Egyptian tourism has declined since conflict Luxor - Mohamed el-Ideesy Tharwat Ajamy, South Egypt’s Chairperson of Tourist Companies has refused the calls to boycott Iranian tourists. Ajamy stressed that Egypt welcomes all visitors, regardless of which country they are from, adding that more Iranian tourists would help boost the country’s economy and help end the recession. Tourism has declined in the once popular regions of Aswan and Luxor since the outbreak of violence all over the country. Ajamy also blamed the decline on German insurance companies, who refuse to endorse tourism in Egypt – with both German and British travel agencies placing the it on the list of  most volatile countries. He added that the countries that do allow citizens to visit Luxor and Aswan warn them against leaving their hotels in the evening. The tourism chairman praised Egypt’s Minister of Defence Hisham Zazou, for his approach to tackling the current travel crisis, considering him among the best three ministers to have led the ministry. Zazou has so far managed to convince a number of Italian tourist companies to organise their annual conference in Luxor. Ajamy hopes that this move will have a positive effect on Egypt’s tourism during the coming period and that it will reassure other European tourists intending to visit the country.