President Abdel Fattah El Sisi reasserted the importance of boosting co-operation between Egypt and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), being one of the leading international bodies that represent the private sector, in order to support the growth and sustainability of the tourism sector.
The president’s remarks came during a meeting on Wednesday with WTTC Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio and his accompanying delegation.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, WTTC President and CEO Julia Simpson, US Presidential Envoy for Tourism Nick Adams, President of American Express Travel Audrey Hendley, founder and CEO of Arsenale SpA Paolo Barletta and Chairman of the Board Coral Travel Group Ayhan Bektas.
During the meeting, President Sisi affirmed Egypt’s keenness to deepen collaboration with the WTTC as part of broader efforts to advance tourism development and sustainability.
The WTTC chairman highlighted the council’s plans to organise the high-profile “Global Leaders Journey” event in Egypt, bringing together around 270 senior executives and representatives of leading international travel and tourism companies.
The event will take the form of a cruise passing through the Suez Canal and several Egyptian cities and ports.
He noted that hosting the event in Egypt sends a strong message of confidence in the country’s diverse tourism assets, stable environment, and ongoing efforts to develop the sector. It also reflects Egypt’s success in attracting more tourists and investment, reaffirming its position as a preferred global destination.
The WTTC delegation expressed interest in expanding co-operation with the government in tourism and investment, as well as supporting infrastructure development. In this context, US Presidential Envoy for Tourism Nick Adams conveyed greetings of US President Donald Trump to President Sisi, affirming Washington’s interest in increasing tourism flows between the two countries.
President Sisi reiterated Egypt’s commitment to sustaining the development of its tourism sector, with the chief aim of attracting 30 million tourists annually. He added that Egypt’s selection to host the WTTC event reflects strong international confidence in its tourism capabilities, expressing readiness to host further council events and provide full support.
The president also said that maintaining stability, security and safety remains essential, a point echoed by delegation members, who commended Egypt’s efforts to boost stability in the region.
