Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa on Monday evening met with Sir John Whittingdale, British Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries for tourism co-operation talks.
“The British tourist market is considered one of the most important tourist markets exporting tourism to Egypt and among the most important that Egypt targets,” Issa said.
The British Minister expressed his readiness to co-operate and exchange experiences in all fields proposed by the Egyptian side to enhance the ministry’s efforts to improve the quality of services and improve the tourism experience in Egypt.
Issa was in London to open the Egyptian pavilion participating at the 44th World Travel Market (WTM 2023) in London on 6-8 November. He says it is the second largest international tourism exchange after the ITB exhibition in Germany.
Earlier, Issa was a speaker at the ministerial summit on the sidelines of the WTM 2023.
Forty ministers and officials in the tourism industry from various countries participated in this session, titled ‘Transforming Tourism through Youth and Education’.
Sound and integrated planning is required to link tourism educational curricula to the actual needs of the labour market, the minister said.
“It is also important to attract skilled and trained workers, who have passion and keenness in the industry. This will have a great impact on providing a distinguished level of tourism services,” the minister added.
Issa also reviewed the ministry’s interest in achieving gender equality in work within the tourism industry in Egypt. In addition, he highlighted the importance of co-ordination and co-operation with the private sector through its representatives from the Egyptian Tourism Federation and Tourism Chambers to achieve progress in this file.
Issa also held a press conference during which he gave reassurances of the stability of the situation in Egypt. he also made interviews with Reuters, The Times and the CNN.
During the press conference, the attendees watched short promotional films (Testimonials), which were filmed with a number of tourists of different nationalities currently present in Egyptian tourist destinations, during which they talk about their experiences during their visit to these destinations.
Issa also reviewed the measures taken by the Ministry to achieve a rapid growth in the tourism industry, ranging between 25 per cent-30 per cent annually and reaching 30 million tourists by 2028.
More than 3,500 exhibitors from 184 countries are participating in WTM 2023 with pavilions inside the showrooms.
The Egyptian pavilion is 650 square metres, in addition to a loft of 140 square metres. It includes 62 pavilions that include 27 companies, 32 hotels, Air Cairo, Nesma Airlines, and a place for the South Sinai governorate.
The design of the pavilion was in the form of a modern Pharaonic temple with some touches from the Grand Egyptian Museum. It contains large screens to show promotional films for various Egyptian tourist destinations, in addition to places designated for activities for the public, and two rooms for holding meetings with VIP visitors.
A place in the pavilion was allocated to promote some different Egyptian heritage products, such as Egyptian drinks and dates. Another place designed in the Aswan-Nubian style displays Nubian heritage products in Aswan, including handicrafts and various spices.
