CAIRO: Just over one month removed from massive street demonstrations that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak from power, Accor Egypt is pushing forward on efforts to bring back Egypt's tourism industry. In Germany to attend the annual travel trade show ITB Berlin, the company was adamant that now is the time to travel to the North African country. At the five-day conference, Accor Egypt attempted to reassure the international community on Egypt. It said in a press release that it's “representatives met with key personnel from various tour operators and travel agents with promotional programs to boost and support the Egyptian tourism industry, which is vital to the country's national economy.” It comes as Egypt has witnessed a dramatic drop in the number of visitors to the country since protests began on January 25. According to industry experts, the country has lost hundreds of millions of dollars as a result. But the world's largest hotel chain said it was confident with the Egyptian market. Egypt, it says is part of the company's “strategic plan to strengthen and promote its growth therein.” One of the efforts it was looking toward was the development of new online and IT efforts to increase the influx of tourists and making their travel easier. BM