Finalising arrangements for the forthcoming conference, “The Role of Arab Banks in the Development of Arab Tourism,” scheduled for November 15–17 in Cairo, was at the core of a major meeting held here today.
The meeting featured Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, who received the President of the Arab Tourism Organisation (ATO), Bandar bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid, along with the ATO’s Secretary-General, Hisham Zaazou. It was held at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital (NAC).
The key three-day event, held under the auspices of Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly, will be organised in partnership with the ministry, the ATO, and the Union of Arab Banks. The chief aim of the conference is to shed light on the vital role that banking and financial institutions play in supporting tourism investments in the region, a statement by the ministry said.
Cairo was selected as the conference host thanks to its world-renowned cultural heritage, exceptional infrastructure, and recent increases in tourism activity. The city’s appeal is expected to soar further following the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, one of the world’s most significant archaeological and tourism developments.
“Egypt is going through an unprecedented boom in tourist arrivals, with a 25 per cent rise in the number of visitors during the first quarter of 2025, compared to last year, along with a 40 per cent rise in hotel occupancy rates. This reflects the ongoing recovery and bright prospects of the tourism sector,” Minister Fathy said.
He also emphasised that surging visitor numbers necessitate expanding hotel capacity and upgrading tourism facilities.
The minister underlined the prime importance of the conference, which he termed a strategic platform to present promising investment opportunities and strengthen cooperation between the tourism and financial sectors.
For his part, ATO Chief Bandar Al-Fuhaid commended Egypt’s progress in developing tourism infrastructure across the country and reaffirmed the organisation’s satisfaction with its close partnership with Egypt.
Al-Fuhaid voiced optimism that the Cairo conference would spark new collaborations and further advance Arab and Egyptian tourism.
