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H.E. ZOHEIR GARRANAH, EGYPT’S MINISTER OF TOURISM
ADDRESSES DELEGATES AT FIRST
AMERICAN TOURISM SOCIETY CONFERENCE IN EGYPT
Optimistic about Continued Growth from American Market
(December
16, 2008 -- New York, NY) The American Tourism Society held its first, and one of its largest conferences to date, in Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 27-30, 2008, under the auspices of H.E. Zoheir Garranah, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism. Joining the Minister at the opening was Mr. Amr El- Ezabi, Chairman of the Egyptian Tourist Authority, David Parry, ATS Chairman and Chairman, Academic Travel Abroad and Phil Otterson, ATS President, and VP External Affairs, Tauck World Discovery. Dr. Zahi Hawass, world acclaimed archaeologist and Secretary General, Supreme Council of Antiquities, was keynote speaker. The ATS meeting, attended by more than 100 delegates and 60 tourism students from Halwan University, took place at the deluxe Sofitel El Gezirah Hotel, overlooking the Nile.
H.E Garranah told ATS delegates that Egypt welcomed 11.1 million tourists worldwide in 2007 representing a dramatic 20% growth over the previous year and generating over 9.5 billion USD in revenue. Although the figures for the American market were more modest, 278,000 in 2007, H.E. Grarranah said that this also represented a 20% increase over 2006 and was optimistic that this high growth rate will continue. Minister Garranah cited Egypt’s diverse tourism product and the excellent value for the American dollar as two of the major factors for this increase in US visitors. One of Egypt’s key strategies for the American market, according to the Minister, is strengthening its travel industry partnerships in the US. Hosting the ATS meeting, with its strong US tour operator base, is an excellent example of this effort.
Mr. Amr El- Ezabi, Chairman of the Egyptian Tourist Authority (ETA), applauded the ATS decision to hold its conference in Cairo, and welcomed those American tour operators that were discovering Egypt for the first time. "We are confident that the booming tourism development all over Egypt, and the diversification of our product, will provide excellent opportunities for new and exciting itineraries that will capture the interest of many in the US." He also noted that the upgrades to Egypt’s infrastructure supports the optimism ETA has about the future of tourism in the country. "We expect 211,000 more hotel rooms to be completed by the end of this year, and the new airport terminal in Cairo is scheduled to open in 2010," said El-Ezabi.
World-renowned Egyptian Archaeologist, Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General, Supreme Council of Antiquities, was the keynote speaker on opening day of the conference. He spoke passionately about his lifetime work and his legendary discoveries. He also spoke about some of the current archaeological digs underway, including the recent discovery of the 118th Pyramid in Saqqara and what might be Cleopatra’s tomb in Alexandria.
US Travel Industry Presidents Address Current Economic Issues
One of the program highlights was a session on the impact of the current economic crisis on the tourism industry in the US market moderated by Cathleen Johnson, Executive Vice President, Edelman Public Relations International. The panel featured the Presidents of major travel industry organizations including Bob Whitley, United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), Bruce Beckham, Tourism Cares, Robin Tauck, past president and owner, Tauck World Discovery and Lisa Simon, National Tour Association.
A US Tour operator panel, moderated by Bob Whitley, President USTOA, was for the Egyptian delegates, focusing on "Trends in North American Tourism." Whitley made two optimistic insights about the American market: Americans have a "90-day" memory so they overcome negative news from a destination fairly quickly; and Americans view their vacations as one of their "rights" which they will not give up. The fact that exotic destinations suffer less than more established ones in this economic climate seemed to be a consensus expressed by the operators, Robin Tauck, Tauck World Discovery, Helena Novak, Sr. VP, General Tours World Traveler and Nico Zenner, Travel Bound. They all reported that their Egyptian tours were experiencing enormous growth compared to European tours, which went down. It was agreed that the fact that Egypt offers great value for the American dollar is also a major factor in this growth.
Bruce Beckham, President, Tourism Cares, gave a dynamic and inspiring presentation on accomplishments of this travel industry-focused philanthropic organization, "Tourism Cares – Restoring the Past, Preserving the Future," along with his vision of how ATS can partner with Tourism Cares.
El Hamy El Zayat, Chairman, EMECO Travel, provided the American delegates with an overview "Trends in Egyptian Tourism" Mohamed Salmawy, President, Egyptian Writers Union and former editor of Al-Ahram, made an illuminating presentation pointing out how Americans perceive Egypt versus how Egyptians perceive Americans and documented this with some examples from current events.
Rafi Baeri, Dan Hotels, Israel. Gave an update on the activities of Tourism4Peace, a private sector initiative of travel industry leaders in Israel, Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. The objective was to create freedom of movement for their clients in the region and facilitate security and visa issues. Baeri spoke about "Abraham’s Path," an exciting new initiative which will take visitors on an extraordinary journey that would for the first time offer a tour that links Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia."
ATS Conference Exceeded Expectations
For many delegates the ATS Conference program exceeded all expectations. Manuel Paulo, VP, Contracting, Colette Vacations, said "this was my first ATS conference and I was very impressed with the seriousness of the discussions, which were pertinent to the issues facing tour operators selling these destinations." Dave Parry, ATS Chairman and Chairman, Academic Travel Abroad, attributes much of this success to several factors, the high interest in destination Egypt in the US and seeing its tourism product, the working sessions being very relevant to the issues facing the industry, the large number of American tour operators present, the tremendous support of the Egyptian Tourist Authority, Wings Tours and official carrier, Egypt Air."
