Six Continents Hotels, which has a major presence in Egypt, has teamed up with Egypt Air in a major campaign to restore confidence in the country and win back the tourists.

Egypt's tourism industry has been dealt a huge blow in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US, with the country suffering more than any other Middle East destination, with millions of dollars being lost through a general fear of traveling.

"The truth is that Egypt remains a wonderfully exciting travel destination, and people have no reason to fear coming here," said Raymond Khalife, president, Six Continents Hotels, Middle East and Africa, at the company's regional headquarters in Cairo.

"We have formed a working partnership with Egypt Air to drive home this message. The tourists will eventually realise that it is safe to visit Egypt, but we want to accelerate that process to restrict the already considerable losses suffered by the tourism industry," he said.

Mahmoud Hamed, Egypt Air's vice-president, commercial, said: "Egypt is one of the world's most fascinating travel destinations, with a huge amount of attractions."

In an effort to persuade more tourists to return, Six Continents Hotels has launched an intensive public relations and marketing initiative. It has also announced a range of attractive winter holiday packages, starting at just $30 per person per night at its seven-strong Egyptian line-up of Inter-Continental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels and resorts stretching from the banks of the Nile in Cairo to Egypt's world-famous monuments and the Red Sea Riviera.