Atef Abdellatif, a member of Marsa Alam Investors Association, praised Egypt's participation in the World Travel Market (WTM) 2014 saying it is one of the most important exhibitions for tourism in the world. Abdellatif called for investing in improved tourist transportation between Egypt's monuments, which he says would increase tourism in Egypt.
The World Travel Market is a leading global event for the travel industry where international travel professionals can meet, negotiate and conduct business every year.
Minister of Tourism Hisham Zaazou, Luxor Governor Tarek Saadeddin and South Sinai Governor Khalid Fouda arrived in London on Sunday 2 November 2014 to take part in the WTM 35th session.
The Egyptian delegation presented through a special exhibition pavilion the touristic potentials and infrastructure projects in Egypt in an attempt to attract tourists and investments in the field of tourism and hospitality, Abdellatif said.
The delegation held meetings with institutions, companies, hotels, tourist agencies to market tourism in Egypt globally and restore the normal rates of tourist influx, Abdellatif said.
Tourism agents said one of the main obstacles facing the flow of British tourists to Egypt is the lack of direct flights from London to Luxor, Abdellatif added .
The availability of direct flights will help a lot of travel agencies in promoting tourism to Egypt, said Abdellatif.
There is a shortage in the domestic aviation operating in Egypt, for example, there is no direct flights from Sharm al-Sheikh or Hurghada to Luxor and Aswan. Tourists head to Cairo and then return to Luxor and Aswan, which wastes a lot of time, according to Abdellatif
Tourist vehicles as well must travel on Qena road, a road that requires low speed due to passing through villages, said Abdellatif. According to Abdellatif there is a better highway but tourists cannot use for being unsafe. He called for securing the desert highway to avoid the waste of time while transferring tourists.
The delegation presented Egypt's tourist projects that are aimed at attracting investment and tourists.
Zaazou said incoming tourism to Egypt increased by around 200 percent in September compared to the same month last year, quoting data issued by Egypt State Information Service (SIS), despite occasional terrorist attacks throughout Egypt
