Egypt has been elected to the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the 2025–2029 term. This prestigious membership was secured during the 51st meeting of the UNWTO Regional Committee for the Middle East, held in Doha, Qatar, and chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Mr. Sherif Fathy, participated in the meeting alongside a delegation that included Ambassador Amr El-Sherbini, Egypt’s Ambassador to Qatar, Ambassador Khaled Tharwat, Minister’s Advisor for International Relations and Head of the General Department of International Relations and Agreements, and Mr. Ahmed Nabil, Assistant Minister for Aviation and Follow-up.
The meeting brought together numerous Arab ministers and heads of delegations from countries including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, and Egypt.
The gathering included a presentation by Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the UNWTO, on the global tourism outlook for 2024, including the organization’s vision for tourism and key programs. Discussions also focused on cooperation within the Middle East region, as well as a report on the implementation of the UNWTO’s work plan for the 2024/2025 period. This included a presentation on training programs offered by the organization using technology and artificial intelligence.
Ms. Basma Al-Maiman, Secretary of the UNWTO Regional Committee for the Middle East, provided an update on the most significant programs and collaborative frameworks implemented between member countries, as well as the work plan for 2023/2024 in the region.
The meeting also featured interventions from ministers and heads of delegations regarding the organization’s work plan for the region, alongside discussions of proposals and initiatives from member states for the 2026/2027 work period.
A key highlight of the meeting was the vote for membership in the UNWTO Executive Council, where two countries are selected to represent the Middle East region. Egypt and the United Arab Emirates were both elected to the Council for the 2025–2029 term.
In his remarks, Minister Sherif Fathy expressed his gratitude to all the countries present at the 51st meeting, praising the unity and consensus among the Arab member states of the Regional Committee. He emphasized that Egypt’s selection to the Executive Council was based on consensus rather than a vote, underscoring the strong support for Egypt’s role in representing the region.
Minister Fathy further affirmed Egypt’s commitment to working diligently in this new capacity, stressing that the position represents not only Egypt but the entire Middle East region.
Additionally, Minister Fathy began his visit to Doha with a meeting with Mr. Saad bin Ali Al-Khuraiji, Head of Tourism in Qatar. They discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Qatar, particularly in boosting tourism exchange and increasing tourist flows between the two countries in the near future.