ATS/National Tours Association Partnership Launched in Cairo
NTA President, Lisa Simon, was joined in Cairo by NTA member tour operators interested in introducing overseas destinations to their clients. Simon had this to say about her first ATS Conference, "ATS is doing important tourism development and educational work around the world and NTA is proud to be its partner. This has been a special opportunity for our members to be part of a unique program, a blend of education and visits to the Pyramids and other world- renowned antiquities found here. The NTA post conference product development trip, organized in cooperation with ATS and USTOA, the Nile Cruise on Wings Tours’ new luxurious boat, the Tamr Henna, provided Wings Tours an opportunity to showcase the best of the destination." Phil Otterson, ATS President, added "ATS views this NTA partnership as a big step forward in fulfilling key elements of the strategic plan that was created a year ago, increasing our membership of qualified tour operators, and introducing new tour operators to our host destinations."
ATS Tourism College at Helwan University
This year the ATS Tourism College program took place on Sunday, October 26, at the Helwan University, prior to the opening of the ATS Conference itself. The sessions focused on two topics suggested by the Helwan University professors: E-Marketing led by ATS Board Member, Dave Spinelli, Global Web Solutions and Mike Wargo, Travelocity; and The Market for Special Interest and Cultural Travel session, led by David Parry, ATS Chairman and Chairman, Academic Travel Abroad. "The Tourism College is an excellent example of one of ATS’ objectives, that is to become ‘local’ as it is the interaction with people that is the most enriching aspect of product development. One cannot describe the enthusiasm with which we were received by the students and the professors at the Helwan University," said ATS President Otterson. "We are now convinced that this should be an integral part of the conference program itself as we feel this was a truly rewarding experience for all the ATS members who attended."
Social Highlights
The welcome reception on Monday evening, Oct. 27, took place on the Budda Bar Terrace overlooking the Nile at the El Gezirah Hotel in Giza, a perfect setting for the kick-off to the ATS Conference in Cairo. The evening was hosted by Egyptian Tourist Authority Chairman, Amr El –Ezabi. H.E. Akel Biltaji, ATS Chair of the Red/Med Council Region officially opened the conference.
Emeco Travel hosted the opening evening dinner in the lovely gardens of the Seasons Country Club.
American Express Company, represented by ATS Board Member, Donna Flora, Sr. VP, Travel Industry Relations, together with the American Express representatives in Egypt, hosted a gala reception and dinner for all ATS delegates at the famous Mena House Oberoi, adjacent to the Pyramids. The festive evening featured a traditional Egyptian Cultural performance. American Express Cairo presented each delegate with an autographed copy of Dr. Zahi Hawass’ book "The Mountains of the Pharohs."
Included in the Cairo program for all ATS delegates were afternoon tours to some of Cairo’s famous sites, The Pyramids and the Sphinx, a World Heritage Site, and the only original Wonder of the World still standing, the Egyptian Museum, the Mohamed Ali Mosque and the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. All ATS conference tours and land arrangements were handled by Wings Tours, the official ATS Conference Ground Operator. Egypt Air, the official ATS conference carrier, offered special rates for ATS delegates. As it enters a new era of expansion, Egypt Air is now a partner in the Star Alliance.
World Debut for Alex Harris Autobiography at ATS Conference in Cairo
Hot off the press, Alex Harris, CTC, co-founder of ATS, a life-time member and Honorary Chairman, presented for the first time, his new autobiography, "Breaking Borders." A moving and incredible saga that follows his life from Lodz, Poland, to being captured as a Polish soldier by the Soviets, accused of being a German Spy, to his eventual arrival in the US. Much of his vision and leadership in the travel industry, both as founder of General Tours, where he still serves as Chairman, and in co-founder of ATS, was shaped by these early struggles. Harris said that the proceeds from the sale of his book will go to a new fund, the ATS Alexander W. Harris Fund, which provides assistance and scholarships to students interested in pursuing careers in tourism. Harris also donated 30 books to Helwan University for the tourism students. He credits his mother for the message that has guided his life, "when you get to a border, cross it, go around it or break it."
About ATS - Bringing the World Together
The American Tourism Society (ATS) was established in 1989 by a group of US tourism industry executives. It is a nonprofit, nonpolitical travel industry organization whose membership includes tour operators, hotels and resorts, international airlines, cruise lines, Government Tourist Offices, meeting and incentive planners, travel agents, tourism educators and public relations and marketing firms dedicated to promoting, developing and expanding high-quality, reliable travel between North America and the ATS destination areas: the Baltics, Central and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean / Red Sea Region and Russia. ATS holds annual meetings and a Tourism College hosted by different destination countries each year; has a website www.americantourismsociety.org
For more information on The American Tourism Society: 149 Madison Avenue, Suite 602, New York, NY 10016; USA -Phone 212.893.8111, Fax 212.893.8153; email:
info@americantourismsociety.org.
For more information on Egypt visit:
http://www.egypt.travel
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