The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The campaign includes advertisement and introduction of tourist products via large-size outdoor banners and posters at United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Egypt also launches an online communications campaign on social network platforms like Snapchat, Google, YouTube, and Facebook. The Authority chief Ahmed Youssef highlighted the importance of Arab countries as big and potential tourism markets. UAE’s Gulf News newspaper in English said UAE companies have ranked Egypt top of the list of attractive destinations for UAE visitors during the Eid al Fitr festival, which marks the end of the Fasting Month of Ramadan.

Egypt welcomed nearly 11.5 million foreign tourists last year. Europe was the biggest market with 7 million visitors, followed by Arab countries with 3 million visitors.  700,000 Asians and 500,000 Americans visited Egypt last year. Egyptian tourism sector earned 11 billion USD, 50% higher than in 2017.

Tourism is a key economic sector and a major foreign currency earner of Egypt. It has changed positively and predicted to gain its growth momentum as Egypt’s politics and security has been stabilized.  In addition, the government has taken strong economic reform measures, including reducing subsidies, imposing value-added-tax, floating the currency, and reforming policy on attracting investment and trade.

Besides strengthened promotion campaigns, the Egyptian government has invested in infrastructure and encouraged investment in hotels to develop the hospitality industry.