If Forbes contributor Steve Olenski is anyone to go by, celebrity endorsement increases short-term sales and long-term brand awareness.
Recently tech entrepreneur Elon Musk reportedly replied to a tweet that included a video of a 2,500-year-old staircase inside the Dendera Temple in Qena Government, Upper Egypt. The wow-factor was not lost on Mr Musk who said ancient Egypt was “fire”. He used a fire emoji to make his point, in case readers had forgotten what the visible effect of the combustion process looks like.
Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority Chairman Amr el-Qady told local news outlets that Mr Musk would be receiving an invitation to visit Egypt, on Sunday, adding that it would be a boon for the country’s tourism sector.
The video that Musk shared included some tours in the Dendera Temple in Qena Governorate. The video was watched by millions of followers in a short time.
Meanwhile, photographs of British model Demi Rose in front of the Giza Pyramids and by a balcony overlooking the Nile were published on Instagram.
The tourism industry appreciates these photos due to their power to encourage followers to visit the historical places enjoyed by celebrity senders.
Tour guide Omar Khalefa said tweets are free advertising for tourism in the virtual world.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa told parliament on Sunday that 95 per cent of tourism depends on the private sector.
Citing figures from the World Tourism Organisation, the minister said the total number of tourists in the world was 1.4 billion, of whom 13 million visited Egypt – before the outbreak of Covid-19.
Egypt’s tourist facilities can now attract between 35 million visitors annually, the minister said, noting that he expects 334 million in 2028.
