[jhpaul]

Based on my limited experience with pre-revolution Egypt, the answer would be both. A large part of society was tip/bribe based, tourism in particular, and corruption or incompetence is pretty common. The political leadership was also elitist and formed in the image of the British colonial government they replaced.

The president of Egypt and others of that level were likely not more concerned with supporting street-level payoffs over maintaining Egyptian cultural purity. These were military dictators accustomed to commanding something and, more or less, that becoming reality. And they were deeply proud and protective of their cultural identity.