MINISTER of Tourism, Zoheir Garranah, led celebrations organised to mark Alexandria's win of the Best Arab Tourist City in 2010. Audiences from foreign and Arab countries, who attended the party, held in the Helnan Palestine Hotel, were led by the Governor of Alexandria Adel Labib and Amr Elezabi, chairman of the Egyptian Tourist Authority (ETA). The party was also attended by Dr. Taleb Refaie, secretary general of the World Tourism Organisation. Arab delegations, which arrived to congratulate the city's Governor on this regional achievement, were led by Sheikh Bandar Al Fahid. Starting from April 2010 to December 25, a number of cultural, sports and tourist festivals will unfold in Alexandria extensively. The celebrations are planned in collaboration with Alexandria Library and a number of Arab and foreign embassies in Egypt. In the meantime, a guidebook published by ETA in English and Arabic, highlights historical landmarks and tourist products in Alexandria, have been distributed at home and in foreign countries. Moreover, a monthly calendar of major cultural and entertainment events in Alexandria will soon be released at home and abroad. ETA has also disclosed that work is underway to launch Alexandria Online, which will announce updated information about these major events and celebrations. ETA has also announced that it will intensify its campaign to promote Alexandria and its tourist products in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, Libya, Bahrain and Qatar. The campaign will unfold on television networks and in the press in these markets. It was on May 28, 2009, when the Council of Arab Ministers of Tourism declared Alexandria the best Arab tourist city in 2010. About 12 Arab cities took part in the competition planned to motivate inter-Arab tourism. The decision of jurists of this competition was motivated by matchless cultural, environmental, deep-seated traditions the winner would unveil during the contest. It is known that Alexandria is the oldest Arab city, in which Greek, Roman, Coptic and Islamic civilisations combined fruitfully and interactively. Ancient landmarks in Alexandria include the Sawari Column, the cemetery of Kom El- Shakafa, Qait Bey Fort, the Roman Theatre, the Graeco-Roman Museum, the Museum of Royal Jewellery. Alexandria is also the seat of historical places of worshipping, such as the El-Morsi Abul- Abas Mosque and St. Mark Church. Alexandria enjoys a beautifully mild weather round the year; its coasts sprawl elegantly along the Mediterranean. The Alexandria Library is undoubtedly the biggest and most influential cultural edifice across the Arab world.
