UPDATE 2-Egypt tourism revenues resilient in 2009 - minister

* Tourist revenues $10.8 bln in 2009, $11.5 bln eyed in 2010

* Tourist arrivals slip to 12.5 mln from 12.8 mln

(Adds more quotes from minister, 2010 forecast)

By Alexander Dziadosz

CAIRO, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Egypt's tourism earnings, a key source of foreign exchange, dipped just 2.1 percent last year thanks to an upswing in Russian and British arrivals and may rise significantly in 2010, the tourism minister said on Monday.

Tourism, which accounts for about 11 percent of Egypt's gross domestic product, was hit hard by the global economic crisis early in the year -- revenues were down 13.2 percent in the first quarter of 2009. However, officials and analysts gradually revised their outlooks up as the season progressed.

"We have seen proper signs of recovery. Since September we've been having constant growth," Zoheir Garrana said at a news conference in Cairo.

"We hope that 2010, though I still believe it will be a very difficult year, will have significant growth."