Eslam Bayoumi, the director general of the 54th Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF), stated that despite worries that there wouldn't be many visitors due to the high cost of paper, the fair is seeing a significant public turnout.
We bet on the Egyptian public every year, Bayoumi said in a phone interview with the "Sabah al-Khair Ya Masr" (Good morning Egypt) show, which is broadcast on Channel One of the state TV. About 150,000 to 180,000 individuals came on average each day, and after five days, we had 1.1 million visitors.
Bayoumi added that it is expected that the upcoming holidays, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, will witness more visits.
"The public is waiting for the last days of the fair because of the great discounts, and they can acquire books at a low cost, even from Arab publishers, because the Arab publisher in the final days offers big discounts," he stated.
"This year's organisation is flawless and has no issues. The expo offers a variety of ways to enter, explore, and learn more about books and publishing firms.
"We have at least 15 buses that are free to ride on a regular basis. Along with the planned coordination that the mid-year holiday starts with the Fair, accessibility and online ticket purchasing contributed to the turnout, he added.
Starting on January 26 and continuing until February 6, the CIBF welcomes visitors daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the exception of Thursday and Friday, when hours will be extended to 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.
The late author Salah Jahin is the character recognised by the festival this year, and Jordan attends the 54th session as a guest of honour.
During the Children's Fair, children's author Kamel Kilani is recognised for being a pioneer of children's literature in both Egypt and the wider Arab region.
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