Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Meets Over 20 New Egyptian Ambassadors and Consuls Before Their Overseas Appointments

In a broad meeting held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigration in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, Mr. Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, met with more than 20 newly appointed ambassadors and consuls general who are set to represent Egypt abroad.

This meeting comes within the framework of ongoing coordination and cooperation between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigration.

At the outset, Minister Sherif Fathy welcomed the diplomats, wishing them success in their new assignments. He emphasized the critical role they play in promoting Egyptian tourism abroad and in presenting a modern and comprehensive image of Egypt that reflects both its ancient civilization and its contemporary development. He stressed the importance of highlighting Egypt’s rich tourism assets and the diversity and uniqueness of its tourism products and experiences, in a way that enhances Egypt’s global tourism position and attracts more tourists and investments.

The Minister presented the vision and mission of the Ministry, along with the main pillars of its current strategy, which focuses on positioning Egypt as the world’s leading destination in terms of the variety of tourism products it offers—from cultural, beach, and spiritual tourism to desert adventures and more.

He further explained that the Ministry’s strategy aims to achieve sustainable economic security through tourism, by generating long-term returns that positively impact local communities surrounding heritage and tourism sites. This, in turn, fosters a culture of preservation and care for these sites.

Minister Fathy also spoke about the Ministry’s commitment to regularly updating its strategies and action plans in response to current and future developments, based on comprehensive analyses and market forecasts, especially in light of global political and economic changes.

He underscored that training, qualification, and development of human capital—particularly young, talented professionals with specialized skills—is a top priority for the Ministry. Investing in human resources is a cornerstone of the Ministry’s vision for sustainable sectoral growth.

The Minister highlighted Egypt’s keenness to engage in international knowledge exchange in the fields of tourism and antiquities, including the organization of professional joint workshops. He referenced a recent workshop held on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, which brought together Egyptian and Bahraini travel companies to lay the groundwork for future cooperation.

He also reviewed the ongoing service development project at the Giza Pyramids area, part of the Ministry’s broader efforts to enhance the visitor experience at Egyptian museums and archaeological sites. He pointed to the Ministry’s collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant animal welfare NGOs to ensure the well-being of horses, camels, and other animals at archaeological areas, especially in Giza.

Minister Fathy reaffirmed the Egyptian government’s full commitment to preserving the country’s heritage and history, while also exploring ways to maximize the economic benefits of antiquities without compromising their cultural value or harming the surrounding environment. He noted the Ministry is currently working with UNESCO on several major initiatives and projects.

He also stressed Egypt’s unwavering determination—through continued cooperation between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigration—to repatriate Egyptian antiquities that were illegally taken abroad.

The Minister discussed the significant role that temporary exhibitions of Egyptian antiquities held abroad play in promoting Egypt’s tourism sector and showcasing its diverse offerings. He referred to the recent approval by the Supreme Council of Antiquities to host two temporary exhibitions in Italy and Hong Kong, which will serve as powerful tools for destination marketing in those countries.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Minister responded to several questions and inquiries from the diplomats regarding the tourism and antiquities sectors, and listened attentively to their suggestions and ideas.

Also attending the meeting was Eng. Ahmed Youssef, Assistant Minister for Strategic Affairs and Acting CEO of the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority.