Chinese tourism minister in Egypt, first visit outside China since Covid

Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa late Saturday met with Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping and his accompanying delegation.

This is the first visit by a high-ranking Chinese official since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The first group of Chinese tourists arrived at Cairo International Airport on January 20 after China lifted all restrictions on international travel after the pandemic.

The Chinese tourism market is one of the most promising, Issa said, adding that Egypt hopes to attract more Chinese visitors.

The ministry recently announced that Chinese tourists will be able to obtain visas on arrival at ports and airports.

Chinese Minister Hu Heping highlighted the depth of bilateral relations between Egypt and China. He expressed his country’s keenness to discuss and enhance more cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including tourism and antiquities.

In the meantime, the Chinese minister will be meeting with several officials to discuss further cooperation between both countries.

The delegation will be attending a workshop organised by Egyptian and Chinese tour companies and hotels to look into ways to increase tourism exchange.

On March 30, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, represented by the Egyptian General Authority for Tourism Promotion, organised a series of tours in Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada for a preliminary visit by another Chinese delegation, who will be here until April 4.

The delegation comprised 22 tour operators and representatives of the China Association of Travel Services in cooperation with the Cultural Tourism Office of the Chinese Embassy in Cairo.

This preliminary visit is part of the ministry’s strategy to increase tourism to Egypt.

The delegation visited the Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, and the commercial area and the Great Hall of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

In Luxor, they visited the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Luxor Temple. They also took a Nile cruise and learned about hotel facilities in Luxor.

The delegation praised the remarkable development in infrastructure and transportation in Cairo and Luxor.

They highlighted the importance of signage in Chinese at archaeological sites.
The delegation also visited Hurghada on the Red Sea coast.