Egyptian Tourism Minister شريف فتحي emphasized the significance of the tourism sector in job creation, stating that every 1 million tourists support approximately 220,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly. He made these remarks during a session at the "Al-Ahram for Egyptian Tourism" forum, held under the auspices of Prime Minister الدكتور مصطفى مدبولي. The forum, organized by Al-Ahram Foundation, took place at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat.
The session, titled "Egypt's Diversified Tourism: Enhancing Competitiveness and Investment," featured several prominent speakers, including الدكتور سامح الحفني, Minister of Civil Aviation, حسام الشاعر, Chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Chambers Union, and الدكتور نادر الببلاوي, Chairman of the Travel and Tourism Companies and Agencies Chamber. The discussion focused on developing tourism products, enhancing competitiveness, and attracting investments to the sector.
Minister شريف فتحي highlighted the importance of collaboration between various government sectors to promote tourism, citing the need for a comprehensive approach that involves infrastructure development, policy-making, and private sector participation. He also mentioned efforts to promote tourism in Marsa Matruh and Siwa Oasis, emphasizing the potential for cultural and desert tourism in these areas.
The minister also touched on the cooperation between the Ministries of Tourism and Civil Aviation, particularly in maintaining inbound air traffic to Egypt. He noted that the Civil Aviation Ministry is currently expanding Marsa Alam International Airport to accommodate the growing number of tourists. According to him, the airport witnessed a 50% increase in charter flights during the summer season compared to the same period last year.
الدكتور سامح الحفني, Minister of Civil Aviation, stressed the interdependence of tourism and aviation, stating that the former relies heavily on the latter. He emphasized the need for an integrated approach to develop Egypt's tourism product, involving not only tourism but also transportation, marketing, and other related services. The minister also mentioned the introduction of an e-visa system, which has been rolled out at Cairo International Airport.
The session also addressed the importance of providing a seamless experience for tourists, from arrival to departure. Minister الحفني highlighted the efforts to enhance airport infrastructure and introduce technological solutions, such as e-gates, to facilitate smooth travel procedures. Additionally, speakers discussed the need for streamlined licensing procedures and competitive pricing for land allocation to encourage tourism investment.
Industry representatives, including حسام الشاعر and السيد شريف البنا, emphasized the potential for Egypt's tourism sector to attract high-end tourists and promote luxury tourism. They noted that the country's diverse tourism product, combined with effective marketing and promotion, can help increase tourist arrivals and boost revenue. The forum concluded with a call for continued collaboration between government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and international partners to drive growth and development in Egypt's tourism industry.
Key points
- Every 1 million tourists support approximately 220,000 jobs in Egypt.
- Egypt's tourism sector is working to enhance its product and competitiveness.
- The government is promoting tourism investment through initiatives such as streamlined licensing procedures and competitive pricing for land allocation.
