Egypt’s Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy held talks in Prague on Thursday with Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček on ways to strengthen cooperation and increase tourist arrivals from the Czech Republic.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of a reception hosted by Egypt’s embassy to mark the country’s national day.
The two officials stressed the strong ties between Egypt and the Czech Republic, particularly in tourism and antiquities, and agreed on the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation, the ministry said.
Fathy said around 500,000 Czech tourists visited Egypt in 2025, a three per cent increase from the previous year. The Czech Republic is among Egypt’s top 15 tourism source markets, he added.
The minister also outlined measures taken by Egypt to mitigate the impact of regional tensions, including changes to aviation incentive programmes to maintain flights to Egyptian tourist destinations.
He also highlighted the ‘Egypt Vibes’ campaign, which showcases tourists’ experiences in Egypt and aims to underline the stability of the country’s tourist destinations and their distance from areas affected by conflict.
Fathy said high fuel prices remained one of the main challenges facing global travel, adding that governments should support international mobility for tourism, travel and freight transport once current regional tensions subside.
Havlicek said the Czech people held Egypt in high regard and congratulated the country on the achievement of its national football team at the World Cup.
He also highlighted the importance of Egyptian civilisation and Egyptology in Czech academic circles, saying Egypt had become an important destination for Czech investors amid its economic development and emerging investment opportunities.
The minister held a series of expanded meetings in Prague with representatives of the Czech Tour Operators Association and Czech travel companies.
He highlighted Egypt’s broad range of tourism offerings and the authenticity of the experiences available to visitors, as well as the country’s growing shift towards luxury tourism.
Fathy welcomed rising interest among Czech tourists in Egypt’s North Coast, which he described as a promising luxury destination.
Flights to Alamein International Airport rose by 540 percent last year compared with 2024, he said, adding that the resort’s tourism season now runs from May to November.
Representatives of Czech tour operators and travel companies praised Fathy’s direct engagement with industry partners and his willingness to hear their views and proposals.
They said Egypt remained the top destination for Czech tourists, citing its security, quality tourism services, value for money and year-round attractions.
Hurghada and Marsa Alam were among the most popular destinations for Czech visitors, they said, while interest was also growing in Alexandria, the North Coast and Siwa Oasis.
The representatives said demand for luxury tourism in the Czech market was increasing significantly, calling for stronger promotion of the sector.
They also expressed a desire to hold the association’s annual meeting in Cairo at the end of this year, in coordination with the Egyptian Tourism Authority.
