Tourism Min.: Chinese Tourist Rate Doubled between 2016, 2018

Tourism Minister Rania Al Mashat said on Friday that the number of Chinese tourists visiting Egypt doubled between 2016 and 2018.

Mashat made these remarks during Investment Promotion Conference for African Countries held on the sidelines of the first China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha city in central China's Hunan Province.

"EgyptAir operates three weekly flights from Beijing to Cairo and seven direct flights from Guangzhou," Mashat noted.

She revealed that negotiations with Chinese civil aviation authorities are underway to operate three direct flights from Shanghai to Cairo.

The minister further mentioned that Egypt partakes in more than six tourism expos in China.

Earlier, the minister told Sky News Arabia channel that the ministry is interested in opening new tourist markets especially China's as the future plan focuses on bringing more tourists from China.

[caption id="attachment_60882" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Tourism Minister Rania Al Mashat[/caption]

Egypt's Economic Developments

Mashat, during her speech, presented aspects of cooperation between Egypt and Africa, developments of the Egyptian economy, steps taken by Egypt to promote investment and aspects of cooperation in sectors of trade, industry, tourism, and agriculture.

About 16 industrial complexes had been established like the Chinese economic zone in Suez Canal at a total cost of $ 18.9 billion, creating 41,000 jobs.

Up to 124 new agriculture projects had been launched in a number of African states and aid exceeding $150 million had been offered to them.

The minister hailed the strength of cooperation between China and Africa and the former's major role in developing the African continent.

She said that the volume of trade exchange with the African countries reached $ 6.2 billion, as the Egyptian exports represent $ 4 billion and nine percent of its exports abroad, pointing out that the volume of trade exchange increased 26 percent in 2018 compared to 2017.

Egypt's investments in Africa amounted to $10.4 billion. The country tops the African states in luring investments annually by more than $ 7.2 billion.

Regarding the Chinese investments in Egypt, Mashat pointed out that they soared 10 percent in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the correspondent period in 2018.

She noted that 189 companies were established in a Sino-Egyptian partnership in Egypt in 2018 with a share capital exceeding $ 54 million, adding that the number of Chinese firms operating in Egypt is nearly 2,000 companies.

"Egypt achieved stability in macroeconomic indicators after implementing the economic reform program in 2016, as the economy showed growth ranging between 4 to 5%, the highest growth rate in 10 years," she further said.