Tourism Minister: Tourist Inflows Remain Stable Despite Geopolitical Tensions

During his current visit to the German capital for the ITB Berlin 2026 convention—which kicked off today and runs until March 5—Mr. Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, held a high-level meeting with key leaders of the Egyptian tourism private sector.

The meeting included Mr. Hossam El-Shaer, Chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Federation (ETF); Mr. Ahmed El-Wassif, member of the Presidential Specialized Council for Economic Development and ETF board member; Mr. Mohamed Ayoub, Chairman of the Chamber of Hotel Establishments; and Dr. Nader El-Beblawy, Chairman of the Chamber of Travel and Tourism Companies and Agencies.

Resilience Amid Regional Challenges

The session was convened as part of the Minister's commitment to monitoring the current status of Egypt's tourism sector, particularly in light of ongoing geopolitical events in the region.

Key takeaways from the discussions include:

 Stability of Inflows: 

Attendees confirmed that tourist arrivals to Egypt from various global markets remain stable.

Minimal Impact: 

It was noted that the sector has experienced only a limited impact from current regional developments.

 Short-Term Strategy: The Minister and industry leaders agreed on a strategic plan to manage the current situation in the short term, ensuring that the positive momentum seen since the beginning of the year is maintained.

High-Level Attendance

The meeting was attended by a prominent diplomatic and administrative delegation, including Dr. Mohamed El-Badri, Egypt’s Ambassador to Germany, and Dr. Ahmed Youssef, CEO of the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Board (ETPB).

Also in attendance were:

 Minister Plenipotentiary Yomna Osman, Deputy Ambassador of Egypt to Germany.

 Ms. Suzan Mostafa, Head of the Central Department of Tourism Marketing at ETPB.

 Dr. Ahmed Nabil, Assistant Minister for Aviation and Follow-up.

 Mr. Ismail Amer, Director General of Overseas Offices at ETPB.

 Mr. Mohamed Farag, Financial and Administrative Supervisor of the Tourism Office in Berlin.

From the private sector chambers, the meeting was joined by Mr. Hazem Taher (Vice Chairman, Chamber of Hotel Establishments), Mr. Karim Mohsen (Vice Chairman, Chamber of Travel and Tourism Companies), Mr. Wael Abu El-Saud (Treasurer, Chamber of Hotel Establishments), and Mr. Peter Nathan (Board Member, Chamber of Hotel Establishments).