Egypt's current Minister of Tourism Munir Fakhry Abdel Nour invited a number of celebrities, including talk show host Oprah Winfery, to visit the country in an effort to stimulate the slowed tourism industry, al-Sharq al-Awsat news agency reported. The newly appointed Egyptian minister announced his call at a press conference on February 27. He added that while Egypt will not be a cheap destination to visit, it will offer excellent service and rewards both for tourists and tourism companies. The tourism sector in Egypt has largely ground to a halt since a popular uprising took hold in the country in late January. The unrest forced millions of tourists to flee the country, bringing one of Egypt's main sources of revenue to a grinding halt. The minister said he is asking a tech savoy young Egyptians on popular social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to help promote Egyptian tourism through their networks. He also added that Egypt's “new image” will help promote itself at international tourism conventions in which the ministry plans to attend. Winfrey has not yet responded to the request. BM
