What is the best way to attract more Americans to Visit Egypt and to know closely and Understand the ME?

Answer 1

I love Egypt and I have never had any problems when I go there. I often tell people that they must go. I beleive that the Egyptian government needs to agressively target the tourist sector of Egypt. Dubai has done a wonderful job in doing this, and it has paid off well. Egypt as a country has more to offer everyone becuase of their rich history into all religions plus the history that can be seen by their eyes.

Egypt has the upbeat SHarm El Shaikh for those people who like to scuba dive, go clubbing and lay by the beach. They have Cairo that offers such diversity for everyone. Egypt has Luxor and he Nile.

I can't believe the government has not even attempted to attract more tourists. It would be an easy way to generate money and hopefully produce more jobs for Egyptians.

Answer 2

I recently went to Egypt and it was wonderful as I had been there a long time ago and it was full of tourists. This time though it was great as there were not that many and it made the whole place more relaxed. Its bad for the economy I guess, but I would say the less tourists (of any nationality) the better.
But ways to attract them:
Cheap flights
Updating beach resorts
Package trips including flight between Cairo (to see pyramids) to Luxor/Aswan (to join included cruise down/up the Nile).
Honest information about how to travel in the Middle East.

Answer 3

producing movies in the middle east and make them reach the west.
movies make the fastest impact on viewers.
USA already produce movies about us (arabs) reflecting their point of view ofcourse, and the ameicans watch that, no wonder why they get this image about us, so why dont we do the same but this time focus on quality and messages not just useless movies only made to make money.
an american would watch an arabic movie, if it has good quality and well produced.
it wont make an effect in a day but it will take sometime.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, middle easterners are targets of the media and the U.S.A. these days; so countering the bad press that the nuts of the region bask in on our t.v. sets would be super helpful. Definitely more effective outreach to local communities about the positive aspects of islam and the fun activities of the region would also help. But then again that would be a political issue because of a lot of reasons people should already know about if they are half way informed and not completely brain washed by the major t.v. stations (i.e., fox news, cnn, abc blah blah--I particularly like http://www.zmag.org to update me on the worlds topics and it has some great writers like Noam Chomsky, haaretz writers and others from various sides of the spectrum). I was talking about how it's difficult to get the truth out there to this terrorist word freaked out nation is next to impossible with our brain damaged Bush + as$Es of evil in control (hey, I didn't vote for him. it's not my fault!!!).

Basically, the easiest answer would be time will hopefully neutralize the newest hysteria of anti-arabic + farsi speaker xenophobia. Years ago people were "freaking" out over japanese, the u.s.a. cruelly put them in work prisons and other camps (guantanamo seem like a parellel to anyone?), now there are sushi bars and karaoke all over major cities. Then the vietnamese were supposedly the "evil-commies" and now S. Sacramento, CA has a ton of Vietnamese stores and even a Lee's sandwich shop in one of the main courts of the areas parking lot food court area. Perhaps 20-30 years down the line middle eastern food and activities like hooka-pipes and what not will be a typical option. I hope so.


But as for what would make me as an American more comfortable is (note, this is from the point of view of staying there not only as a tourist living in a hotel, but from immersion in the neighborhoods):

-convenience type amenities (yes, I'll say it, I love wal-mart)
-improving the physical environment (it was sad to see trash at the pyramids strewn here and there + how trash collects next to some apartment buildings. additionally, cairo is SO polluted I could feel the dirt particles attached to me after a day out in the area--I guess trying to be as environmental as lake tahoe or switzerland would be a good model. However, I understand there's not much the average citizen can do about it when they pay their dues to the government and trash isn't even picked up (one case in point is kafr-el-dawar in alexandria. however, the garbage company comes these days).
-less emotional outbursts and taking comments about things that can be improved (such as answering this question will most surely elicit someone going on and on about why do I bother going to egypt if I only have bad things to say about it. To that future response I'll simply say I'm just answering the question. It didn't ask for positive aspects + bviously, I must like some things about egypt since I do return) as personal attacks; I guess one way to put that nicely would be to say many Egyptians I've met are just "passionate" about the topic on hand
-Having a life style (ability to conduct business, shop and go out, etc., etc) better than what I found in Cuernavaca, Mexico would aid greater tourism from the states probably; I just can't believe egypt was worse off than mexico and the depression found in the less fortunate egyptians eyes was so profound. it still gives me chills. I'm surprised not many people commit suicide in egypt. anyway, I'm going off tangent here. Hope that was a bit helpful.

Answer 5

Egypt is good but if there weren't terrorism and attact on tourism places.. So when it's about anti America people get really scared get it.. no one wants to be killed in the Bad midlle east..

Answer 6

Fewer terrorist attacks on tourist areas would help.
Cheaper flights to Egypt from the USA would as well.

Answer 7

Letting Bush go.
And Mubarak as well.