Alexandria groomed for international tourism

The Egyptian Gazette (Salah Attia)

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It is always difficult to shed light on the admirable tourist products and landmarks in Alexandria, which is the highlight of the hybrid of cultures, different heritages and civilisations. Alexandria also attracted different races, which under the spell of the city, refused to leave and mingled fruitfully and peacefully with the locals.

Egyptians visiting Greece would receive warm welcome if Alexandria is their hometown. This is because Alexandria is as well the hometown of a big number of Greek people, who also lived next to the Italians, the French and the British. Alexandria's residents also include Moroccans, Andalusians, Lebanese and Syrians. All these nations contributed to the rich heritage Alexandria takes pride in. Alexandria has been the meeting point of the Mediterranean people in the North, East and West. Before the birth of the Christ Alexandria was announced the world's major cultural city. In 2008, Alexandria has been declared the captial of Islamic culture. Moreover, Alexandria has been nominated the Capital of Arab Tourism in 2010. In addition to its admirable cultural and historic heritage and civilisation, Alexandria is also widely popular for music composer Sayyed Darwish, poems of Kafafis, the novel “Miramar” written by Egypt's Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz, great Egyptian scientist Ahmed Zuwail, etc. Alexandria also witnessed major events in the modern history. On 26 July 1952, the city witnessed the departure of the then Egypt's King Farouk and the demise of monarchy in Egypt. Alexandria also witnessed the nationalisation of the Suez Canal on 26 July 1956. Alexandria is the panorama of monuments, parks, sprawling seasides, museums, theatres-and the great library, which turned a new chapter in the history of Alexandria. All these shining signs and many others overwhelmed my thoughts during a seminar organised in Semiramis Inter-Continental by the Association of Egyptian Travel Writers and Journalists.