Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Tourism: Internet for Tourism Sector

http://www.algomhuria.net.eg/gazette/1/
Speaking as a not infrequent visitor to Egypt, this initiative is very welcome:
"As part of the USAID project While in Egypt Stay Connected and in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the Egyptian Hotel Association, the Hotel Information Programme tours seven major tourist areas across Egypt.General Mohamed Hany Metwally, the Governor of South Sinai,
opened the inaugural session of the Hotel Information Programme, the first educational seminar in Egypt on the importance of the Internet for the tourism sector. It is part of the USAID project 'While In Egypt Stay Connected", which stems from the vital role the tourism sector plays in pushing the wheel of development, enhancing and boosting the national economy, and most of all, generating job opportunities for Egyptians.The Hotel Information Programme is the result of a number of studies carried out to create solutions to further enhance the tourism sector in Egypt, and make Egypt more connected to the world. The programme was designed in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the Egyptian Hotel Association. Together, they collaborated to create this touring educational seminar to info Egypt's 3, 4, and 5-star hotel operators about the importance of the Internet in tourism today, in addition to the New No s required by the Ministry of Tourism."We believe that the development of the tourism sector through complying with global standards and mechanisms is crucial. We believe that Internet services are one key step amongst many steps needed to further advance this vital sector. The aim is to provide wireless Internet services everywhere in Egypt, to add to the existing wired Internet services that are already widely available," said Mr. Ismail Abaza, Senior Tourism Advisor to the project. 'We are initially launching the Hotel Information Programme in major tourist areas, with the aim to helping tourists 'stay connected 'while visiting Egypt."Starting in Sharm El Sheikh on April 16, the hotel information seminar will travel to seven major tourist areas through to late May: Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan, Taba, Alexandria, and Cairo. The programme's agenda includes the most prominent Internet-related companies that provide web design, Internet, and communications solutions. These companies will showcase cutting-edge programmes and services, with special offers for the participating hotels. One example is the provision of floating hotels with state-of-the-art technology to stay connected to the Internet while navigating between Luxor and Aswan."
The article is still on the site at the time of writing, but there it will not be archived on that site, so it is reproduced here in full.

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