Egypt’s Minister of Tourism, Sherif Fathy, met with Eric Chevalier, the French Ambassador to Cairo, at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital to discuss enhancing Egyptian-French collaboration in tourism and antiquities. The meeting focused on strategies to boost inbound tourism from France and the progress of joint archaeological projects.
Minister Fathy highlighted the growing Egyptian-French relations, emphasizing the impact of reciprocal visits from both countries’ leaders. He announced that Egypt is on track to welcome 15.3 million tourists by the end of 2024, reaching pre-COVID levels.
Fathy also discussed Egypt’s infrastructure improvements, including new cities, roads, airports, and bridges, which enhance accessibility to key tourist destinations. The North Coast, which attracts visitors from 105 nationalities, is a key area of focus, with new airports and the planned Ras El Hekma Airport to meet rising demand.
The Minister outlined plans to develop integrated strategies for key tourist regions, including the North Coast and the area stretching from Sphinx International Airport to the Saqqara Pyramid. These plans aim to attract investment and establish new hotels, entertainment venues, and commercial spaces.
Fathy also shared updates on Egypt’s efforts to diversify tourism, with new offerings like long Nile cruises, ecotourism, spiritual tourism, and medical tourism. He noted that the Grand Egyptian Museum is undergoing trial operations, and the Giza Pyramids project is improving visitor services, including a new recreational area for camels and horses. Additionally, a national program in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture is enhancing the welfare of animals at archaeological sites.
Ambassador Chevalier praised Egypt as a top destination for French tourists, especially for its cultural heritage. He highlighted France’s significant contribution to Egypt’s archaeological sector, with 48 active French missions working on restoration and excavation projects. Recent successes include the restoration of Karnak Temple’s open museum, enhanced lighting in Luxor’s Deir el-Medina tombs, and the restoration of the tomb of Hesy-Ra at the Egyptian Museum.
Chevalier also pointed to French investments in Egypt’s hospitality sector, with numerous French companies involved in hotel development, and expressed optimism for further collaboration and investments between the two countries.
