The decline of the Cairo Book Fair

Egyptian researcher Sameh Rashid
believes the recent Cairo International
Book Fair decreased in comparison to
previous years. “Egypt’s current
recession played a huge role in the poor
turnout at the Cairo International Book
Fair. This year, the price of books has
seen a big surge due to the plummeting
value of the Egyptian pound. This led
to an uptick in the costs of printing and
publishing, as well as a direct increase
in book prices released by Arabic and
foreign publishing houses.” Rashid says that visitors are getting older and attendance shrank
year-on-year. The decreasing numbers of attendees was most noticeable in the cultural events
that ranged from intellectual symposiums to artistic interviews and poetry readings. More
importantly, the declining number of participants in these intellectual activities indicates the
declining interest of Egyptians – specifically the youth – in being a part of Egypt’s most
prominent cultural and intellectual event. “When you combine the Egyptians being wrapped
up in tackling their living problems, together with a shortage of developmental resources and
the bureaucracy taking control, then the Cairo International Book Fair is in grave danger. This
danger will grow over time until it becomes irreparable in the short term,” warns Rashid.