A successful ITB Berlin 2012:Support for the partner country Egypt

Press Conference Egypt
H.E. Amr El Ezabi, Chairman of the Egyptian Tourist Authority; H.E. Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, Egyptian Minister of Tourism; H.E. Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt; H.E. Hisham Zaazou, Senior Assistant Minister of Tourism; Mohamed Gamal, General director, Tourism Department of the Egyptian Consulate General

The partner country Egypt was aware of the strong solidarity shown by the international travel industry. Mounir Fahkry Abdel Nour, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism: “ITB was fantastic! I enjoyed every minute of it and met some fascinating and outstanding people. In addition to the support that I received I am very happy that the problems in a political context have not affected the general mood in the slightest, in fact quite the contrary.

 All our German partners declared their solidarity with us, including the Federal Minister of Economics Philipp Rösler. In personal discussions with Klaus Brähmig, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Bundestag, the representatives of the Egyptian parliament and I were able to resolve the confusion that arose as a result of his critical remarks regarding Egypt. It seems to me that ITB Berlin is growing larger all the time, and it is vibrant and more lively than ever. This could be my impression because we are the partner country this year. As a consequence of events taking place around the world the entire travel industry is in transition. This ITB is different from last year’s. I am experiencing a willingness among countries to cooperate and I find this very encouraging.”

The Egypt hall provided opportunities for visitors to use various social media platforms to find out about the political situation within the country. Facilities were available for linking up with Egyptian internet users, to make use of a real time live stream showing vacation centres and resorts in Egypt, or to exchange views and thoughts with Egyptians via Facebook and Twitter.

Bit 2012: Egypt Tourism Authority has announced goals of recovery

 

Determined to go back to the past in terms of numbers of tourists, the ' Egypt has presented at Bit 2012with great strength and energy. To bring a positive message for the present and the future was just Mounir Fakhri Abdel Nour, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism , which brought together practitioners and the press during a meeting held at ' Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan . The speakers also Amr El Ezaby, President of The Egyptian Tourist Authority, Roberto Corbella, Astoi President, Ambassador Antonio Badini, President of the Friends Italy-Egypt HE Mohamed Farid, Egypt's Ambassador to Italy, HE Amr Abbas, Consul General of Egypt in Milan and Dr. Mohamed Abdel Gabbar, Director of the Egyptian Tourist in Italy. The year 2012 opens with optimism and then to Egypt and major projects. "We look forward with confidence and determination. Ourprimary objective is to defend the democratic process of our country - said Minister Abdel Nour - we all work together to build a new and modern Egypt. Our ambition is to get to 2017 with about 30 million tourists by increasing the capacity of airports, ports and hotels. All the political forces that can not support an industry like tourism, which represents for Egypt on 11, 3% of national GDP , is the second foreign exchange earner and employs 3.5000000 to 4,000,000 workers. " 'I media amplify excessively events - the Minister said during the meeting -. Beyond the epicenter consisting of Tahrir Square, in fact, the situation has always been safe and under control. The ultimate tourist destinations like the Red Sea, Luxor, Aswan, oasis, the Western Desert, are quiet and there were never problems. The country is proceeding with the election trail as established and in May we will have a new Parliament and a new President of the Republic. "

We are all from Egypt

Can you safely drink a cold beer on the beach and watch tourists in a bikini - that Egyptian Tourism Minister reassured journalists that his country is not and will not be any restrictions customary for tourists.

Egyptian Tourism Minister Mounir Fakhry Abd El Nour arrived in Warsaw to provide Polish tourists that have nothing to worry about choosing the holiday destination in Egypt. - The same as before the revolution, the sun shines from us, just as the sky is blue and so warm the sand on the beach - he argued. - A demonstration to watch on TV happening in an area not larger than one square kilometer of Cairo. And there are more dangerous than similar demonstrations in the capitals of European countries.

"I assure you that in all of Egypt there is a law and order, and is safe " declared the minister.

As a result of the revolution, says the minister, the number of tourists coming to Egypt declined by 33 percent - from 14.7 million in 2010 to 9.8 million in 2011, when the number of overnight stays fell by 22 percent and revenue by 29 percent - from 12.5 billion to 8.8 billion dollars. From the Polish went to Egypt, 400 000 tourists, while in 2010 there were 600 000.

We expect that tourism will return this year to the level of 2010. And in five years it will double to 30 million tourists and $ 25 billion of revenue - gave the forecast. - Finally, Egypt is the first country, in a straight line, from Europe, where you can stay warm all year round.

When asked about the two cases of kidnapping by the Bedouins once three American tourists, and once two of South Korea, played down that it was like a safari, because people were treated to dinner, and dismissed without prejudice. A Bedouin just about drawing attention to their problems. - Since the commencement of the revolution,  from 25 January to today, no visitor was under attack. And they came almost 10 million "  he said.President of the Egyptian Tourist Organization Amr El Ezabi, asked if the Egyptian hoteliers would not leave the price to encourage tourist arrivals, especially from the Polish, said that now it is cheaper and there is no point in even lower prices, because "our goal is not for sale Egypt at any price. "- Egypt is a good tourist product and does not need until such treatments - he argued. - the more so because experience tells us that if we leave over money, then it is difficult to return them to their previous state. And besides, usually when the one-year sales drop, followed the next big tourist boom - he explained.

Fakhry Minister also made reference to the statements of Islamic politicians on the need for moral constraints, such as a ban on going to the beach in a bikini 

Tourism is the second source of inflow rates to Egypt. It provides 11 percent of our GDP. It gives employment to four million people. No responsibility Egyptian politician, or party, do not make a move detrimental to tourism - asserted. - What other politicians say they are not in power, and quite another when that power is concerned. He recalled that Egypt introduced slowly but steadily democratic change - elections were held in the lower house of parliament, will soon end in the upper house elections, and the June presidential elections are announced. At the same time formed the constitution. - In June, everything is ready - emphasized. - Poles themselves know best how difficult the transition from an authoritarian regime to democracy.

This year Egypt spent on promotion of $ 40 million, as much as the previous. - It's still a lot for our economic capacity - says the head of the Egyptian Tourist Organization. Promotion will be particularly focused on the international tourism fair ITB in Berlin, during which Egypt will be the partner country (last year it was Poland).

This time, Egypt wants to show that it also has to offer night life and the possibility of active tourism. It will also promote less visited by tourists places like Luxor, Aswan and seaside resorts situated on the northern coast of the Red Sea - Taba and Dahab.

The campaign slogan is "We're Egypt," which can be translated as "We are all Egyptians" or simply "Egypt is us."