Egypt plans to lure more Chinese tourists

CAIRO -- Egypt's Tourism Minister Mohamed Hisham Zaazou said on Sunday that several meetings with the Chinese tourist sector will be held during Morsi's visit to Beijing to increase the tourist flows into Egypt.

The Chinese markets are promising in Egypt, especially with the increase rates of the Chinese tourists which have reached 20 percent annually compared to 5 percent increase of the world tourist rates to Egypt, the official news agency MENA quoted Zaazou as saying.

Egypt has received 110,000 Chinese tourists in 2010, said Zaazou, adding "we work to increase the numbers to 160,000 next year by activating the aviation agreement signed between the two countries".

Meanwhile the tourism ministry is working on granting an entry visa to the Chinese tourist groups upon their arrival from the airports in coordination with different sectors in Egypt to facilitate the procedures.

In Morsi's visit to China on Monday, forums will be held between Egyptian businessmen and representatives of the biggest Chinese companies which are specialized in the fields of tourism, medicine, chemical and plastic products.