17 - 23 September 1998
Issue No.395
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 17 - 23 September 1998 Issue No.395 |
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Promoting the conference industryBusinessmen and delegates from the ministries of tourism and domestic trade gathered last week to discuss strategies to promote Egypt as a major international conference destination. The forum, entitled "The Industry of Conferences, Exhibitions and Festivals," was organised by the Egyptian Businesswomen's Association (EBWA). Delegates were in agreement on a number of points, including the necessity of drawing up a list conferences and exhibitions which could be held in Egypt and the earmarking of a budget to promote Egyptian facilities abroad. They also highlighted the importance of training cadres for this industry through the establishment of a national academy. "The conference, exhibition and festival sector began to develop at the beginning of the 1980s when the first international conference centres were built in Cairo and Alexandria. They were the first in the Middle East," said Adel Abdel-Aziz, head of the Egyptian Tourist Authority. "However, this industry requires special coordination in the areas of transport and accommodation, not to mention experience with different cultures and languages," he added. According to Abdel-Aziz, Egypt already has companies capable of organising successful exhibitions and conferences. Amani Asfour, chairwoman of the EBWA, stressed the need for coordination between the government and the private sector. "If coordination between the Ministry of Tourism and the private sector can be fostered to promote this industry, and if it is given proper emphasis on the tourism agenda, Egypt will have every chance of competing on an equal footing with other international markets," she said. "Sound marketing and a larger budget is all we need to improve our industry," declared Ilhami El-Zayyat, chairman of the Chamber of Travel Agencies. Hesham Haddad, secretary-general of the Arab Conference and Exhibition Federation (ACEF), called for the construction of more conference centres in Egypt "and we in the private sector are willing to contribute," he stressed. Haddad also underlined the importance of reducing conference centre booking fees, as well as Egyptian airline fares, so as to attract more exhibitors. "Training is perhaps the most important issue requiring attention. For that reason the ACEF will establish an academy financed by Egyptian and Arab capitals to teach students about the industry," Haddad said.
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