Issa participates in the opening of the Egyptian-African Tourism Forum and Exhibition
On behalf of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa participated today in the opening of the African Tourism Forum and Exhibition, Africa Tourism Forum Egypt, held on May 20 and 21 in Sharm El-Sheikh, which is being held for the first time in Egypt. It is organized by the GMT Fair organization, at the Sharm El-Sheikh International Convention Center.
Major General Khaled Fouda, Governor of South Sinai, a number of ministers and ambassadors of various countries, and participants from several countries participated in the event.
The Minister delivered a speech, during the forum, in which he welcomed all attendees to the city of peace, “Sharm El-Sheikh,” pointing out that this city is not only a distinguished tourist destination with unique tourism capabilities, but has also become an important center for local and international conferences and events. By hosting such events, it confirms its position as a global center for cultural and economic exchange and as a platform for global dialogue and joint cooperation in many fields.Issa also indicated his participation today on behalf of His Excellency the Prime Minister, who conveys his greetings and wishes to witness This forum was a fruitful success and that it achieved its desired goals.
The Minister appreciated the importance of this forum as it serves as a professional gathering and an effective participatory platform to highlight the distinct and unique tourism components and products in the ancient African continent, and an opportunity to enhance joint tourism cooperation between countries. And encourage experts, professionals and investors in the tourism sector towards concerted efforts to develop the tourism industry in Africa and maximize its role in the global tourism sector.
Issa pointed to the great success achieved by the African continent in restoring the rates of tourist traffic arriving to it, As it regained 96% of the volume of incoming traffic during the year 2019, according to the World Tourism Organization report, which described tourism on the African continent as the fastest growing during the year 2023.
He stressed the importance of continuing to work on strengthening more cooperation and integration mechanisms. The Joint African Conference to draw a road map for the tourism industry in the continent of Africa, in addition to developing and coordinating unified policies aimed at maximizing common interests, promoting intra-tourism between different African countries, benefiting from investment opportunities in these countries, and promoting joint African tourism programs and products.
 
He explained that the tourism industry in Egypt has achieved positive results during the last period in light of the implementation of the national strategy for tourism development in it, which contributes to achieving its goals with annual growth ranging between 25% to 30%, reaching 30 million tourists by the year 2028.
He explained that the three main axes of this strategy came to confront the most prominent challenges facing the industry and preventing it from reaching the targets, which include working to increase the number of airline seats coming to Egypt in cooperation with the Ministry. Civil aviation, improving the tourism investment climate in Egypt, especially hotels, in addition to working to improve the tourism experience in Egypt and raise the quality of tourism services provided there.
Issa also spoke about the role of institutions The civil action representing the private tourism sector, which is represented by the Egyptian Federation of Tourist Chambers and the various tourism chambers, is pushing the wheel of work in the industry, explaining that with the issuance of the new law to establish tourism chambers and organize a union for them, these institutions will have a greater role and representation, as the law gives them broad powers as the main driver of the industry.
In his speech, he pointed out the role of the Ministry as a supervisor, organizer and licenser to work within the tourism industry in Egypt and its concern for the interests of tourists and for them to receive the service they deserve during their visit to Egyptian tourist destinations.
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He also reviewed the most prominent indicators achieved by the tourism industry in Egypt during the last period, as it achieved 14.906 million tourists during the year 2023, which is a record number in the number of tourist traffic arriving there, as it exceeded the tourist numbers for the year 2010, which was It is considered a peak year.
Ahmed Issa, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, explained that the state continues to achieve its goals for this industry despite the ongoing geopolitical events in the Middle East region in light of the rapid policies and measures that These were followed, and the efforts of the private tourism sector contributed to maintaining the presence of the Egyptian tourism product among international tour operators, seizing the opportunity to congratulate the private sector on this performance and their ideal and intelligent way of dealing in this context.
He also announced the most prominent indicators achieved by the tourism industry in Egypt during the first four months of this year, as it achieved 4.6 million tourists, which is the second highest number in incoming tourist traffic to Egypt after 2010, which achieved 4.7 million tourists during the same period.
He added that this period also witnessed the achievement of a record number in tourism revenues, which is considered the highest in the history of tourism in Egypt as a result of an increase in both the number of tourist nights and the value of spending in dollars from the levels of 2010, where it reached Revenues reached $4.3 billion, compared to $4.1 billion in 2023, and $3.7 billion in 2010.
