Tourism convention International Tourismus-Börse (ITB) Berlin has left Egypt off its list of top 50 countries to visit, privately-owned Al-Shorouk reported. The tourism convention, widely regarded as one of the most important tourism events in the world, compiled a list of 50 recommended travel destinations in honor of its 50th anniversary, but snubbed Egypt from the list in light of the country’s recent struggles with security. ITB’s decision to leave Egypt off the list comes despite the fact that Egypt was the convention’s Jubilee Cultural Sponsor and was later chosen as the recipient of the ‘Best Exhibitor Award’ at this year’s convention. The most recent edition of the convention took place earlier this month, where Tourism Minister Hesham Zaazou headed the Egyptian delegation. Zaazou came under fire for choosing to play a promotional video showing “simple” Egyptians, including a man on a donkey cart in Luxor who could no longer provide food for his family as a result of the waning tourism industry. Many in the tourism industry criticized the ministry for his choice, saying that the content of the video was insulting to Egyptians and amounted to beggary. The minister said that the…
Egypt Removed from ITB Berlin’s List of ‘Top 50 Countries to Visit’
March 21, 2016
