Egypt's minister of tourism Mamdouh al-Beltagi, whose country is facing a sharp economic recession, underlined on Monday that Egypt was not on the list of dangerous countries for tourism.
Beltagi told reporters in Cairo that Egypt employed extensive efforts in this regard that led to the cancellation of a Japanese warning to tourists from visiting Egypt and the amendment of travel advice to tourists in Britain, Germany, Canada and Italy.
He also pointed out the resumption of Korean flights to Egypt and the permission China gave its citizens to visit Egypt as well. Turning to Arab tourism, Beltagi said around one million Arab tourists visit Egypt annually and that Egypt was employing efforts to improve Arab tourism figures.
Beltagi pointed out that around 20,000 workers in the tourist sector lost their jobs in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the US, further complicating the economic stagnation that Egypt is trying to face with the improvement of its tourism revenues.
Cairo is also according great hope to the donor states conference, scheduled in Sharm el Sheikh on February 5-6. (albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
