Q: With the protests going on in Egypt, how much has this crisis impacted tourism? Also, how much money does tourism bring to Egypt’s economy under peaceful conditions?
— William McKee Jr., Flowery Branch
A: More than 14.5 million tourists visited Egypt in 2010, a year before the overthrow of former President Hosni Mubarak. Tourism fell to 9.5 million in 2011 and rebounded to 10.5 million last year. Recent violence has led other countries to warn their citizens not to travel to Egypt. Flights to Egypt have been canceled and there have reports of some tourists being confined to their hotels once they have arrived there. There is a 7 p.m. to 6 a.m curfew. "The beaches are almost empty and we spend most of the day watching TV," a Russian tourist recently told Inter Press Service. Tourism accounted for about $8.5 billion, or 11.3 percent of Egypt's gross domestic product, under peaceful circumstances, according to the Egyptian Tourism Federation, a non-governmental group, USA Today reported. More than 2.8 million Egyptians work in the tourism industry and many are now struggling, according to the paper.
Q: How did the gunman get into the Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Center last month? I haven’t heard any answer to that.
— Dorothy Wells, Lawrenceville
A: Michael Brandon Hill, 20, apparently slipped through the school's security doors behind someone who had already been cleared to enter, police told the AJC on Aug. 20. Hill, armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, barricaded himself in the school's front office in Decatur and exchanged shots with officers before being arrested. Hill was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, terroristic threats and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, the AJC reported.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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