Fathy: Daily monitoring of booking indicators and intensified communication with industry partners to face any temporary slowdown in short- and medium-term bookings
Tour operators: A temporary slowdown in some bookings during the current period, while summer season bookings continue
On the sidelines of ITB Berlin 2026 in Germany, Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, held a number of meetings with the heads and officials of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW), the German Travel Association (DRV), the Association of German Travel Agencies and Offices (RTK), and a number of major tour operators working in the German and European markets, including TUI, Phoenix Reisen, Coral Travel, Jet2holidays, Vtours, LMX Touristik, Schauinsland-Reisen and DER Touristik Deutschland, to discuss developments in Egypt's tourism sector and strengthen cooperation with industry partners in the German and European markets.
The meetings reviewed the latest situation in the tourism sector in Egypt and the region, especially amid current regional changes, along with exchanging views and proposals on ways to develop joint cooperation mechanisms, helping increase inbound tourism from the German and European markets to the Egyptian destination and strengthen its competitiveness.
During the meetings, the Minister of Tourism stressed that Egypt enjoys stability and security and is geographically far from the areas of tension in the region, noting that tourist traffic to Egypt is proceeding normally and that the slowdown currently seen in short- and medium-term bookings is temporary given regional developments.
He stressed the importance of continued coordination and cooperation with industry partners in various tourism markets, noting the ministry's keenness to monitor booking indicators daily, enabling a rapid response to any changes in tourism markets.
For their part, the heads and officials of the associations and tour operators confirmed notable demand from German and European tourists to visit Egypt, explaining that recent regional developments have caused a temporary slowdown in some bookings during the current period, while summer season bookings continue.
They also pointed to tourists' growing interest in the Grand Egyptian Museum, which has been reflected in increased demand for visiting Cairo, in addition to the North Coast, which has become the focus of many of their customers as one of the promising tourist destinations in Egypt, stressing that work has begun on developing tour programs that combine more than one tourism product to meet the various interests of German and European tourists.
In this context, it was agreed with the President of the German Travel Association (DRV) to organize a fam trip for the association's member travel companies and tour operators to the North Coast, to get a close look at its tourism assets and varied experiences, ahead of preparing integrated tour programs for this destination and promoting it in the German market. Association members also expressed their interest in learning more about the Nile cruise product and its development, ahead of including it in their future tour programs.
In this context, Sherif Fathy explained that the Nile cruise product is seeing notable development at present, as the number of licensed floating hotels, including those operating long cruises between Cairo and Aswan, has risen to 237 floating hotels, of which 180 are currently operating and receiving tourists, while the rest are undergoing development and renovation.
He added that this product allows tourists to enjoy varied tourism experiences, including visiting cultural landmarks in Cairo such as the Giza Pyramids area, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Historic Cairo, along with archaeological sites in Luxor, Aswan and other cities on the Nile cruise route, as well as spiritual tourism by visiting points on the Holy Family route, along with leisure tourism.
He also pointed to the Aton Museum in Minya, which is set to open soon, describing it as one of the largest cultural and archaeological projects in Minya Governorate and Upper Egypt, noting that it is equipped with a dedicated Nile berth to receive cruise ships, giving tourists the opportunity to visit it as part of their programs.
It was also agreed with the RTK official that the ministry will take part in the expanded professional meeting the association plans to hold next October in Germany, with the participation of about 1,500 German travel companies and tour operators, to promote the varied tourism products and experiences of the Egyptian destination.
The discussion with the President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW) touched on the system of medical services provided to tourists in clinics at hotel establishments in Egypt, discussing ways to develop it, along with mechanisms for updating the health insurance system offered to tourists to ensure distinguished medical services.
Coral Travel Group's leaders expressed their desire to carry out a joint promotional campaign to introduce the North Coast, along with organizing a fam trip for tour operators from Poland to learn about its varied tourism assets and activities ahead of including it in their programs.
TUI Group officials also confirmed the start of their flights and tour programs to the North Coast from next summer season, while Vtours reported a notable increase in demand from its customers for the Egyptian destination, especially Cairo, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh, with demand growing during the summer season.
The situation of floating hotels and Nile cruises was discussed with Phoenix Reisen, in the presence of Mohamed Ayoub, head of the Chamber of Hotel Establishments, especially the long cruises seeing growing demand in European markets, and a number of proposals to develop this product were examined, including increasing tourist berths in Cairo and Aswan and studying allowing night visits to the Temple of Edfu.
Jet2holidays officials pointed to the company's intention to increase the number of flights previously announced to Egypt from 2027, to Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada from 3 British cities, to 22 flights a week instead of 14, stressing their keenness to promote the diversity of tourism experiences at the Egyptian destination.
For their part, LMX Touristik officials praised the tourist experience at the Giza Pyramids area, especially in light of the development works that have improved the quality of the experience and made it more organized and calm. Schauinsland-Reisen officials also praised the quality of tourism services in Hurghada and Marsa Alam.
DER Touristik Deutschland officials pointed to their plans to expand their programs to include several tourist destinations in Egypt besides Hurghada, and to carry out joint marketing campaigns to promote the Egyptian destination.
