Held in Cairo from 17 to 22 October 1995, the WTO's 11th Biennial Conference attracted a record number of 700 delegates from 120 countries including 101 ministers or deputy ministers. The General Assembly was opened by the President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, who stated that ‘There is no room for tourism in the absence of peace: tourism reinforces the chances of understanding and peace through its positive influence in strengthening the means of human reunion, deepening the bonds and ties of cultural exchange and bringing together nations and people of all parts of the globe’.