ABSTRACT
Immediately after the signing of the Camp David agreement and well before the exchange of embassies, a number of joint committees began functioning to establish the first peaceful relationship between Egypt and Israel after more than 30 years of war. The committed for tourism functioned swiftly and efficiently. Most of our Egyptian interlocutors were high officials in the ministry of tourism and did not try to hinder the negotiations' course as happened later in other committees. Their approach was professional and free of political considerations. Very quickly, an agreement was reached, recognizing the principle of free flow of tourists in both directions and establishing the foundations of close co-operation between the two countries in attracting tourists from other countries to the region. Furthermore, it was decided to open tourist offices in the two capitals on a basis of reciprocity. In parallel, the transportation and aviation committees, after a year of hard bargaining and many more months of detailed discussions in subcommittees, agreed on the immediate establishment of air, sea and land links between the two countries and defined the modalities of their functioning. The Egyptian approach was still professional and decisions were taken in function of the objective needs of the two sides. Among other ileitis, the creation of a bus service between the two countries, the detailed arrangements for the crossing of private cars and the transport of goods in both directions were decided upon. Furthermore, with the aim of solving promptly any problem that might arise, direct contacts between the aviation authorities and the transport ministries of the two countries were clearly defined.
