19 - 25 September 2002 Issue No. 604 Travel	Current issue Previous issue Site map
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Recommend this page

Mediterranean Travel Fair in full swing

THE MEDITERRANEAN Travel Fair (MTF), which ends today, has been running since Tuesday at the Cairo International Convention and Exhibition Centre. British convention organisers Reed Travel Exhibitions say this year's event is the biggest to date with 27 countries being represented in an official capacity.

"This year we have very good representation from Egypt and the region, as well as a greater international mix of participants. New official pavilions include Algeria, Britain, Korea, Nepal, Oman, Paraguay, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Yemen, while Malaysia have nearly doubled their stand size compared with last year. It is likely that we will need to expand into further halls for MTF 2003," Matt Thompson, group exhibition director (Overseas Events), Reed Travel Exhibitions, said.

"The Mediterranean Travel Fair, now in its third year, is a well established event on the exhibitions calendar, hence we have a greater number of destinations and wider range of products represented at this year's show."

More pilgrimage flights

SAUDI Arabian Airlines has reorganised its flight programmes for pilgrims travelling to Mecca and Medina in line with the new Umrah law, under which the Umrah may be performed virtually all year round.

The service addresses the special requirements of Muslim passengers. "We understand that Umrah is more than an ordinary life experience and that pilgrims want to make the most of it," senior tours programme manager Abdel- Aziz Shaheen said.

The change in the law has boosted Saudi tourism, which is now the third biggest contributor to the economy after oil exports and industry, earning more than $9.6 billion last year. The projected annual number of visitors is expected to grow to more than 20 million within the next 20 years. To accommodate the growth 50,000 more hotel rooms and 75,000 furnished apartments are planned.

The new Umrah services will not affect Saudi Arabian Airline's scheduled flights.

Alexandria tourist image

MINISTER of Tourism Mamdouh El-Beltagui attributes Alexandria's prestigious position on the world's tourist map to its major environmental developments. The minister also referred to the renovation to buildings and to the Corniche carried out by the city authorities.

He said the city's image had been further enhanced by the discovery of sunken antiquities off its coast. The city's museums are being reorganised, and scuba divers can view the underground treasure in situ.

The world's attention will be drawn to Alexandria next month for the official opening of the Bibliotheca AIexandrina.

Send a letter to the Editor Recommend this page

Egypt | Region | International | Economy | Opinion | Letters | Culture Features | Living | Travel | Sports | Profile | People | Time Out | Chronicles | Cartoons | Crossword

ARCHIVES Letter from the Editor Editorial Board Subscription Advertise!

WEEKLY ONLINE: www.ahram.org.eg/weekly Updated every Saturday at 11.00 GMT, 2pm local time weeklyweb@ahram.org.eg

Al-Ahram Organisation