Egypt and Jordan to collaborate on revival of Holy Family trail

Egypt and Jordan are apparently eager to enhance their tourism cooperation, a path scarcely trodden by the two Arab, history-rich nations.

Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed Issa, welcomed his Jordanian counterpart, Makram Al-Qaisi, in his office in the New Administrative Capital during his latest official visit to Egypt.

During the meeting, the two ministers discussed a wide range of issues, including the possibility of collaboration between Egypt and Jordan to develop a regional tourist product.

This product, the two ministers said, would allow visitors to the region to explore historical sites associated with the Holy Family’s journey in both Egypt and Jordan.

Issa highlighted the importance of the project for reviving the trail of the Holy Family.

The Egyptian government, he said, is committed to the initiative which involves a large number of state agencies, including the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Ministry of Local Development.

The Holy Family’s journey spanned 3,500 kilometres, encompassing 25 significant points from Asyut to Sinai, each marked by churches, monasteries, wells, and Coptic icons, which serve as important landmarks along the route according to the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Minister Issa also highlighted efforts to enhance tourist facilities at these sites to ensure that they are well-prepared to receive visitors.

His talks with his Jordanian counterpart also tackled the prospect of developing an integrated tourist product that combines medical and cultural tourism, as well as coordination between joint tourism programmes and promotional efforts between Egypt and Jordan.

The two ministers also explored the idea of producing a joint Egyptian-Jordanian opera that intertwines ancient Egyptian and Nabataean civilisations, to be filmed at archaeological sites in both countries, with the possibility of organising regular concerts.

Minister Issa underscored the strategic focus on four key tourist products, namely cultural tourism; adventure tourism; beach tourism, and family tourism.

These products, he said, collectively represent a significant majority of global tourist preferences.

“They represent approximately 55 per cent of global tourist preferences, with around 800 million travellers seeking these experiences worldwide,” the minister said.

He also underlined Egypt’s strong competitive advantage in these areas, and the country’s ability to function as a magnet for travellers seeking diverse experiences and activities.

The minister also unveiled plans for the operation of extended Nile cruises between Cairo and Aswan.

These cruises, he said, would pass by governorates in Upper Egypt, opening the door for new tourist experiences in them.

Talks between the Egyptian and Jordanian tourism ministers also touched on the forthcoming Cairo City Break, a new cultural product that will highlight tourist and archaeological attractions in the Greater Cairo region.

It aims to increase the number of nights tourists spend in the region, a metropolitan area centred on Cairo and comprises the entirety of Cairo Governorate, Giza Governorate and parts of Qalyubia Governorate.