Egypt has topped the Best Country Brand for History category in the 2007 Country Brand Index (CBI), putting the country ahead of a renowned group of historically rich destinations that include Italy, China, Greece and France.

The distinction underscores Egypt's strength in the tourism sector and reflects a successful marketing strategy that has made Egypt one of only two countries in the MENA region to be included on the Index.

CBI is now in its third year of providing a comprehensive branding study that includes rankings, trends and travel motivations of tourists around the world. Over 2,600 international travelers participated in the study, which was conducted by Future Brand, a leading global brand consultancy; in conjunction with public relations firm Weber Shandwick’s Global Travel & Lifestyle Practice. CBI examines how countries are branded and ranked according to key criteria and also provides an extensive overview of the challenges and opportunities within the worlds of travel, tourism and country branding.

Egypt also figured prominently in the Best Country Brand for Art and Culture category, joining Italy and France in the top three, while placing ahead of India and United Kingdom. Egypt and fellow CBI chart-topper UAE are the Middle East and North Africa region's top country brands this year, helping draw the attention of the global market to the exciting opportunities presented by the booming region. The UAE, which has been hailed as one of the 'Rising Stars' among the world's top tourist destinations, topped the Best Country Brand for Resort/Lodging Options category as one of the top two in the Best Country Brand for Shopping category, and figured within the top five in the category Best Country Brand for Conferences.