President Abdel Fattah El Sisi followed up on progress on projects implemented by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities yesterday during a meeting with Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Anani.
Minister el-Anani briefed the president about the tourism movement at present and the measures taken by his ministry to further promote tourist sites in Egypt, with a view to capitalising on Egypt’s unique and diverse tourist products, Presidency Spokesman Ambassador Bassam Radi said.
The minister also pointed to coordination between various state agencies to ensure the recovery of the tourism sector in a way that helps it overcome the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The tourism minister referred to the recent launch of direct flights between the southern ancient city of Luxor and the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
These flights, he said, aim to link archaeological tourism with beach tourism.
He added that linking the two places together would also benefit from the new roads that were established in Egypt in the past period with the aim of connecting the different governorates with each other, including the tourist sites in these governorates.
Minister el-Anani also reviewed preparations for the official opening of a number of important archeological projects in the coming period.
He especially referred to the opening in November of the Grand Road of Rams in Luxor.
The opening of the Road, he said, would follow the implementation of a number of projects for the development of tourist infrastructure in Luxor.
Minister el-Anani noted that these projects included the Visual Identity project and the development of the Nile River esplanade in the city.
The minister added that a large number of Luxor’s buildings had also been developed.
He also briefed the president about the efforts of his ministry to develop its financial resources, as well as the measures it takes to upgrade itself at the administrative level.
The ministry does this, minister el-Anani said, by adopting programmes for digital transformation, especially when it comes to tourism licenses and permissions needed by hotels.
President Sisi directed the minister, meanwhile, to beef up medical services at the airports of tourist cities to conduct Covid-19 tests for incoming tourists.
The president also highlighted the importance of continued coordination and integration between all concerned agencies to ensure smooth movement of tourism and the comfort of tourists.
This coordination, the president added, also has to aim at providing tourists with high quality services in co-operation with tourist investors.
The president said the Road of Rams opening celebration has to be yet a new episode in the long series of global events organised by Egypt at present to emblason its soft power and ancient civilisation.
The president referred to the procession of royal mummies that took place in Cairo in April this year.
The opening of the Road of Rams in Luxor, the president said, has to reflect the richness of Luxor as an integrated global tourist destination.
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