Tourism is sometimes Egypt’s most valuable source of
foreign currency—the “hard” money it needs, because its own
currency, the Egyptian pound (E£), is not convertible outside
Egypt. Tourism is also a vulnerable industry for Egypt, thus the
qualification that it is “sometimes” number one. The country
has tremendous tourist attractions: the pyramids and other
magnificent ancient monuments; the tranquility and romance
of the Nile River; the impressive wilderness mountains of
Sinai; the rich coral reefs lying off of sun-baked beaches; and
the charm and hospitality of the Egyptians themselves. Tour-
ists have been coming to Egypt for more than 3,000 years and
going home to spread the word about the country’s wonders.