The Ministry of Tourism is intensifying communications with hotels and international and domestic tourism companies to increase promotion for March's ITB Berlin exhibition, according to the Tourism Activation Authority Chairman Samy Mahmoud. The authority determined the subscription for hotels and companies willing to join the exhibition at €1,350, with the reservation of 200 sqm, according to a brochure sent to tourism companies and hotels. "We received requests from 90 tourism companies and hotels to subscribe in the exhibition as one of the biggest tourism events worldwide," said Mahmoud. He further noted that Egypt will sign a deal with the company organising ITB Berlin to hold the exhibition in Egypt in 2016 under the name of ITB Africa. Organising the exhibition in Egypt next year will give significant momentum to local tourism and further promotion for the major targets in Europe and new markets in the Middle and East Asia, according to Mahmoud. The Ministry of Tourism is targeting 20% growth in tourist numbers this year to 12 million, compared to 10 million in 2014, according to Hisham Zaazou in comments to Daily News Egypt last week. "Egypt is a country that has a competitive strength in the sector in comparison with other countries in the region; however, circumstances beyond sector's control prevent the increase of numbers," according to Mahmoud Egyptian tourism has suffered from a reduction in tourists' numbers since the 25 January Revolution and the political unrest over the last four years. The authority intends to participate in the major tourism activities, according to a plan approved in June 2014 with a one-year period. The plan requires intensifying promotion in Russian, German, Italian and British markets, along with Gulf countries, according to Mahmoud. Egyptian tourism income reached $7.5bn last year compared to $5.9bn the year before.
