Tourism Minister Khaled Ramy left Cairo Monday morning for Britain, his first leg of a European tour taking him also to Germany and Russia.

The tour is meant to get firsthand information about demands of big travel exporters in those countries, Ramy said in pre-departure statements.

He said he will discuss with travel officials there ways to encourage charter flights.

Ramy will also discuss a campaign to be launched within the coming few months with the aim to promote travel to Egypt, particularly cultural and Nile tourism.

The minister stressed the importance of European tourists, who make up to 73 percent of the inbound tourism.

Russia tops the list of countries exporting tourists to Egypt with 31 percent, followed by the UK at 9 percent then Germany at 8.8 percent, Ramy said.

He made it clear that he will hold important talks with decision-makers in the field of tourism in the three countries.

The visits are timely to restore the flow of tourism, Ramy said.