Minister of Tourism Zoheir Garana decided to head a high-level delegation for a tour of Europe in January to boost tourism. The tour will include Italy, France, Germany, England and Spain. He will also attend the meeting of the World Tourism Organization in his capacity as President of its Crisis Committee. The tour aims to discuss the work mechanism with the tour operators in view of the global economic crisis, and the incentives that they would get, such as the reduction of the take-off and landing fees at Egyptian airports, and the contribution to the advertising and promotion costs. Ahmed Balba, Vice-President of the Chamber of Hotels, said: “The tour will have a positive impact on tourism, especially in the summer season that begins in May and that will witness stiff competition among Middle Eastern countries, such as Tunisia, Greece, Turkey, Spain and Morocco.”
He said the incentives that Garana will give to the tour operators will make them sell Egypt as a tourist destination. Hisham Zazou, Assistant Minister of Tourism, said the decision taken by Minister of Civil Aviation Ahmed Shafiq to reduce the take-off and landing fees is an important decision that will support tourism during the global economic crisis.
