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Al-Ahram Weekly 11 - 17 March 1999 Issue No. 420 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 11 - 17 March 1999 Issue No. 420
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Focus Special Features Travel Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Complementary tourism
EGYPT'S and Tunisia's tourism ministers met recently to strengthen links and develop the tourism industries of both countries. The talks dealt with mutual cooperation, ways to improve tourism by adopting joint promotional campaigns, encouraging tourism investment and exchanging experiences."We are not in competition. Each country's product complements the other," declared Egypt's Dr Mamdouh El-Beltagui.
The meeting included government officials, a number of tourism experts, investors and businessmen from both countries.
Salaheddin Moawi, the Tunisian minister, was particularly enthusiastic, saying: "Cooperation between Egypt and Tunisia takes many forms like holding tourism weeks in both countries, exchanging press visits and taking steps to increase the flow of nationals between the two countries".
Talks also took place on how each country could learn from the other's experiences.
Northern Coast Development
EGYPT'S 1,200km-long coastline from Rafah in eastern Sinai to Al-Salloum on the Libyan border is currently the subject of extensive research.In an effort to optimise the region's tourist and economic potential, the Ministry of Tourism has presented a project on the coastal strip to a ministerial committee.
The comprehensive plan aims to maximise use of vacant land and focus on improving tourist facilities and services such as hotels, airports, transportation and roads.
A blueprint to develop an area of coastline stretching 61km from the city of Sidi Barani has already been formulated by the New Urban Communities Authority.
Italian connection
EGYPT'S tourism officials had good reason to meet Italian travel agents and airline top executives recently, for more Italians visited Egypt than anyone else in 1998. Minister El-Beltagui met the high-level delegation, which included the head of Alitalia airlines. They discussed the Italian market's preparations for the millennium celebrations and prices of Egyptian hotels."We need to encourage additional Italian language training in Egypt," El-Beltagui said, adding that an Italian Week will be organised in the Red Sea area to attract more Italians.
Alexander the Great
A RESORT named after Macedonia's conquerer is set to leave its own mark on the Red Sea coastal town of Marsa Alam. The 400-room tourist village, called Alexander the Great, was opened last week in the quiet town, 250 km south of Hurghada.Alexander the Great has three outdoor swimming pools, artificial lakes, indoor pools, a casino, discotheque, tennis courts and a commercial market.
This is a pioneer project in the area and one of few villages which could eventually be self-supporting. In order to meet the needs of guests and workers in the neighbouring town, a farm has been established behind the resort where vegetables are grown and chickens raised.
"We had many problems but we've managed to overcome," resort spokesman, Ahmed El-Naggar, said. "We did not have any telephone connections at first, there was no hospital to attend to workers who fell sick or were injured and there was even a scarcity of sweet water. But we've come a long way," he added.
Compiled by Rehab Saad
