Luxor named world tourism capital for 2016: UNWTO

The Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) unanimously chose Luxor to be world tourism capital for 2016. Luxor was also chosen to host the UNWTO meetings in October, 2016.

Egypt chaired the 103rd session held in Malaga, Spain on May 9 – 11, 2016 under the title “Tourism and Security: Towards a Framework for Safe, Secure and Seamless Travel”.

About 20 tourism ministers and delegations from more than 50 countries and representatives of 500 tourist organizations and agencies from 130 countries attended the session.

Luxor, Egypt was unanimously chosen by 50 countries to host the activities of the 104th session from October 30, 2016 to November 1, 2016.

During the session, Luxor, also, to host on November 1 – 3, 2016, the 5th Global Summit on City Tourism, where the participants are expected to exceed those who participated in M

Luxor, formerly known as Thebes, was the great capital of Upper Egypt during the New Kingdom. Today, it is one of Egypt’s and the world’s foremost tourist destinations. Luxor has also hosted a number of cultural and arts events, including the fifth edition of the Luxor African Film Festival. However, political and social turmoil following the 2011 revolution have resulted in a slump of tourism to Luxor and other cities across Egypt.

Source: Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS)