Egypt is back at the East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Exhibition (EMITT) in Istanbul after eight years of absence.
A leading international tourism fair, the EMITT runs from 6 to 9 February 2024.
CEO of the Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETA), Amr el-Kady, opened the Egyptian pavilion with Davut Gül, the governor of Istanbul, and other Turkish officials.
El-Kady said Egypt is eager to boost cooperation with Türkiye in tourism and aviation, describing them as important fields for the attraction of more Turkish visitors. He noted that Türkiye recorded a 230% increase in tourist arrivals to Egypt in 2023, compared to 2022, thanks to the easy visa process.
He added that the ETA, the Egyptian Embassy in Ankara, and the Egyptian Consulate General in Istanbul work together to increase inbound tourism by expanding air connections and launching joint marketing campaigns with Turkish partners.
El-Kady showcased the diversity of Egyptian tourism offerings, such as cultural, beach, adventure, and family tourism.
He said that Egypt is an ideal destination for all seasons, with its sunny weather and stunning beaches.
During his visit to the EMITT exhibition in Istanbul, el-Kadi met several Turkish tourism officials and stakeholders. He explored with them means of increasing the number of Turkish visitors to Egypt and enhancing tourism ties between the two countries.
He had a meeting with the head of the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency, who expressed interest in the new developments and Egypt’s tourist products.
Both officials agreed to collaborate on joint programmes and campaigns to promote both destinations to more tourists from various markets.
He also talked with Turkish Airlines representatives, the biggest airline in Türkiye, and discussed with them the potential of increasing routes and flights to Egypt, especially from distant markets, such as China, Japan, Brazil, Australia and America.
He highlighted the competitive prices and the diversity and richness of Egypt’s tourist attractions.
El-Kadi also gave interviews to some Turkish journalists and media outlets, where he updated them on the Egyptian tourism industry and initiatives to launch new services and products.
He also mentioned current projects, including at museums and archaeological sites, especially the Grand Egyptian Museum which is set to open this year.
The Egyptian pavilion at the EMITT exhibition drew many visitors with its ancient Egyptian design and displays of promotional films, and replicas of ancient artefacts.
The pavilion also contains a hologram of King Tutankhamun’s mask. It covers an area of 100 square meters and hosts exhibitors from various Egyptian hotel and tourism companies, as well as Egypt’s national carrier, EgyptAir.
The EMITT this year includes over 300 pavilions for countries and international companies specialising in tourism, aviation, and hospitality. Sessions held on the margins of the exhibition address a wide range of topics, including travel trends, and developments in tourism technology, with the participation of specialists from each sector.
