Egypt's tourism, shopping festival to boost local market

Egypt's Prime Minister Atef Ebeid shed light on the radical changes in the tourist sector over the years of President Hosni Mubarak's rule.

In statements during the launching ceremony of the Tourism and Shopping Festival 2000 held at the Pyramids Plateau on Tuesday, Ebeid said tourism has become one of the major hard currency resources that contributes about 11 percent of the Gross National Income and provides 2.5 million jobs.

"The 100,000 hotel rooms now available in Egypt will likely multiply over the next few years," said Ebeid.

"The Tourist and Shopping Festival is one of the events which demonstrates organized coordination among the state's establishments in a bid to set Egypt on its proper place on the world's tourist map," added Ebeid.

The festival is being organized by the Ministry of Tourism in cooperation with the ministries of economy, finance, home trade and interior as well as the Federation of Egyptian Industries.

Four governorates are participating in third round of the festival. Some 453 tourist facilities are competing to offer the highest discount and the best service.