in the Washington, DC area is the second industry after the government. Twenty million visitors come to Washington every year. Their spending contributes to the local economy with over eight billion dollars. The tourism in Cairo Egypt, also, is the second industry after the government. Cairo is one of the most famous places to be visited in Egypt. The pyramids and Sphinx, the world renowned monuments are located in greater Cairo area. The population of Egypt is about sixty million, ten million of them are working in jobs related to tourism directly or indirectly. Cairo has a great share in the tourism jobs.
Tourism in Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Washington, DC is a busy place with tourists, especially, during Spring and Summer. Families from around the nation come in waves in the summer vacation of the students. Educational tours attract the grandparents and the parents of these children to visit the nation's capital and learn about its history, monuments, sights, museums, federal government buildings and its people. Following are some of the most visited places in Washington. Visiting the White house from inside is one of the priorities for many people, especially, for the international visitors. Not in every country in the world, the home and the office of the president of the country is open for public to visit. Not only that, but also it is a free of charge visit. Washington, D.C. is known by "The marble city of the world." Most of the national monuments and federal government buildings are built of marble. US Capitol is one of these marble buildings. It is the legislative branch of the US government. Business and leisure travelers come from around the nation and from around the world. Whatever the reason for the visit, to spend a vacation, or to conduct a business, there are many things to be done and numerous sights to be seen. Washington Monument is the highest masonry structure in the world. The 555-ft. obelisk dedicated to the first president. The view is panoramic from the top, after taking a 70 second ride up to the top in elevator. There are fifty flags surrounding the base of the monument. They are representing the fifty states. Lincoln Memorial was built in 1922 and dedicated to the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. There are other Memorials at the same site such as Korean war veterans memorial and Vietnam veterans memorial. Jefferson memorial was built in 1945 and dedicated to the third president, Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, founder of the university of Virginia, inventor, lawyer, farmer, architect and social revolutionist. The Smithsonian institution is the most growing museum institute in the world. Fifteen museums of the Smithsonian are located in the nation's capital, including Air and Space museum, the most visited museum in the world.
The impact of tourism on the local economy of Washington, DC The above monuments and more attract millions of visitors to come to Washington, D.C. every year. In 1995, the total visitors arrived to the nation's capital were 20.4 million. Nineteen million people came from around the nation. 1.4 million came from around the world. These visitors spent $ 7.94 billion in the Washington area. Direct visitors' spending was $ 4.87 billion. Indirect visitors spending were $3.07 billion. Washington, D.C. share of total visitors spending was $ 3.48 billion. Visitor spending supported jobs in Washington area in the total of 215,000 jobs. DC share was 100.700 jobs. Total tax revenues were $ 555 million. DC tax revenues were $ 295 million. Types of direct visitor spending in Washington area are as following:
The above figures show how important the tourism industry to the Washington, D.C. In fact it is the second industry after the government. Many people in Washington, D.C. get benefit from the tourism industry directly or indirectly. For examples: hotels, gift shops, tour companies, taxi cabs and restaurants are business that depend on the visitors to Washington, D.C. area, and most of the employees who work in such businesses are locals.
Tourism in greater Cairo Cairo is the capital of Egypt. Cairo was founded where the Nile valley widens into the flat, fertile delta. It is the largest city in Africa (population 16 million and 4 million commuters from the suburbs). Cairo is one of the most densely populated places on earth. Egypt enjoys a unique geographical location. Many people from around the world favor its climates. It has a unique culture heritage. In Cairo, Egypt, there are monuments go back to the pharaonic, Roman, Coptic and Islamic periods. Egypt is the one of the most wanted places to be visited. travelers from around the world dream about seeing one of the famous seven wonders of the world, the great pyramid of Egypt which is located in greater Cairo Egypt is the dawn and cradle of civilization, land of the pharaohs, gift of the Nile all these and many more were named after Egypt. A heritage of 5000 rich and mysterious years that continue to attract millions of travelers to this land over the years. Cairo has so much to offer. People
from around the world with their different interest will find Cairo
fascinating in historic tourism, Therapeutic tourism, cultural tourism;
sports tourism, safari tourism and conference and Exhibition tourism. The
tourism in Cairo creates direct and indirect millions of jobs for the
Egyptians. Jobs in tourism are very profitable comparing to the other fields
in Egypt. The tourism has great impacts on the local economy of Cairo. Cairo
has the potential to earn large sums from tourism. The Egyptian government
is working on many tourist projects. The World Bank and other foreign
investors contribute funds to accomplish these projects. There are modern
landmarks in Cairo. Each of them has a function and contributes to the
economy of Cairo, more than being a modern memorial to be
There are many sites in Cairo to be visited the followings are famous and just examples:
