Kami said that they intend to double the number of seats during the next two years. The theatre will seat about 6,000 spectators in 1999 and, in the following year, it will seat 12,000. Kami believes that the bulk of spectators will be Egyptians, foreign residents, Arab nationals and a limited number of non-Arab tourists. However, the production may not cover its cost. I do not believe that it will attract a lot of foreign tourists this time because the decision to stage it was made very late, leaving only a very short time for marketing.
Foreigners usually plan ahead and it is important to sell things a year ahead.
Still, the Opera House has marketing and promotion campaigns working at full speed. Five public relations firms are promoting the production abroad. Advertisements are appearing on CNN and Euro News and posters bedeck the walls of many international airports. We must go ahead with the plan because it will be good publicity for Egypt. Opera singers Maria Guleghina, Leona Mitchell and Lucia Mazaria will play Aida while Vladimir Galouzine and Nicole Martinucci will play Radamis, her lover.