He pointed out that the state places the tourism industry in Egypt at the forefront priorities and make a great effort to support and advance this industry, pointing to the speech of the President of the Republic on the occasion of His Excellency taking the constitutional oath in the House of Representatives in the New Administrative Capital, during which he pointed out the most important features and goals of national action during the next phase, which include adopting strategies that maximize Egypt’s economic capabilities and resources and The solidity and flexibility of the Egyptian economy in the face of crises while achieving strong, sustainable and balanced economic growth, enhancing the role of the private sector as a key partner in leading development, focusing on several sectors, including tourism, gradually increasing its contribution to the gross domestic product, and attracting more local and foreign investments.
Ahmed Issa, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, spoke about the importance of the state’s major infrastructure development in achieving rapid growth in the tourism industry, as it witnessed improvement in the road and transportation network, airports, and new railways. Operating new airports will reflect positively on the tourism sector and facilitate the movement of tourists, and will open new horizons for developing the product of the multiple tourism experience by linking cities and their various tourist destinations, in addition to achieving the highest levels of security and safety, which will reflect positively on the tourism industry in Egypt.
Issa reviewed Egypt’s various tourism components and products that have a great competitive advantage, explaining that the Ministry is currently focusing on a group of products, namely cultural tourism, adventure tourism, and beach tourism. And family tourism, in addition to tourists who are looking for an integrated tourism experience with multiple tourist experiences and types.
The Minister also spoke briefly about the Ministry’s current preparation for Cairo’s new cultural product, Cairo City Break, which It will make the city of Cairo an independent tourist destination and will work to increase the number of tourist nights there, indicating that it is scheduled to be launched during the coming period.
Issa also touched on what she is doing. The Egyptian General Authority for Tourism Promotion has made efforts to implement marketing programs and joint promotional campaigns in cooperation with professional partners such as tour operators and airlines, as well as organizing many important Fam Trips.
He concluded. Ahmed Issa, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, addressed his speech by talking about the importance of tourism as one of the most important tools of soft power and a bridge for communication and cultural exchange between peoples, extending an invitation to all participants to enrich the activities of this forum and exhibition, and wishing everyone success and prosperity, and a happy stay in Egypt during which they can enjoy its diverse tourism and archaeological components.
In his speech, Major General Khaled Fouda, Governor of South Sinai, spoke about the great importance of holding this forum, which stems from the growing and inevitability of the role played by the tourism industry in African countries in particular and countries of the world in particular. General, especially in light of the regional and international changes and challenges the world is witnessing.
The governor stressed the importance of cooperation and teamwork between those involved in the tourism and investment sectors in light of these changes, which is something that This is confirmed by the interest and attendance of more than 2,000 participants from around the world, in addition to many ambassadors of African countries, tourism experts, specialists, and representatives of travel and tourism agencies from more than 30 countries in this forum.
Fouda also expressed his wishes for the success of this forum, and achieving the best positive results for all countries participating in it, through discussions and identifying the challenges and risks facing the tourism sector, while evaluating the available and possible investment opportunities in this field in order to develop clear and applicable strategies and policies. For future implementation.
He pointed out that the countries of the African continent possess enormous potential, as they have thousands of kilometers of beaches and the best coastline in the world, hundreds of natural reserves, lakes, waterfalls, natural waterfalls, and a picturesque environment. And a strong and massive infrastructure, the most important of which is international airlines, the best roads, hundreds of bridges and tunnels, and hotels of different levels and types that suit all levels of tourists.
As Major General Khaled Fouda spoke, The Governor of South Sinai announced that the city of Sharm El-Sheikh obtained the United Nations certificate as a center for resilience and the ability to withstand disasters and deaths on the level of the African continent in 2022, and the award for the best Arab tourist city in organizing tourism events and events in the Arab world in 2023, in addition to receiving the award for the best official. Arab and a leader for development in a tourist city, and it received the bronze medal from the United Nations in 2023 as the third best livable and coexistable city in the world, and in 2024 it obtained the best safe tourist destination and safe tourist destination in the world, and the gold award as the best tourist city, and the governor’s On the Man of the World Shield for the year 2024. Large representatives of international tourism companies, international tour operators, management companies, major international airlines, experts, specialists and investors in the tourism industry.
The forum brings together leading brands, tourism professionals and investors in this sector. To provide the opportunity to explore the tourism potential in Africa and Egypt and to strengthen important ties in this sector, and to provide participants with an experience full of innovative ideas through conferences, committees, meetings and special courses.
This exhibition is scheduled to become the largest tourism exhibition in Egypt and Africa. This event will help the sector’s leading brands formulate their plans for the period 2024-2025.
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