Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy on Monday received Sergio Román Carranza, Spain’s newly appointed ambassador to Egypt, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of tourism and antiquities.
The meeting, held at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, began with the minister welcoming the Spanish ambassador and wishing him success in his diplomatic mission and a pleasant stay in Egypt.
According to the Cabinet of Ministers, Fathy highlighted the depth of the historical and distinguished relations between the two friendly countries, expressing his keenness to further enhance cooperation in tourism and antiquities in a manner that serves the mutual interests of both sides.
Discussions focused on boosting cooperation in tourism and heritage, as well as exploring opportunities for Spanish investment in Egypt’s tourism sector, particularly in hotel development. The talks come in line with the state’s plan to expand hotel capacity to accommodate the expected growth in tourist arrivals in the coming period.
In turn, the Spanish ambassador congratulated Egypt on achieving record, unprecedented results in inbound tourism during 2025, praising the efforts exerted by the Egyptian government to develop the tourism sector and strengthen Egypt’s position on the global tourism map.
Both sides also affirmed the strength of Egyptian-Spanish relations, which have witnessed notable development in recent years, reaching the level of a strategic partnership. They stressed the importance of building on the outcomes of mutual visits between President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the King of Spain, and the positive impact these visits have had at both official and popular levels.
The meeting reviewed preparations for Egypt’s participation in the FITUR International Tourism Fair 2026, set to open next Wednesday. Minister Fathy is scheduled to inaugurate the Egyptian pavilion, where a range of activities and promotional events will be organized to showcase the diversity of Egypt’s tourism offering. These include a promotional campaign launched in parallel with the exhibition, through which streets and squares in Madrid have been adorned with images and videos highlighting Egypt’s tourist attractions.
In the field of antiquities, the two sides discussed avenues of cooperation in excavation and restoration works, as well as the exchange of expertise and training. Currently, 16 Spanish archaeological missions are operating at various sites across Egypt, reflecting the depth of scientific partnership between the two countries.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Magdalena Cruz, Cultural and Scientific Affairs Counselor at the Spanish Embassy in Cairo, and Rana Gohar, Advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Communication and External Relations and Supervisor General of the ministry’s International Relations and Agreements Department.
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