Egypt plans to launch an olive harvest festival in September in the Mediterranean governorate of Marsa Matrouh, offering visitors the chance to take part in collecting and pressing olives as part of a broader tourism experience, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy said Tuesday.
The festival could be included in tourism programmes targeting visitors staying along Egypt’s North Coast, Fathy said during a meeting with Marsa Matrouh Governor Mohamed el-Zamlout and tourism investors.
He said the event would promote the “authenticity” of the tourism experience in the governorate and showcase the cultural heritage of its Bedouin communities and the character of Egypt’s western coast.
Fathy said Marsa Matrouh had the potential to become a new tourism gateway offering “promising and numerous investment opportunities”.
He called for better use of prime sites and land in the governorate through the development of new hotels, adding that the ministry would work to move such projects towards implementation and increase hotel capacity.
The meeting was held to discuss investment opportunities, develop tourism products and address challenges facing investors, the ministry said in a statement.
Fathy highlighted Egypt’s “unparalleled diversity” as one of its main tourism advantages, alongside authentic experiences and luxury tourism products.
Marsa Matrouh, he said, offered strong potential for luxury tourism as well as distinctive cultural and lifestyle experiences.
Tourist arrivals in Egypt have increased by five per cent since the beginning of the year, while arrivals from the United States rose by two per cent over the same period, the minister said.
He also noted that Egypt had won the right to host the annual board meeting of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), scheduled to take place outside the United States in April 2027.
Hosting the meeting would have a positive impact on arrivals, particularly from the US market, he said, following Egypt’s recent hosting of World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) meetings.
Marsa Matrouh Governor el-Zamlout said the governorate was continuing to develop infrastructure and supporting services for tourism to attract investment, improve tourism facilities and raise the standard of services.
The governorate has also taken steps to facilitate the legalisation of hotels and tourism establishments in Siwa, he said, adding that the move would encourage investment and promote the use of the oasis’s tourism and environmental resources.
Fathy said he planned to visit Siwa soon to inspect tourism sites and meet local investors.
