afrol News, 20 June - Americans continue to visit Egypt in numbers not seen since record-setting 2000, according to new statistics released by the Egyptian Tourism Authority. The trend continued in May 2006 when 18,935 Americans visited Egypt, a 16.3 percent increase over the same period in 2005.

Egypt has continued to experience double-digit growth, over 2005, from American tourists, the Egyptian Tourism Authority reported today. In 2006, 98,388 Americans have visited Egypt, an extraordinary increase of 20.9 percent over last year's 81,398 for the same period.

"We continue to see great growth from the United States as Americans rediscover the wonders of Egypt, from the Great Sphinx to the spectacular beaches in Sharm El-Sheikh," said Ayden Nour, the responsible for the North and South American markets of the Egyptian Tourist Authority.

He noted that American interest in Egypt is high, as three exhibits travel across the US. Leading the way is the King Tutankhamun touring exhibit, "Tutankhamun & The Golden Age of the Pharaohs," which is expected to attract record-setting numbers for the Field Museum in Chicago. "Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh" is now open at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. "The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt" opened this month at the First Museum of Visual Arts in Nashville.

The exhibits, featuring some of the most famous treasures from ancient Egypt, have been given top attention in US media, raising attention among American travellers. The Egyptian tourism sector has experienced similar results earlier, when main exhibitions have toured Europe or North America.

Egypt as a tourist destination has suffered major setbacks during the last decade due to several terrorist attacks, which have scared away tourists for longer or shorter periods. Lately, however, both Europeans and Americans have proven to be less influenced by terror attacks, and setbacks only last for a few months or weeks.

Meanwhile, Egyptian authorities have also invested massively in tourism infrastructure. While traditional tourism in the country was focused on historic sights such as the pyramids, Cairo and Luxor, the North African country now also attracts mass charter tourism at its Red Sea resorts, combining newly constructed hotels, coral reefs, pleasant winter temperatures and reasonable prices.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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