Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, held a series of extensive media meetings with representatives of a number of the most prominent American magazines and newspapers specializing in tourism and travel, as part of strengthening Egypt's presence in the US market, which is one of the fastest-growing markets and among the most interested in the Egyptian tourism product, particularly cultural and adventure tourism.
This came during his current visit to the United States to take part in the annual conference of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), being held from December 2 to 6 in the state of Maryland.
During these meetings, Sherif Fathy reviewed the current indicators of Egypt's tourism sector, which point to growth of up to 20% in the number of tourists arriving in Egypt from various markets by the end of this year, with a target of reaching about 19 million tourists, supporting the state's vision of increasing hotel room capacity and developing tourism infrastructure in various governorates.
He also pointed to the positive performance of inbound tourist traffic from the US market to Egypt, explaining that the number of American tourists rose by 20% this year to nearly 520,000, which reflects growing confidence in Egypt as a tourist destination and its high levels of security, hospitality and service quality. He stressed that the US market has become one of the most important markets supporting the growth of Egypt's tourism sector in recent years, and that air connectivity between Egypt and the United States is continuously expanding, whether through more direct flights or new routes from various US cities, which directly contributes to supporting tourist traffic and attracting broad segments of American tourists.
The minister also reviewed the features of the ministry's strategy, which aims to highlight Egypt's unique tourism diversity, pointing to many tourism products including cultural tourism, adventure tourism, eco-tourism, spiritual tourism, beach tourism and long Nile cruises. He noted that American tourists, who are naturally interested in culture and history, now find in Egypt various distinctive experiences ranging from climbing the mountains of Saint Catherine to diving in the Red Sea, and from exploring nature reserves and the White and Black Deserts to staying aboard dahabiyas and on extended Nile cruises between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan.
The minister explained that Nile cruises are seeing a significant increase in demand from the US market, both on traditional boats and dahabiyas, pointing to long Nile cruises from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan, which can combine cultural and spiritual tourism products as they pass a number of spiritual sites along the route of the Holy Family in Egypt, offering an integrated spiritual and cultural experience.
He also spoke about ongoing developments in the city of Saint Catherine and the Great Transfiguration Project, stressing that it is one of the most important environmental and tourism projects in the region, including comprehensive development of infrastructure, roads, the airport and new hotels, in addition to offering unique tourism products such as meditation tourism, mountain climbing and birdwatching, experiences that are increasingly popular among American tourists seeking nature and adventure.
Mr. Sherif Fathy stressed that the ministry places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, explaining that 46.5% of hotel establishments apply sustainability standards, and that work is underway to expand the use of clean and renewable energy in the tourism sector in line with the global trend.
The Grand Egyptian Museum topped the agenda of the media meetings, with the minister stressing that it is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization, that of ancient Egypt. He noted that museum visitors enjoy a unique experience from the moment they enter the Grand Hall until they climb the Grand Staircase and reach its various galleries, explaining that the museum displays the complete collection of King Tutankhamun for the first time in history, and also includes a children's museum and a center for research and studies, making it an integrated cultural institution that goes beyond the function of a traditional museum.
He added that the museum receives more than 12,000 visitors daily, and that its opening has contributed to increasing the number of tourist nights in Cairo, pointing to the general strategic master plan to develop the area stretching from Sphinx International Airport to the Saqqara area, which includes the Giza Pyramids area and the areas surrounding the Grand Egyptian Museum, and which will feature new hotels, resorts, and entertainment and cultural projects that would turn the area into one of the world's most important destinations in the coming years.
The minister also spoke about the ongoing development work at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, stressing that it will offer a new experience while preserving its historical and architectural value, and noting that its new development plan will be announced soon.
The minister also highlighted developments in the North Coast region, which saw a 520% increase in charter flights last year, in addition to the possibility of offering new tourism programs combining a visit to the North Coast and Siwa Oasis, and programs to visit Alexandria including the Graeco-Roman Museum and the Royal Jewelry Museum. He also revealed plans to establish a museum of underwater antiquities and to study allocating new diving spots for enthusiasts of this type of experience.
He also pointed to the interest of international tour companies in designing multi-destination programs that include Egypt alongside Mediterranean countries such as Greece and Italy, especially for travelers from the United States, Japan and China, given the tourism integration and greater appeal this offers for joint programs.
At the conclusion of these meetings, the minister addressed preparations for the total solar eclipse expected in 2027, stressing that Luxor will be one of the most prominent global destinations for observing this unique phenomenon, and that there are already early bookings from the US market to follow this exceptional event.
