 | Egypt's tourism ministry said on Monday that it is encouraging cooperation between local travel bloggers and their international counterparts in order to promote Egypt as a travel destination.
In a statement issued on Monday, the ministry said the cooperation is a new marketing tool to promote Egypt, and is part of the new structural reform programme adopted by the ministry to modernise the tourism sector.
"It is worth mentioning that Forbes website has said that Instagram has become one the most influential social media networks for adults making travel decisions, as more than 40 percent of tourists under 33 years old use it when they make a decision to travel," the statement read.
Among the examples listed are famous American travel blogger and filmmaker Rory Kramer, who spent ten days in Egypt with Egyptian travel blogger and photographer Ahmed Wahba.
Kramer, who visited several cities and locations in Egypt including Cairo, Fayoum, Gouna and Dahab, said that the visit restored his smile.
The ministry noted that it had cooperated with Wahba in international tourism conferences like ITB Berlin.
Egyptian photographer and travel blogger Coucla Refaat cooperated with the founders of German travel website Jovi Travel and famous Instagram influencer couple Candela and Ricardo in their visits to Egypt, which included stops like the Pyramids and Al-Maza beach in Marsa Matrouh.
The ministry also cited the visit of travel blogger Sarah Richard to Egypt, who had called on her followers to visit the country.
Other prominent travel bloggers and influencers mentioned include Nataly and Murad Osmann, who have over 6 million followers on Instagram.
The ministry said that it had provided the travel bloggers with support and facilities, including providing them with photography permits in historical areas and opening some of sites for them outside working hours, in coordination with the antiquities ministry and the tourism police.
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