On the sidelines of his participation in the 26th Session of the General Assembly of the UN Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh from November 7 to 11, Mr. Sherif Fathy, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, held several media engagements with representatives of Saudi and international media outlets.
During these meetings, the Minister underscored that the tourism industry represents a tool of soft power for Egypt, serving as a message of peace and communication between peoples. He also highlighted its vital importance to national economies through its contribution to job creation and attracting investment.
The Grand Egyptian Museum and Antiquities
Mr. Fathy spoke about the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) by the President of the Republic and the grand inauguration ceremony attended by numerous heads of state and monarchs globally. He noted that the museum welcomed approximately 18,000 visitors, both tourists and Egyptians, on its first day of public opening.
He further explained that the GEM's opening sparked a notable increase in the public's fascination with ancient Egyptian civilization, evidenced by the significant rise in visitor numbers at other museums and archaeological sites, such as the Giza Pyramids, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC). Expressing delight at this momentum, he mentioned that a new vision is being developed for the historic Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, which houses magnificent archaeological treasures.
Tourism Growth and Strategy
The Minister addressed the remarkable growth in inbound tourist traffic from various source markets to Egypt. He stated that the number of tourists arriving last year increased by 6% compared to 2023, with projections suggesting this year's figures will reach unprecedented numbers.
He emphasized Egypt's unparalleled diversity in tourism products and patterns, asserting that the ministry's strategy aims to highlight this variety to make Egypt the world's premier tourist destination in product diversification in the coming years.
Regional Cooperation and Investment
Mr. Fathy also touched upon the importance of regional and international cooperation in supporting the tourism sector. He highlighted the signing of the Executive Program for Joint Cooperation in Tourism between the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Saudi Ministry of Tourism during the UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh.
He also drew attention to the significant investments being made in the North Coast region, Ras El Hekma (in cooperation with the UAE), and the Alam El Roum area (in cooperation with Qatar).
Technology and AI in Tourism
On the utilization of modern technology, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Minister stated its growing importance in various fields, particularly tourism. He stressed the need for governance in AI usage to maximize its benefits and effective deployment while mitigating its negative impacts.
He elaborated that incorporating AI in tourism helps enhance the tourist experience, facilitate access to information, and enable smart promotion of tourism products. He confirmed that the ministry has already begun using AI techniques in promotional campaigns, which have yielded positive results.
Preservation and Local Communities
Finally, Mr. Fathy discussed the Egyptian state's and the ministry's commitment to preserving and protecting antiquities. He mentioned the cooperation with the private sector to operate services at museums and archaeological sites and improve service efficiency to enhance the visitor experience. He reaffirmed the ministry's continuous partnership with the private sector as the locomotive of growth in this vital sector.
He concluded by stressing the importance of involving local communities surrounding archaeological and tourist sites in the tourism system, ensuring that local residents directly benefit from the increased returns of tourism development.
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