iExplore has reported increased demand for travel to the Middle East in 2005, including increased sales in each of Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and
Jordan over this same period last year. Growing demand is attributed to decreasing hostilities in Iraq, Syria pulling its troops out of Lebanon and improving relations between Israel and Palestine.

iExplore Founder and CEO, George Deeb, said, “with an improved perception
of safety in the Middle East, U.S. travelers are beginning to act upon
their pent up demand for travel to this region rich in culture and
history.”

Egypt has grown to iExplore’s number two best selling destination in 2005,
behind perennial bestseller, Peru. Morocco, a traditional best seller
prior to 9/11/01, is seeing renewed demand in 2005, currently ranked
iExplore’s number 13 bestseller and up from number 30 last year. Syria,
Lebanon, Israel and Jordan, all lowly demanded destinations for iExplore’s
travelers over the last three years, are all starting to show dramatic
increases in 2005. It is yet to be seen how last week’s tourist-targeted
bombings in Cairo will affect the upward swing in travel patterns to the
region.
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