Germany is a key tourist exporting market to Egypt, said the Egyptian Minister of Tourism. Zuheir Garana said that about 1.1 million German tourists visited Egypt last year, expecting the figure to go up to two million in 2011.

Speaking to German reporters on Friday on the sidelines of Egypt's participation in the International Tourist Bourse in Berlin, Garana said Egypt is a key tourism destination for German tourists.

"Thanks to Egypt's breathtaking sites, beaches, diving, safari-sightseeing," he said.

"Egypt is also known for its spas and therapeutic tourism," he added.

Egypt and Germany have strong relations in different fields, the minister said, citing the presence of a number of German schools as well as a German university in Egypt.

Garana previously gave a speech to German TV channel WDR promoting Egyptian tourism.