Egypt first Middle East country to recover from post-September tourism crisis

Egyptian Tourism Minister Mamdouh El-Beltagui met on Thursday with members of the German Parliament, Bundestag Tourism Committee.

For the second year in a row Germany still occupied the first among tourist-exporting countries to Egypt, said Beltagui during the meeting.

Egypt is the first Middle East and south Mediterranean country to restore the pre-September 11 tourism rates, thanks to the package of programs and plans it has adopted and its insistence to maintain peace and stability in the region, added Beltagui.

The German delegation said they proposed the activation of aviation movement between Egypt and Germany in light of Lufthansa's intention to operate a direct line between Munich and Cairo and increase its flights to Egypt by 30 percent.

Meantime, German ambassador Baran Paul Von Maltzahn said the German Foreign Ministry encourages the Germans to visit Egypt which enjoys stability and security regardless of the volatile situation in the Palestinian territories.

He lauded the Egyptian security agencies' measures to protect the tourists and foreign residents.