With funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and sponsorship from the Egypt Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the ?While In Egypt Stay Connected? (WIESC) project has been implemented to educate tourists and Egyptians about staying connected in Egypt.
WIESC aims to expand internet connectivity in the Egyptian tourism sector, so that tourists can ?stay connected? whilst visiting Egypt, as well as experience the newest WiFi technology in key tourist areas including Luxor and Sharm El Sheikh.
Wireless technology allows people to access the internet without physically connecting via a network cable. Originally implemented in small WiFi ?hotspots? such as cafes, newer technology can now enable WiFi technology over large areas.
Launched in July, 2007, the project now offers widescale WiFi technology in Sharm El Sheikh. The service does not require a log in procedure. Nihal Soliman, marketing advisor for USAID said: ?With a growing number of tourists looking to use the internet whilst abroad, the WIESC project brings Egypt in line with many other tourist destinations. The project will enable travellers to use the internet everywhere in key Egyptian resorts where internet access was previously limited to internet cafes.
Sharm El Sheikh and Luxor were chosen because of their popularity so that while travelling visitors can email and chat with family and friends, view and send digital photos, find online information for holiday planning and activities as well as keep up with current news.
In addition to further expanding WiFi internet access at airports, cafes and fast food restaurants, the project also encompasses an extensive hotel connectivity programme.
As part of the WIESC project, a Hotel Information Programme (HIP) was implemented for Egypt?s three, four and five star hotel operators in seven major tourist areas; Sharm El Sheikh, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Nuweiba, Alexandria and Cairo. This included seminars on the importance of the internet in tourism today to encourage hotel connectivity more broadly in hotels across Egypt. The HIP programme and awareness activities have been taking place within Egypt, so that Egyptians, especially those in the tourism sector, know about and understand the programme.
The WIESC project further adds to Egypt?s growing technology sector which generated $700-800 million in revenues in 2005 and is projected to reach $1.1 billion in export revenues by 2010. The IT service sector?s powerful 40-45 per cent growth rate is expected to continue through 2010. Egypt?s flourishing IT industry also presents many attractive opportunities for foreign investment.
The project and supporting campaign will aim to educate people that while in Egypt they can stay connected wirelessly in the two dedicated areas and throughout the country.
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