This year's Mediterranean Tourism Forum held in Malta to promote tourism in Mediterranean countries was inaugurated by Maltese President and patron of the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, as well as renowned Egyptian Egyptologist Zahi Hawass and Egypt's former tourism minister Hisham Zaazou. Over 1,000 people with an interest in Mediterranean tourism from over 39 countries attended the inauguration ceremony to discuss avenues for promoting tourism as a vehicle for peace and stability across the region. Speakers from around the world got together to share their experience and knowledge with participants and accordingly inspire them to undertake sustainable tourism projects and initiatives. On the sidelines of the event, Hawass delivered a lecture discussing recent archaeological discoveries in Egypt and the greatness of the ancient Egyptian civilisation. Hawass also called on all the conference attendees to visit Egypt and enjoy an unforgettable voyage exploring the country's ancient civilisation. He also talked about the great pyramids of Giza and how the ancient Egyptians built them. The Mediterranean Tourism Foundation (MTF) – established by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association in Malta in November 2013 – is a nonprofit NGO aiming at increasing the potential for sustainable tourism growth across the Mediterranean region. The MTF's vision is inspired by the shared will of both public and private tourism sector stakeholders to revitalise efforts to transform the Mediterranean into an area of peace, cooperation and prosperity by investing and promoting sustainable tourism growth across the region.