Deputy Minister of Tourism Adela Ragab said Friday that there is a steady increase in the number of Chinese tourists coming to Egypt, adding that the period from January to November exceeded the rates witnessed in the peak year of 2010, which indicates Egypt’s improved image among the Chinese.
Ragab’s statements came during a meeting with a Chinese media delegation, which included representatives of the General Federation of Chinese Journalists, and of major Chinese newspapers and TV channels.
The Deputy Minister explained that one of the main reasons for the boom in Chinese tourism to Egypt since last year is that direct charter flights have begun operating from China to Luxor and Cairo, as well as three regular weekly flights.
Ragab went on to say that the Ministry is following up on the visits of Chinese tourists at the departure ports to ask about their experience of visiting Egypt.
They ask for the impressions of tourists’ and the services provided to them, Ragab said, adding that this helps her Ministry to promote and market Egypt as a destination.
“Chinese tourists are welcome in Egypt, and the Ministry is ready to cooperate with the Chinese side in all fields, especially tourism,” she said.
The meeting discussed organizing periodic trips for Chinese journalists to visit Egypt, which will have a positive impact on the “real” image of Egypt through their writings and articles which will be published abroad.
The number of Chinese tourists that visited Egypt in the first five months this year has nearly doubled compared to last year. A total of 18,000 Chinese tourists visited Egypt from January to May 2017, marking a 94% rise from the same period last year, according to official estimates.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
