In Sharm El-Sheikh salespeople are haunted by memories of tourists

Stopping by Sharm El-Sheikh’s Old Market, the once crowded bazaars and shops seemed empty; however, the market’s salespeople stressed they will never shut down and will continue their wait.

Workers at one bazaar in the market explained that the reduction in tourism traffic did not begin after the plane crash; it began on 30 June. “The plane crash only proved to everyone that there is no tourism, but it was already suffering,” they said.

The salespeople said they cannot pay the full rent, so they have been forced to pay between 40% and 70% of the rent to the owners.

Asked whether they are able to cover their costs, the bazaar workers said it varies from month to month. “Our revenues have fallen by 99% in two years,” one worker said.

Most of the shops close by day and open by night when potential tourists usually come, they said, “but no one can fully close his shop”.

According to them, Russians who were coming to Sharm El-Sheikh were middle-income. “They don’t spend much money, but their numbers were huge so they were stimulating tourism,” they said.