Further, Abdulnour said -- ahead of his departure to Berlin to take part at the International Tourism Bourse of Berlin (ITBB) -- that Russia will lift the travel ban to Egypt within the coming days, particularly as it is of the top tourism exporters to Egypt, asserting that he will do his best to attract tourist delegations to Egypt during his participation in the ITBB tomorrow.

Abdulnour also said that Egypt's Tourism Promotion Authority will offer incentives and guarantees to attract tourists, noting that he asked hotels to reduce prices with the aim of boosting internal tourism to help increase the occupancy rates, and to make up for the decline in external tourism.

He added that the Tourism Ministry exerts efforts to coordinate with the Civil Aviation Authority to devise joint programs to activate tourism in the future, while the Civil Aviation reduces airlines fees whether full-frills or no-frills airlines, noting that price difference will be paid according to given ratios when the aircraft is fully packed.

Abdulnour also said that he will meet at ITBB, one the biggest world tourism bourses, top global tour operators and agents in order to join them on devising joint investment programs, and organize publicity campaigns for Egyptian tourism.

It is scheduled for Abdulnour to hold an expanded press conference reviewing the achievements made by the Egyptian tourism in 2010, and he will also pay a visit to the Russian capital of Moscow following his participation in ITBB.

Global Arab Network