With Egyptian tourism suffering for years due to political instability and safety concerns, the country has turned to group tours to attract a new set of tourists. The “Family Cultural Tour,” a new campaign, leads groups of Chinese parents and children on a journey through the country’s legendary historic sites and beyond to showcase the people and local environment. Such tours play into Chinese tourists’ growing demand for cultural activities over shopping trips. Egypt’s target is one million Chinese tourists this year. Tourism accounted for 11 percent of Egypt’s GDP in 2017, and it is rebounding, expected to rise by 3.8 percent this year, according to a World Travel & Tourism Council 2018 report. Tour organizer Zhang Peng (张鹏) recently led 40 parents and children on a family culture trip along the Nile River. The tour led visitors through Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and other historic destinations. Zhang told Xinhua News ... read more