Egypt’s New Min. of Tourism & Antiquities Outlines Ambitious Visions for Tourism Sector

On Tuesday, Sherif Fathy officially assumed his duties as Egypt’s new Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, following his swearing-in ceremony before President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Heliopolis.

Fathy, who joined the cabinet of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, immediately took charge at the ministry's headquarters in the New Administrative Capital.

In his inaugural statement, Fathy underscored Egypt’s prestigious position as a premier global tourist destination. He highlighted the challenges presented by President al-Sisi and Prime Minister Madbouly, emphasizing a collaborative approach to overcoming these hurdles and achieving the government’s ambitious goals.

He outlined several key priorities for his tenure. These include expanding hotel capacity and increasing flight frequencies to attract more tourists to Egypt, thus boosting tourism revenues. He also stressed the importance of preserving Egypt’s rich archaeological heritage, with a special focus on the upcoming inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Additionally, Fathi aims to continue advancing the ministry's digital transformation initiatives in the tourism and antiquities sectors.

About Sherif Fathy

He is a well-regarded figure with extensive experience in civil aviation and tourism. He previously served as Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation and has held numerous influential positions, including Secretary-General of the Arab Tourism Organization and a non-executive board member of the International Partners for Aviation Development, Innovation, and Sustainability (iPADIS) based in Montreal, Canada. His career spans over 35 years, featuring key roles in various companies and organizations.

Fathy’s experience includes serving as the Regional Manager for several countries at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and as the Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Air Transport Association (IATA). He has also held executive positions at EgyptAir Holding Company, Air Cairo, and Air Arabia. Additionally, he has been involved in numerous aviation industry associations, including the General Assembly of several companies, the IATA Board of Governors, the Arab Air Carriers Organization, the African Airlines Association, and the Star Alliance.