During a tour around Luxor and Karnak, Morsi said Egyptians are eager to ensure the safety of all visitors, urging tourists at the scene to feel safe.

The worries were fuelled by calls to ban serving alcohol, restricting mixed-sex beaches or even forbidding bikinis from some.

Some also said they wanted to modify certain ancient monuments, for instance covering statues of Pharaonic fertility gods so as not violate Muslim sensibilities.

Others spoke of "halal tourism" - where men and women don't mix - and no alcohol is served. The arrangement is typical for instance to Saudi Arabia, where an ultraconservative interpretation of Islam prevails.

"We will exert all efforts so that you enjoy your stay," Morsi told tourists.

The head of the chamber of travel agencies in Luxor, Tharwat Agami, called the visit "important" and said he hoped it would help the industry. "This is a message of reassurance for all tourists around the world."

A local member of the Brotherhood's political party, Abdel-Mawgoud Rageh, said Morsi's visit should silence fears that the Islamist group wants to stamp out tourism. "The party has a program to activate tourism and diversify it to include environmental and therapeutic tourism," he said.

The program also seeks to prevent big companies from wielding monopoly power in the sector, he said.