Spinx at Giza

billion”

The headline is pretty self explanatory. While freedom, or the hope of it, has many people praying for a better life, they’re also losing out on the big business that once came their way. Really, it’s a small price to pay if life does improve. But the Arab Spring has turned into an Arab Fall and little has changed. The new boss is a lot like the old boss, or worse, there’s no boss at all.

From Morocco to Jordan, tourists are choosing to visit places instead of joining in the new Arab world. In Egypt, 16 percent of its GDP is from tourists money, and officials there expect money to be down 80 percent this year’s holiday season. (Overall, it expects to lose about $2.5 billion for the year.)

Hipster Travel Guide was one of the groups changing its itinerary — as we had hoped to travel to Egypt last spring, and, well, didn’t for exactly the same reasons everyone else is canceling. Why take the risk when there are so many other places to go and see.

Things in Egypt may pick up next year, many expect. It will begin elections next year and then rewrite its constitution and then elect a new president. All of that will take time. And until then, tourists are staying away.

Much of North Africa also faces similar problems, and while those countries don’t have as many visitors, they rely more on the tourists who do arrive.

However, many in the Bloomberg story said that it’s a short term loss for a long term gain. We hope they’re right and hope we can finally book that trip. The best way to support a revolution is to participate, take lots of photos and leave some good tips.

But when we started looking into the head of state there — the infamous Muammar Qaddafi — we realized we have no idea how to spell the crazed leader’s name. (This is the same guy who wanted to displace all of the homeless in Central Park so he could set up a giant tent there — and, well, act like a homeless person.)

So in our search for the Q-man’s correct spelling, we learned from ABC News that there are actually 120 different spellings of his name. So allow us to present them to you:

• Qaddafi, Muammar
• Al-Gathafi, Muammar
• al-Qadhafi, Muammar
• Al Qathafi, Mu’ammar
• Al Qathafi, Muammar
• El Gaddafi, Moamar
• El Kadhafi, Moammar
• El Kazzafi, Moamer
• El Qathafi, Mu’Ammar
• Gadafi, Muammar
• Gaddafi, Moamar
• Gadhafi, Mo’ammar
• Gathafi, Muammar
• Ghadafi, Muammar
• Ghaddafi, Muammar
• Ghaddafy, Muammar
• Gheddafi, Muammar
• Gheddafi, Muhammar
• Kadaffi, Momar
• Kad’afi, Mu`amar al- 20
• Kaddafi, Muamar
• Kaddafi, Muammar
• Kadhafi, Moammar
• Kadhafi, Mouammar
• Kazzafi, Moammar
• Khadafy, Moammar
• Khaddafi, Muammar
• Moamar al-Gaddafi
• Moamar el Gaddafi
• Moamar El Kadhafi
• Moamar Gaddafi
• Moamer El Kazzafi
• Mo’ammar el-Gadhafi
• Moammar El Kadhafi
• Mo’ammar Gadhafi
• Moammar Kadhafi
• Moammar Khadafy
• Moammar Qudhafi
• Mu`amar al-Kad’afi
• Mu’amar al-Kadafi
• Muamar Al-Kaddafi
• Muamar Kaddafi
• Muamer Gadafi
• Muammar Al-Gathafi
• Muammar al-Khaddafi
• Mu’ammar al-Qadafi
• Mu’ammar al-Qaddafi
• Muammar al-Qadhafi
• Mu’ammar al-Qadhdhafi
• Mu`ammar al-Qadhdhāfī 50
• Mu’ammar Al Qathafi
• Muammar Al Qathafi
• Muammar Gadafi
• Muammar Gaddafi
• Muammar Ghadafi
• Muammar Ghaddafi
• Muammar Ghaddafy
• Muammar Gheddafi
• Muammar Kaddafi
• Muammar Khaddafi
• Mu’ammar Qadafi
• Muammar Qaddafi
• Muammar Qadhafi
• Mu’ammar Qadhdhafi
• Muammar Quathafi
• Mulazim Awwal Mu’ammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi
• Qadafi, Mu’ammar
• Qadhafi, Muammar
• Qadhdhāfī, Mu`ammar
• Qathafi, Mu’Ammar el 70
• Quathafi, Muammar
• Qudhafi, Moammar
• Moamar AI Kadafi
• Maummar Gaddafi
• Moamar Gadhafi
• Moamer Gaddafi
• Moamer Kadhafi
• Moamma Gaddafi
• Moammar Gaddafi
• Moammar Gadhafi
• Moammar Ghadafi
• Moammar Khadaffy
• Moammar Khaddafi
• Moammar el Gadhafi
• Moammer Gaddafi
• Mouammer al Gaddafi
• Muamar Gaddafi
• Muammar Al Ghaddafi
• Muammar Al Qaddafi
• Muammar Al Qaddafi
• Muammar El Qaddafi
• Muammar Gadaffi
• Muammar Gadafy
• Muammar Gaddhafi
• Muammar Gadhafi
• Muammar Ghadaffi
• Muammar Qadthafi
• Muammar al Gaddafi
• Muammar el Gaddafy
• Muammar el Gaddafi
• Muammar el Qaddafi
• Muammer Gadaffi
• Muammer Gaddafi
• Mummar Gaddafi
• Omar Al Qathafi
• Omar Mouammer Al Gaddafi
• Omar Muammar Al Ghaddafi
• Omar Muammar Al Qaddafi
• Omar Muammar Al Qathafi
• Omar Muammar Gaddafi
• Omar Muammar Ghaddafi
• Omar al Ghaddafi

