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Cairo’s craft market hit by tourism collapse

With visitor numbers plummeting, markets have been hit by the resulting microeconomic crises.

Hossam, is an 18-year-old craftsman working in a workshop opened by his great grand-father. "I started working here When I was eight," he said. "Now things are changing, the raw materials are getting too expensive; taxes are too high. We keep on producing for export but our main income is from tourists and the revolution was a sharp blow to us."

By Mariagrazia Petito Di Leo

Published On 25 Jul 2012

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Cairo, Egypt – Khan el-Khalili is an ancient market area which has housed handmade arts and crafts since the 14th century. Once a flourishing hub for craftsmen, today it faces a sharp economic decline.

Just 18 months ago, tourism was one of the main sources of Egypt’s economy, generating more than $12bn a year.

But since the revolution erupted on January 25, 2011, the country’s tourism sector has been decimated. According to the Egyptian ministry of tourism, there has been a $3.8bn fall in tourism revenues, due to 32 per cent fewer visitors to the nation famed for its pharoahs, pyramids and ancient monuments – at it has been Cairo bearing the brunt of the street fighting in recent months.

A huge range of industries have been affected, with small family-owned factories and shops paying much of the consequences.

The perceived lack of security noted in the past few months is the main reason why tourists no longer choose Egypt as a favourite destination, said officials, yet the craftsmen of Khan el-Khalili remain welcoming to all.

They produce everything from lamps to bags, bowls to chandeliers; they work with a huge range of materials: wood, glass, mother-of-pearl, alabaster, ivory and copper.

Some of these workers have inherited the crafts and businesses started generations ago by their great-grand parents. And now these basic economic activities are in jeopardy.

Nonetheless, Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, Egypt’s minister of tourism, predicted to Al Jazeera that tourists would return in greater numbers in the next tourist season, following the election of the new president and the nation’s return to “normality”.

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Metalwork and other crafts have been hand-made and sold by artisans in this district of Cairo since the 14th century.
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The Khan el-Khalili market used to be one of the busiest tourist sites in the whole of Cairo, with thousands of bargain-hunters packing its narrow streets.
Tamer works with mother-of-pearl to create decorative boxes, tables and other items.
The craftsmen often work hidden away from the main shopping area in tiny upstairs workshops.
Nagiub has been working with brass in his workshop for almost 50 years, but now is unsure of his future.
The once-teeming market is close to the famed Al-Azhar University and mosque - one of the most senior seats of Islamic learning.
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Mostafa is a 12-year-old woodworker who makes buckets in his father(***)s workshop. "So far, we(***)ve been working only wood," said his father. "Now we are using other things, because wood is not enough anymore."
Carpenter Zizo (left), makes all manner of wooden items, from baskets to signs. He complains about the sharp decrease of the tourism. "Please tell your fellow citizens to come back here," he said. "We need them."
Mohammad produces arabesque artwork. "The work is so slow in this period," he says. "It was much better before"
The craftspeople start young - this boy is just eight years old, carefully cutting out a letter to be used on a necklace.
Mahmoud builds coffee machines, and says that he has almost got used to not seeing foreign tourists. "You are as welcome as my family is," he says. "Tell it to your friends: It(***)s not dangerous here."