As part of his official visit to the Belgian capital Brussels to attend the annual meeting of the World Tourism Forum, Mr. Sherif Fathi, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, participated as a keynote speaker in a special session dedicated to the African continent.
The session, titled “Rising Africa: Tourism for Infrastructure, Youth Employment, and Investment Attraction — Regional Roadmap to 2030,” brought together African tourism leaders including Mr. Fredson Bacar, State Secretary for Tourism in Mozambique’s Ministry of Economy, and Mr. Marco de Jesus Lopez, Minister of Tourism of Angola. The session was moderated by Mr. Abulfas Garayev, former Minister of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan.
The discussion was attended by the President of the World Tourism Forum, senior officials from various European and Asian countries, and representatives from leading travel companies, hotel chains, airlines, and global airport management firms.
Showcasing Egypt’s Tourism Vision and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Minister Fathi opened his remarks with a promotional film about the Grand Egyptian Museum, expressing the pride of all Egyptians in the upcoming inauguration scheduled for November 1st, which he described as “an event that will capture the world’s attention.”
He, then, discussed the main challenges facing tourism development across Africa, particularly in areas such as air connectivity, human capital development, and infrastructure enhancement.
Fathi presented Egypt’s successful experience in expanding its tourism sector, noting the government’s major investments in infrastructure—including roads, railways, airports, and transportation networks that connect key tourist destinations.
He cited the North Coast region as an example, which recorded a 500% increase in air traffic this summer, supported by three airports currently undergoing expansion to meet rising demand.
Human Capital Development and Youth Empowerment
The Minister emphasized the importance of combining academic education with practical training in tourism and hospitality. He highlighted Egypt’s initiatives to prepare skilled young professionals through partnerships with international institutions.
He referred to the recent inauguration of a hospitality school in Hurghada, developed in cooperation with a European partner, to train youth for employment in the tourism industry.
Egypt’s Strategy: Diversity, Innovation, and Sustainable Growth
Minister Fathi outlined Egypt’s current tourism strategy, which focuses on showcasing the diversity of the Egyptian tourism product — from cultural and heritage tourism to beach, desert, and eco-tourism.
The goal, he said, is for Egypt to become the world’s top tourism destination in the coming years based on its unmatched variety of experiences.
Further, he noted that Egypt possesses 3,500 kilometers of coastline, world-renowned archaeological sites spanning multiple civilizations, the Holy Family Route, the Great Transfiguration Project in Saint Catherine, and vast desert landscapes ideal for adventure tourism.
The Minister stressed the need for innovative marketing tools, pointing out that artificial intelligence now plays a vital role in understanding traveler interests and tailoring tourism products to specific audience segments.
He also referred to the comprehensive development plan for the Pyramids Plateau and surrounding area, being implemented in collaboration with the private sector and local communities.
Perspectives on Africa’s Tourism Growth
The panel also featured discussions on the challenges and investment opportunities within the African tourism sector.
Moderator Abulfas Garayev shared that Africa welcomed 74 million tourists in 2024, representing a 7% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels and a 12% rise over 2023.
Projections indicate that tourist arrivals are expected to reach 82 million in 2025, reflecting Africa’s strongest post-pandemic recovery globally.
Participants explored the economic impact of tourism, its role in job creation, and the importance of developing Africa’s tourism infrastructure to attract sustainable investment.
Egyptian Delegation
The session brought together Eng. Ahmed Youssef, Assistant Minister for Strategic Affairs and Acting CEO of the Egyptian Tourism Authority, Ms. Rana Gouhar, Advisor to the Minister for Communications and External Relations, and Supervisor of International Relations and Agreements, Mr. Mohamed Farag, Financial and Administrative Supervisor of the Egyptian Tourism Office in Berlin, and Ms. Israa Osama, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Egypt to the EU, NATO, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
