Tourism Minister Hesham Zaazou said Arab tourism represents 20 percent of incoming tourism and stressed the importance of Arab tourism in extending "bridges of communication" with Arab countries.
"Inbound tourism from Europe is not an alternative for inter-Arab tourism," Zaazou said, adding that European tourism represents 72 percent of tourism in Egypt. He pointed out efforts made to support Arab tourism through launching direct flights from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Emirates to South Sinai and the Red Sea.
"The first flight coming from Kuwait headed directly to Sharm al-Sheikh on 25 December," he said. He also spoke plans for Arab convoys to promote to Egyptian tourist cities and estimated that the plan will be launched within a few weeks.
"The first direct flight from Jeddah to Aswan will be launched on 27 January and will continue two flights a week on Mondays and Thursdays, with the intention of restoring tourism in Upper Egypt," the minister added.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
