Egypt can give the rest of the industry lessons in how to win back visitors after a series of knock-backs to its tourism sector from bomb attacks.
The country’s deputy minister of tourism Hisham Zaazou told fellow ministers at a World Travel Market summit on Tuesday: “Egypt has witnessed bad times, but emerged stronger.”
He said government initiatives could help destinations recover from the current economic downturn.
“We have developed innovative incentives for the industry, such as our charter incentive in 2005,” said Zaazou.
Egypt’s tourism ministry subsidised the operation of charter flights to the country in the wake of a bomb attack that resulted in 88 deaths in Sharm el-Sheikh in 2005.
Zaazou said: “Our arrival figures rebounded in six months. We have had partnership and co-marketing agreements with tour operators after every crisis, and media campaigns.
“Governments should spend on media relations and destinations diversify their products. The more products, the more opportunities you have.”