Means of consolidating bilateral links in tourism were at the core of talks held here on Thursday, featuring Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy and the visiting Ugandan Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, Tom Butime, and an accompanying delegation.
The meeting, held at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, presented a shared vision of cooperation.
Discussions focused on harnessing the potential of both countries’ unique tourism offerings to generate greater interest on the international stage, according to a ministry statement.
The two ministers discussed the possibility of launching tourist packages that offer travellers an unparalleled experience encompassing both nations.
Fathy highlighted Egypt’s ongoing initiatives to train and qualify professionals through the innovative “Learning Management System” (an online training platform) and fruitful collaboration with Egyptian tourism and hospitality faculties.
These partnerships aim to merge academic education with practical expertise – an approach Egypt looks forward to sharing with Uganda, he said.
For his part, Butime proposed the joint initiatives as a way to promote the remarkably diverse attractions, blending Uganda’s stunning landscapes and wildlife with Egypt’s globally celebrated historical and cultural treasures.
Expanding direct flight routes between the two countries was also discussed, with both parties recognising how this could serve as a catalyst for increased tourism flows.
Butime voiced high interest at the prospect of blending Uganda’s eco-tourism and nature-based experiences with Egypt’s unrivalled historical landmarks, offering travellers the best of both worlds in one seamless itinerary.
He also lauded Egypt’s rich global prominence as a historical destination, and voiced interest in benefiting from the country’s deep expertise in domains such as promotion of tourist products, training, and human resource development.
As the meeting came to an end, Butime extended an official invitation to Fathy to visit Uganda and explore its varied tourism offerings firsthand, including its eco-tourism, sports tourism, and beach tourism attractions.
Cairo has also been invited to take part in Uganda’s annual “Africa Expo” as a platform to showcase opportunities for further partnership and collaboration.