Spinx at Giza

But now that Egyptians and found freedom and are awaiting a new government to be installed, a lot of people are hoping tourists will return.

Officials there estimate that the country has already lost more than $1 billion during the riots that everyone watched on television (and canceled their trips). Additionally, many of the tourist locations are still closed as local authorities are trying to secure them.

But many of the sites and historic locations are quickly reopening and Egyptians really, really, really want people to return and start spending money on papyrus drawings, pyramid power hats and “All I got from Egypt was this stupid T-shirt” t’s.

USA Today estimates that about 11 percent of Egypt’s economy is based on tourism. The sooner people return, the better for Egypt.

Multiple media outlets are saying that Mubarak has left Cairo and headed down to the resort town of Sharmelshiek at the southern tip of the Sinai.

So what does that mean for tourists? Well, right now, no one is sure — it could mean that in the coming weeks, things will start to open up and tourism will return to normal by the end of March. (That’s when most airlines and tourist companies are planning to resume trips.) Then again, the country could fall further into chaos and cancellations could continue.

If you’ve already booked your trip to Egypt, then you’re kind of screwed — and you’re at the whim of your agent, airline or travel insurance company. If you haven’t booked your trip, you may want to wait and see.

What we do think much of this means is that there could be some great deals in the coming months to Egypt because everyone will want to show that things have returned to normal again as quickly as possible. That means great deals are to be had.

It’s just a matter of when that is. Our guess is April — but we’d probably recommend some travel insurance to go along with it.

Spinx at Giza

European tourist companies say they’re losing millions because people want their freedom in places like Tunisia and Egypt. Shouldn’t those people just go on living oppressed lives so these guys can make a buck.

The British travel agency Thomas Cook reported that it has lost 20 million pounds (Sterling that is — or $32 million) because of the revolutions in North Africa, the Financial Times reported. Tui Travel, which offers packages to many other European countries as well, says it may lose 25 million pounds ($40 million) for the same troubles freedom rabel rousers have caused.

The Red Sea is open for business at Sharmelsheikh

(Similar reports went out in the late 1700′s to King George Tourism, though losses then were significantly less.)

Overall, about 11 percent of Egypts GDP is tourism, bringing in almost $11 billion from more than 12 million tourists last year. There’s no telling when things will return to normal — or what that new normal will mean for tourists. However, many of the resort areas in the Sinai, such as Sharmelsheikh on the southern tip, have not  been affected by the people’s uprising in Cairo, according to many media reports.

Around Cairo, many of the main tourist spots, such as the pyramids, the Cairo museum and the Library of Alexandria are closed. Civil unrest and Molotov cocktails can do that.

Additionally, worried Europeans are now being offered vacations to Spain or Florida — both are very similar to Egypt, except the history and camels. However, both of those destinations do have a lot more cocktails that are not bottles filled with gasoline.

