Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy and Minister of Planning and Economic Development Dr. Ahmed Rostom held a coordination meeting in New Alamein City to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two ministries to highlight and determine the contribution of Egypt's tourism sector to the national economy more accurately and comprehensively, and to improve the monitoring and measurement of its direct and indirect returns and impact on the national economy. This comes especially in light of the importance the state attaches to this vital sector as one of the biggest contributors to economic growth and its ability to generate direct and indirect jobs through related and supplying professions and industries.
Sherif Fathy stressed that tourism is one of the most important sectors for Egypt's national economy, particularly given its direct and indirect returns and its links with many other sectors, activities and industries.
Fathy expressed his appreciation for the efforts currently being made by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development to highlight the sector's contribution to the national economy in more detail and accuracy, reflecting the scale of its economic returns and impact. He stressed the importance of continued coordination and cooperation between the two ministries to make the most of the tourism sector's potential and ensure that the sector's targets are consistent with the state's economic development plans, as well as identifying the investment needs and infrastructure requirements needed to support the sector's targeted growth.
The minister spoke about the Egyptian state's goals for the tourism sector to reach 30 million tourist arrivals by 2030, which would increase tourism revenues and maximize the sector's contribution to the national economy. He noted that achieving this target requires integrated efforts and continuous coordination among the various ministries and authorities concerned, and creating a supportive environment for the sector's growth and its sustainability.
During the meeting, the minister reviewed the main features of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' current strategy, which focuses on highlighting Egypt's unrivaled tourism diversity through 6 main pillars: strengthening the competitiveness of tourism investment, diversifying tourism products, developing human resources, strengthening monitoring and governance tools and improving the visitor experience, boosting sustainability initiatives and driving digital and environmental transformation, and applying effective tourism marketing policies.
For his part, Minister of Planning Dr. Ahmed Rostom said tourism is one of the sectors that contribute most to economic growth, a major source of foreign currency income for the state, and a provider of direct and indirect jobs for young Egyptians.
Rostom noted that the tourism sector is seeing successive leaps with the opening of more archaeological attractions, led by the Grand Egyptian Museum, the development of Egypt's transport infrastructure and an increase in the number of airports, which strengthens the state's efforts to increase tourist arrivals and supports a greater contribution from the sector to economic activity.
The Minister of Planning and Economic Development added that many supplying industries and jobs are linked to tourism, so greater growth and activity in the sector are reflected in the growth of the national economy and strengthen efforts to create jobs and achieve comprehensive development, affirming continued coordination between the two ministries to set the sector's development policies and targets in the coming period.