A Cairo international conferees center (CICC) was established and equipped with most up to date Audi-visual and simultaneous interpretation equipment the last famous international conference was the international conference of peace makers Followers of Judaism, Christianity and Islam have famous places to visit such as Temples, Churches and mosques in Cairo and Alexandria. The Impact of Tourism on the Local Economy of Cairo Tourism in Egypt in general and Cairo in particular is one of the major sources of hard currency, and an effective factor in economical and social development. The third five-year plan (92/93-96/97) is improving the environment and expanding the tourist's attraction sites. The government spending in this five year's plan means creating new job opportunities for many Egyptians. Also, this will increase the number of the tourists to 4.3 million. These tourists will spend $2.6 billion (about l.E. 8.8 billion Egyptian pounds). The total investment in 1995/96 amounts to lE 1489 million. The total revenues from that tourist sector in 1995/96 have reached LE 11 billion and 200 million than an increase of L.E. 2417 million than in 1994/95 at a growth rate of 26.91%. The above investment is planned for all Egypt, but Cairo has the share of the Lion in that investment. Tourism in Egypt overtook oil as the country's main source of foreign exchange in 1988 and has remained a top money earner directly or indirectly providing one job in ten. The growth percentage of tourism expenditure in Egypt from 1985 to 1992 reached 766%, on the other hand the growth percentage of tourism receipts from 1985 to 1992 reached 203%. During and right after the gulf war 1991, the tourism reached its lowest level and about ten million Egyptians directly or indirectly were affected. People who were working at lodging, tourist food services and tour operations lost their jobs. It was impossible for them to get new jobs while the unemployment rate was 20%. These people started to use their savings if they had any, and when they run out they sold their furniture to get their necessities of life. It was an economical hardship for all these people. What happened to the tourism in Egypt because of the Gulf war shows how important the tourism to the Egyptian economy. In a country like Egypt, there are magnificent tourism sources to attract all kinds of tourists from around the world. Egypt's history and civilization are marketing tools to draw more tourists to the country. The Egyptian Government is making a great effort to assure the visitors to fulfill their expectation of life time trip to the land of the pharaohs, the cradle of civilization. Egypt is not getting enough of the market share in the international tourism. The services for the tourists need to be on equal footing with international tourist markets.
Comparison Between the Tourism and Its Impacts on Both Cities 1. Washington, DC and Cairo are the Capitals of their countries. The history of Washington goes back to over two hundred years, but the history of the site of Cairo goes back to over five thousand of years. 2. Nineteen millions out of the twenty millions who come to Washington, DC are from within the United States. Most of the tourists to Cairo are from other countries. The tourists from within Egypt to Cairo are very few, that is because of the poverty that most of the Egyptians live in, the tourists' rates are for the foreigners. Most of the Egyptians can not afford to pay these rates. 3. In Washington, DC you can visit all the memorials, monuments and the Smithsonian museums without paying any fees. They are federally funded. Tax payers pay for it. In Cairo you pay to get in any of the historical sites or the museums. 4. The populations of Washington, DC is about 600,000 people, with a millionand half commute every day to and from Washington, DC. Most of these commuters are working for the federal government and the tourism industry related work. In Cairo there are 16,000,000 people, with 4 millions commute every day from the suburbs to work in Cairo. Most of these 4 millions are working for the government of Egypt and also doing tourism related work. 5. The capital of the United States moved seven times before it arrived to Washington, DC which was designed in 1792 by Pierre La Enfant to be exclusively as a capital of the United States. Since then, gigantic federal government buildings were built, and memorials were erected for heroes, generals and presidents. Very often new memorials are added. The last one was Franklin Roosevelt memorial just opened in May 2nd, 1997. Washington now is like an open museum. The capital of Egypt moved several times. Cairo is located where the river Nile splits to two branches Rosetta and Damietta, around that location several cities with different names were the capital of the country in different times. Most of the historical sites in Cairo were built not for the purpose to be memorials, but to serve in a real life function.
Summary and conclusion The tourism in Washington, DC and Cairo is the second industry after the government. Although Egypt dedicates a separate ministry to promote tourism, but still Cairo is not getting enough tourists as Washington, DC gets every year. The reason of that because not many of the Egyptians travel to Cairo for the purpose of sightseeing as the Americans do when they travel to Washington, DC for that purpose. The tourism in Cairo is affected with the political situation in Egypt and the Middle East. The arrivals of the tourists increase when there is a stability and peace in the region. In Washington, DC the condition of the economy of the United States (recession, stability or growth) is a factor in the rates of the arrivals of the tourists. The international influence and presence in Washington, DC memorials and monuments could be seen easily. For examples, the Washington Monument was built similar to the ancient Egyptian Obelisk. Lincoln Memorial designed in a Greek style temple. The Netherlands memorial was gift from Holland. The Kennedy center is like an international museum. Gifts were presented to the center from around the world. Each gift represents a different culture. Most of the historical sites in Cairo have native Egyptian style. The other cultures that mixed with the Egyptians were affected with the Egyptian culture more than the other way around. The Egyptians had their own Egyptian culture, traditions, customs and architecture style. So, there are differences between the tourism in Washington, DC and Cairo, but, still there are some similarities.
References
Newsletters
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Contac webmaster Copyright © 2000 ZOHERY TOURS INTERNATIONAL INC. All rights reserved.