The Minister also clarified that the media is a fundamental partner in educating citizens about the importance of preserving Egypt's heritage and antiquities, considering them priceless treasures and a source of pride for future generations.
During the meeting, Fathy outlined the key features of the Ministry's
current strategy to advance Egyptian tourism, branded "Egypt...Unparalleled
Diversity," highlighting Egypt's unique tourism assets. He emphasized the
Ministry's integration of artificial intelligence for tourism promotion as part
of its efforts to modernize marketing tools and increase reliance on electronic
marketing through social media.
Fathy also highlighted Egypt's record-breaking
tourism in 2024, welcoming 15.8 million tourists – a 6% increase over 2023 and
over 21% above pre-pandemic figures. He noted that this positive trend
continued into the first quarter of 2025, with a 25% rise in tourist numbers
compared to the same period last year, demonstrating the growing confidence of
international markets in Egypt as a tourist destination despite regional
geopolitical challenges.
The Minister outlined the strategy's objectives, which include achieving tourism economic security and maximizing direct benefits for citizens, particularly those near tourist and archaeological sites. This aims to empower local communities as key partners in tourism development. He also highlighted the focus on human resources, noting the Ministry's development of an electronic education platform to enhance the efficiency of its employees and the broader tourism sector.
He highlighted the Grand Egyptian Museum, slated for
its official grand opening on July 3rd, emphasizing that Egypt stands on the
verge of a remarkable global event.
The
Minister of Tourism also addressed key challenges facing Egypt's tourism
sector, emphasizing the priority of increasing hotel capacity and doubling the
number of rooms by 2030. He outlined initiatives including investment
incentives, streamlined procedures, new regulations for "Holiday
Homes," and aviation and tourist visa facilitations. He also mentioned the
development plan for the area spanning Sphinx Airport to Saqqara and Dahshur.
The meeting then transitioned into an open discussion between the Minister and the heads of newspapers, where he answered their questions, addressed their inquiries, and listened to their perspectives and suggestions for sector development. The session concluded with a tour of the museum's accessible areas.