Mashat: Egypt Develops Strategy for Arab Tourism Development

CAIRO, March 24 (SEE) - Tourism Minister Rania Al Mashat said on Sunday Egypt succeeded in developing a strategy for promoting Arab tourism which was asked to do in the last autumn.

Mashat's remarks came during the 45th Meeting of the United Nations of tMahe World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Commission for the Middle East, held in Cairo, highlighting cooperation with the UN organization, the latest of which was using WTO experts in upgrading standards of the Egyptian hotels' classification. Mashat noted that the strategy would be submitted to the League of the Arab States on Monday in order to be adopted later.

President of the Middle East Committee and Undersecretary for Tourism at the Ministry of Economy of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed Al Muhairi lauded Egypt's efforts in formulating the strategy, saying that the blueprint was prepared in short time.

Delivering a speech, the minister hailed the role played by UNWTO in developing, promoting, and marketing tourism industry in various countries. While talking about Egypt's tourism reform program, Mashat, who was keen on wearing an Egyptian traditional scarf, pointed out that one of the main program's cores is to shed light on tourist destinations as well as attaching great attention to each destination's residents and improving their financial status.

She stressed the importance of the Tourism Ministry's commitment to the global tourism trends and Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET).

Meanwhile, Antiquities Minister Khaled Anani, who attended the meeting, reviewed Egypt's latest archaeological discoveries over the past two years and new projects which had been established in the field, saying: "New three archaeological discoveries will be announced before the Holy month of Ramadan."

Anani also pointed out that the number of archaeological missions, working in Egypt, had been increased to 250 missions from more than 25 countries as well as 25 Egyptian missions. During the event, the Tourism Ministry honored Anani for his efforts in reviving the archaeological sector, boosting the number of discoveries and protecting Egypt's heritage.

Cairo hosts the two-day event for the second time respectively.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, on his part, thanked Mashat for making his kids seeing the Pyramids while having dinner at Marriott Mena House. Pololikashvili said the Middle East region is one of fastest growing regions in the tourism sector with percentage of 10%.