{"id":28862,"date":"2018-08-28T01:00:50","date_gmt":"2018-08-27T15:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=28862"},"modified":"2024-09-20T23:53:06","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T13:53:06","slug":"eman-female-leader-profile-egypt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/eman-female-leader-profile-egypt\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Eman, the Intrepid leader who wants you to visit Egypt now"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWhen I talk about tourism in Egypt I divide it into two periods \u2013 before and after 2011,\u201d Eman Mohamed tells me. The Intrepid leader describes these two periods as like two different lifetimes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For many Egyptians, especially ones in the travel industry, the uprising of 2011 changed everything. \u201cPeople were optimistic things would improve, but they started to get worse,\u201d she recounts on Skype. \u201cEveryone was waiting for real change, for Egypt to change into a better country. But the revolution effected tourism very badly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eman, in her mid thirties at the time, suddenly found herself unemployed. The Intrepid office shut for three months amid the troubles, and it was far from the only one to do so.<\/p>\n

\u201cLater, the office shut again for six months. And even when we started running tours again, the numbers were not the same. Instead of 12 people on them, there would be only three or four.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, the combination of political unrest and other security concerns at the time meant tourism throughout the country practically shut down. Hotels were vacant, iconic sites empty. For many locals employed in this sector, their livelihoods were completely eradicated as the number of tourists visiting plummeted from nearly 15 million in 2010 to around 5 million even five years on.<\/p>\n

\"Eman<\/a>

Eman, in front of the pyramids<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWhen I started out in 2007, I was planning to work as a tour leader for 10 years then start my own business. I wanted to own a coffee shop,\u201d Eman remembers. \u201cUnfortunately, the revolution of 2011 meant there was no tourism for a few years, so there was no income.\u201d<\/p>\n

A tough situation for a country where, pre-revolution, tourism made up 10% of the GDP.<\/p>\n

For Eman, not only did the turmoil disrupt her future plans, it stopped her carrying out a job she loved, a job she\u2019d worked so hard for. \u201cMy favourite thing about working as a guide is getting to know new people every day,\u201d she says proudly. \u201cI\u2019m really lucky, I now have hundreds of friends all over the world. And I fall in love with places in my country that most Egyptians don\u2019t know anything about.\u201d<\/p>\n

WANT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH EGYPT FOR YOURSELF? CHECK OUT INTREPID’S RANGE OF TOURS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

But she wasn\u2019t always so comfortable in her job and so sure of herself. Back in 2007, when she hesitantly applied to lead group tours for Intrepid she felt \u201cscared\u201d. At the time there were no female Egyptian leaders that worked for Intrepid. In fact, there were few nationwide.<\/p>\n

Her family members thought she was \u201ccrazy\u201d for pursuing this role, that she couldn\u2019t spend two consecutive weeks away from home. But her strong and determined personality \u2013 combined with her family\u2019s relatively liberal outlook \u2013 helped her make the career dream a reality.<\/p>\n

\"Abu<\/a>

Just one of Egypt’s many iconic sites Eman shows travellers<\/p><\/div>\n

The leader training in Luxor was the first time she\u2019d spent a week away from her family. But she had \u201cloads of fun\u201d and found the office and people \u201cfantastic\u201d. Leaving her hometown of Alexandria to travel the country on tour was difficult, too. Growing up in the north, with a \u201csupportive family\u201d, she wasn\u2019t used to the conservatism of the south. \u00a0\u201cIt was even less normal back then to see an Egyptian female leading 12 people for two nights on a felucca,\u201d she says. \u201cEven now when I\u2019m walking the streets with a group, restaurant owners can act funny and I have to talk to them really firmly.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE: WHY YOU SHOULD IGNORE THE HEADLINES AND VISIT EGYPT NOW<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

But her passion for her job is evident \u2013 even despite obstacles and especially when it comes to challenging people\u2019s preconceived notions of Egypt. \u201c99.9% of travellers on my groups are so happy to have me as a female leader,\u201d she says. \u201cSome are shocked but then they see me working and they are happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really is my reward,\u201d Eman tells me. \u201cWhen I hear that people thought something about Egypt but after talking to me they see it in a different way \u2013 it means I succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Eman<\/a>

Eman leading an Intrepid tour<\/p><\/div>\n

SUBSCRIBE TO INTREPID’S NEWSLETTER FOR TRAVEL STORIES, COMPETITIONS, GIVEAWAYS & MORE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Happiness for Eman doesn\u2019t just come in the form of defying stereotypes. It comes from showing off her spectacular country: wandering the Siwah Oasis, diving in the Red Sea, getting to know the Nubian people in Aswan. And, sure, there\u2019s things like the Pyramids that\u2019ll always stand out to both locals and visitors, but, for Eman, it\u2019s the little things she remembers when she looks back on her years as a guide.<\/p>\n

I ask her for a standout memory and she tells me about when Egypt were playing in the African Cup in 2008. She was watching the game with her group in Luxor, and the entire group was cheering for Egypt even though they weren\u2019t Egyptian. \u201cThe celebrations with the locals were amazing,\u201d she describes. \u201cNo one knew anyone, but we were all dancing together.\u201d<\/p>\n

A lovely anecdote. But considering the state of tourism today \u2013 rebounding, but by no means back to pre-2011 levels \u2013 it feels like one that\u2019s from a different era.<\/p>\n

But you can change that. You can visit Egypt.<\/p>\n

\"Eman<\/a>

Who wouldn’t want to visit the beautiful Nile?<\/p><\/div>\n

And why wouldn\u2019t you want to? It has the bucket list sites and the hidden gems, the unique experiences and the warm hospitality. And it\u2019s ready and waiting to welcome you. As Eman says, \u201cthe main thing is to make people feel safe \u2013 Intrepid takes all the precautions and has very, very strict safety guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, safety isn\u2019t an issue. What is? Well, the possibility you\u2019ll fall in love with Egypt and not want to return.<\/p>\n

After all, Eman travels around the country for a living and is far from bored. \u201cThis is the life I want to live,\u201d she says. \u201cThis is the career I love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ready to experience Egypt through the eyes of a local like Eman? Check out Intrepid’s range of small group tours there.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

(Image credits from top to bottom: Belal Azmy, Eman Mohamed, Intrepid Travel, Eman Mohamed, Intrepid Travel.)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201c99.9% of travellers on my groups are so happy to have me as a female leader,\u201d she says. \u201cSome are shocked but then they see me working and they are 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