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One of the most important factors that help tourism continue as a vital industry over the current century is to find a way to develop and make the best use of that sector without ignoring the importance of maintaining ethics with sustainability in tourism development , according to Egyptian Minister of Tourism Zuhair Garranah.
Speaking at ninth Conference held by Tourism Ethics Commission of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism mid-April in Luxor , Garranah signaled that the world is currently witnessing radical changes at both the economic and environmental level , which are evident through attitudes and policies that govern markets, customers, and also the environment surrounding them.
He pointed out that while the world underwent variables ,there are things that could not be changed, including ethics, citing as evidence the conference which would be held in Luxor which has succeeded over long years in challenging the changes.
Garranah added that tourism has now become one of the most important industries as it recorded the fastest growth rates, pointing out that following the recovery from the negative impacts of the global economic crisis, tourism effectively contributed to this recovery , the matter that made that industry more significant.
Zuhair Garranah further stated that tourism is one of the most important means of promoting peace and cultural exchange among nations apart from its contributions to income growth from foreign currency, the creation of job opportunities as well as the role it plays in supporting other economic sectors , combating poverty and maintaining the environment.
On the other hand , tourism has another face that emerge when tourism industry grows and expands regardless taking environment protection or heritage preservation into account, said the minister who accordingly called for using effective means in order to avoid tourism 's ugly negative face which is uneasy especially in limited -resource countries.
Meanwhile , tourism 's top official reviewed the accomplishments made in the Egyptian sector of tourism over the past six years pointing out that tourism contributes 11.3% of GDP in addition to 19% of the foreign currency and 12.6% of the total manpower in Egypt .
Concerning 2009's achievements , he explained that despite the impact of global economic crisis, Egyptian tourism was able to achieve a $10.7 billion revenue adding that Egypt seeks to attract 25 million tourists and achieve 250 million tourist nights by 2020,
Zuhair Garranah noted the issuance of the Universal Declaration of Tourism Ethics was a turning point as it set the framework within tourist destinations operate to achieve "responsible tourism" stressing that Egypt spares no efforts to maintain and promote tourism ethics in parallel with the development of this industry.
He expressed his roundness that the tourism ethics topped the Egyptian government priorities.
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