CAIRO, Reuters – Egypt is expecting the Suez Canal’s revenue to exceed $7 billion by end of current fiscal year according to finance minister Mohamed Maait on Saturday.

He said that tourism revenues will reach $10 billion to $12 billion in the future, even with the Ukrainian crisis. Egypt’s fiscal years run from July 1 through June 30.

It is both the fastest route to Asia from Europe, and the main source of foreign currency for the Egyptian government.