Mahmoud (L) and Ali (centre) at the opening ceremony
Egypt Tourism Authority opens Abu Dhabi office
ABU DHABI, July 27, 2015
The Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETA) has launched its new office in Abu Dhabi, which commenced operations at the beginning of this month.
The opening marks the establishment of ETA’s first office in the region, which was initially announced by Egyptian Tourism Minister, Khaled Ramy, during Dubai’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in May.
The launch is in line with the authority’s strategy to promote tourism in Egypt across Arab markets, particularly within the Gulf region.
The office was inaugurated during a celebration event attended by Ehab Hamouda, Egyptian ambassador to the UAE; Sami Mahmoud, chairman of ETA; and Ahmed Ali, head of ETA’s Abu Dhabi office, as well as other prominent public figures.
Mahmoud, said: “The opening of our new Abu Dhabi office is an important milestone for ETA, which reflects the strong ties we have with our neighbours in the Arab world. The UAE has always been a strong supporter of Egypt and is one of the country’s key tourism markets. The launch is a key element of the strategic plan developed by the Ministry of Tourism and ETA to attract 20 million visitors to Egypt by 2020, and drive tourism revenues to reach $ 26 billion.”
During the first half of 2015, visitor numbers to Egypt increased by 20 per cent. Hotels in Sharm El Sheikh, Ein El Sokhna, Ras Sedr, and Hurghada also reported 100 per cent occupancy levels during Eid Al Fitr with visitors primarily from Arab countries, particularly within the Gulf region.
During the coming months, the Ministry is set to focus on Nile tourism and also promote cultural tourism by providing programmes which combine both beach and cultural destinations. – TradeArabia News Service