Thousands of people are standing up to a dictator in Egypt and demanding he step down. War planes are flying over the prymids right now — and today, the U.S. State Department has finally issued a travel warning for Americans thinking about going to Egypt.

While some media reports talk about the impact the fall of the current Egyptian government may have on the US, the real story is what the collapse of the Egyptian government will have on the Egyptian people.

For travelers right now, it means that Egypt is a pretty dangerous place to be. Just a week ago, HTG was saying Egypt would still be worth going to — however, now, we have to admit that even we would stay away for the time being. We don’t mind risks that are simply those stupid over cautious things — we do pay attention when jets buzz by and military troops sit in tanks on street corners.  Furthermore, many of the tourist locations are closed, as it appears there are bigger concerns right now.

“The Government of Egypt has imposed a curfew from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. in Cairo, Alexandria and Suez until further notice, and U.S. citizens should obey curfew orders and remain indoors during curfew hours.” the warning states. “U.S. citizens currently in Egypt should consider leaving as soon as they can safely do so.”

Much like Tunisia, the ground swell of opposition seems nearly inevitable that the government will collapse after the last rubber bullet is shot and the tear gas dissipates. According to reports in Egypt, the government has turned off cell phone service and Internet capabilities in some areas where protests have occurred to hinder protesters from garnering additional support.

The US State Department, while issuing a travel warning for Tunisia where violence has subsided, has not issued a similar warning for Egypt as of this morning. Our guess is the state department will issue something shortly after everything has calmed down.

See, the old one got over thrown, which may make an interesting movie, but not a great place to visit. Demonstrations have errupted in Tunis, the nation’s capital and what officials did not head to Saudi Arabia said they hope to form a new government today, though they will continue to tear gas and shoot anyone who opposes them.

Good luck with that.

According to the US State Department, “(the) current political and social unrest in Tunisia and recommends deferring non-essential travel to Tunisia at this time. A state of emergency was declared in Tunisia on January 14.” The embassy has authorized the evacuation of family members. A curfew remains in effect, though the time has changed a number of times.

News reports were a little less dire than the State Department, saying despite gun battles over the weekend, things seemed to be returning to a more normal time. Many stranded tourists were still awaiting flights, after air space over the small nation was suspended.

The African nation, slightly larger than Georgia, is home to the Carthage Empire, which once envied only Rome. And more recently, it was home to much of the filming of the original Star Wars. It had been slowly becoming a great little getaway because of its nice beaches, spas and inexpensive living.

However, coups tend to take the fun out of many tourist locations.

Tour d’Afrique will take more than 100 riders through 10 African nations including Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

Tour Director Sharita van der Merwe said, “Riders range in age from 18 to 68 and while the majority of them do it for the sheer joy and adventure, a handful of racers will be giving it all they’ve got competitively. The event attracts riders from all walks of life, each with their own unique stories and reasons for doing it, but what is heartening is how many of the entrants are riding to raise funds and awareness for good causes and charities.”

But this is not a charity run (though it is a well organized race too) — it’s a cross continent tour that will last four months and include 94 days of riding. Already, organizers say they have a record number of people signing up with 119 riders enlisting into the tour. (You can sign up for either the whole run Euro 8900 or one of the eight different legs of of the event, which start at Euro 900.)

Riders will start in Egypt, ride along the Nile, cross the Sudanese desert, traverse Ethiopia’s Simian Mountains, travel past Mount Kilimanjaro to Victoria Falls and along the edges of the Kalahari and Namib deserts before arriving at the finish line in Cape Town South Africa.

The journey begins Jan. 15 in Egypt and ends May 14. People are still welcome to sign up.

If you have the money, and you have the time — how can we say not go? It’s just that awesome.

For more information, route descriptions and instructions on how to register please go to: http://www.tourdafrique.com/tours/tourdafrique/overview or call +1-416-364-8255.

A crocodile stowed away in someone’s bag on a flight over the Democratic Republic of Africa escaped, caused passengers to panic and the erupting panic caused the plane to crash, according to media reports.

All 19 passengers and the plane’s crew died in the crash. The crocodile, which survived, was killed by the rescue crew.

This serves as notice and yet another reason to ban those hideous plastic shoes from any travel — and really, you shouldn’t even use them as garden shoes.