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Having so many attractions and such an
amazing history, there is no wonder that in Egypt tourism is
the economy`s engine and the main method of bringing money
to the country`s budget.
Aiming to promote Egypt as a world`s very important
touristic destination, the country`s government increased
the investments in the Egyptian tourism, in the latest
years. There were also developments in the tourism`s sectors
such as: ICT infrastructure, marketing and human resources.
More, new tourism`s branches appeared: shopping tourism,
therapeutic tourism and sports tourism. The statistics
showed that 86% from Egypt`s visits were for recreational
tourism.
4.13 billion LE (US$724 million) were invested in Egypt`s
tourism in 2006-2007, the same period when almost 10 million
foreign visitors brought US$ 8 billion to the country`s
budget. More than 80% of tourists were coming from Europe.
Still, the Egyptian tourism`s secretary, Zoheir Garranah,
says that Egypt hasn`t touched yet the determined purposes
regarding the tourism. One impediment were the terrorist
attacks from Taba, in October 2004 (when 34 people died),
from Charm el-Cheikh in july 2005 (with 70 deaths) and from
Dahab in April 2006 (when 20 people died), attacks that
seriously affected the Sinai`s spas.
The European tourists are the most numerous ones who visit
Egypt, the British people being on the first place of the
top, followed by the Russians. The Arab tourists, especially
from the Persian Gulf, are also visiting Egypt very often,
with 21 percents from the total number of tourists.
The plans for the tourism`s future are big and promising;
according to the Ministry of Tourism, till 2011 Egypt`s
purpose is to receive 14 million of tourists on year, the
increasing of the hotel rooms from 175,000 in present, to
240,000 in the next four years. This will involve the
apparition of 1.2 million jobs. LE41.8 billion are
stipulated to be invested in tourism, from the private
sector, in the next five years. More, the WTO (World Tourism
Organization) estimates that in 2020 the number of the
tourists coming from China and India in Egypt it will touch
about 150 million persons.
More very important touristic projects are in plan for the
Red Sea zone, for Marsa Alam and on the Egypt`s North Coast,
projects that include residential units, recreational parks
and luxurious hotels.
ITR (International Tourism Revenues) is estimated to reach
12 billion US$, and Egypt`s ITA (International Tourist
Arrivals) 14 million US$, in the next four years.
But, to touch all of these targets, the Egypt`s government
works very seriously to improve the tourism`s facilities, to
modernize the aviation`s infrastructure and to develop the
airports.
The Tourism Sustainable Development Plan is a program
implemented by The Egypt`s Ministry of Tourism with the
purpose of improvement of the tourism till 2020.
All these plans and projects show that Egypt`s tourism will
continue to play the main role in the well function of the
country`s economy.
And they also assure us that we will be satisfied by the
touristic services when we will visit Egypt.
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