Egyptian Prime Minister will receive a report from Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass regarding the results of his recent tour in the United Staes. Hawass' vist included five American cities and was aimed to activate tourism in Egypt. Hawass raised the necessity of creating a mechanism to ensure coordination between the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Antiquities to prepare a plan to market Egypt in the different tourism markets, which will also restore Egypt's quota of international tourism. Hawass said in a press declaration that he sent a message to the Americans during the tour, expressing the government's desire to restore the rate of tourism to Egypt. He said the Americans reacted positively to his message. He added that he delivered a number of lectures and conducted media and television interviews. He confirmed to the American media that hotels and tourist and archeological areas are completely secure. He highlighted the events that Egypt witnessed after the January 25 Revolution and said the Egyptian youth who protested in Tahrir Square protected the Egyptian Museum on January 28, as they believe in the importance and value of Egypt's history. Hawass added that Jihan al-Sadat, the wife of former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, delivered a lecture about the importance of tourism in Egypt and how the Egyptian people host guests. Hawass also said that Egyptian tourist sites enjoy security and stability and are not threatened. The Egyptian minister confirmed that the American media focuses on Egypt's monuments and Ancient Egyptian civilization. He said the tour offered an honest image about the situation in Egypt. He clarified that Egypt's government focuses on tourism as a main source of Egypt's national income, in addition to the sector's role in resolving unemployment. Hawass underlined that the monuments are not only an Egyptian property but also a unique world heritage that should be protected through renovating archeological sites and establishing new museums. He said tourism contributes to support such projects. Arabic here
