Traveling with one of the first delegations of travel agents to return to Egypt since the country’s Jan. 25 revolution on a Ya’lla Tours educational tour, we sat down with Ya’lla President Ronen Paldi for an in-depth interview in Cairo. Paldi discussed topics that covered the road to recovery for the country’s tourism industry, safety issues, and tips on how agents can begin to sell the destination again. The 10-day “Egypt, a New Beginning” educational tour, which ran May 5-15, explored Cairo, Giza and Luxor, and included a four-day Nile cruise that started in Luxor. Ya’lla Tours offers group and FIT programs to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Greece, Turkey, Morocco and Cuba.

What’s your prediction for Egypt’s recovery, particularly as it pertains to the U.S. market? I don’t think anybody can predict a recovery. It all has to do with the perception of whether the destination is safe. Note that I said “perception,” not “reality.” The reality is it is very safe. It’s safe because tourists are very much welcomed in Egypt. It’s also safe because Egypt and those in its tourism industry know the country desperately needs tourism – and the Egyptians are taking special efforts to make sure tourists are safe. The reality is Egypt is safer than many cities in the U.S.

How confident are you in the country’s recovery? I’m very confident. I believe strongly that the Egyptian people want a better life. Tourism is one of the most important engines to provide a fast economic recovery – and a fast improvement in the lives of the Egyptian people. Egyptians not only offer travelers quality service, but they also make tourists feel safe and welcome.

Why is it important for people to travel to Egypt sooner rather than later? It’s convenient because the country’s tourism attractions are virtually empty. The biggest issues we had before the revolution were the fact that the sites were crowded and the lines were long. Secondly, travelers don’t have many, if any, chances to witness historical changes in a country. They will be able to do just that by visiting Egypt. This is a rebirth of a nation. People visiting can actually be a part of that.

Why did you offer the “Egypt, A New Beginning” education program now rather than later? We are investing a lot in educating travel agents. Three weeks into the Egyptian revolution I realized that the only way we can bring the message to the market that the country is safe is to have an educational trip and take front-line agents to the country in order to experience first-hand the Egypt of today and how safe it is – as well as the benefits it provides their customers.

Are group and FIT travelers beginning to return to Egypt? Yes. Forty percent of Ya’lla Tours’ travelers who canceled have rebooked. Others are in the planning stages and have not yet rebooked. Each week we’re receiving new bookings for Egypt from now to until the end of the year. Furthermore, we’ve offered 100 percent refunds or credits for clients to use through 2012, with prices valid through the end of September 2011 – in addition to 15 percent off. The rates are frozen. We’ll guarantee 2011 rates for 2012.

How has the revolution impacted your 2011 booking compared with 2010? Remember, from the revolution until mid-March nobody was coming to Egypt. Our first passengers came to Cairo on March 20. We’re about 60 percent down from 2010, from what I can see from the books and what we canceled for this year. I feel quite positive, however, about 2012, with the interest and number of calls Ya’lla is receiving.

What is your advice to agents who are hesitant to sell Egypt? First, they need to be better informed about the country and listen to people who have traveled there – such as the travel agents who participated in the “Egypt, a New Beginning” educational trip. Second, they need to book with tour operators that are not just selling Egypt for the money but really know what they’re doing. Having said that, prospects would include customers who don’t have the fear factor - those people who are well traveled. Egypt is not a first-time destination, at least not for Americans. It’s for people who have been to Europe before and might have also visited Israel – but not necessarily gone on an African safari yet. Travel agents and their clients should know that there are armed escorts on Ya’lla motorcoaches in Egypt, and that there’s extra security at upscale hotels.

What sets Ya’lla aside from other companies? We work exclusively with travel agents. We do not deal with the public. Commissions are paid while the customer is traveling, and on cancelled bookings that have been paid in full. We really have a different philosophy for the business. We only sell what we specialize in, and we compete on quality, not price. We do not sell all over the world, but rather, we’re a small boutique company, not a mass-market firm. We do not cut corners. We also handpick our guides, who are the best available

What is the depth and breadth of your Egypt product line? The number one aspect of Ya’lla is that all the tours are private. In other words, we don’t combine agent groups. If agents book two people, we will guarantee the reservation, and with a private Egyptologist guide. In spite of the downfall of the economy, we are not cutting quality. There are absolutely no corners cut: zero. Also, despite what’s going on in Ya’lla’s tourism neighborhood – the Middle East – we are keeping the same standards that we’ve always had.

For more information, visit www.yallatours.com.

Claudette Covey is a contributing editor for TravelPulse.com.