Egypt pins hopes on coordination with Russian travel agencies to attract more tourists to the north-eastern coast.
These hopes come in the wake of participation by Egyptian representatives in the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting in Moscow on June 20 and 21.
During the meeting, the Egyptian representatives initiated dialogue with Russian tour operators on means of attracting more Russian tourists to the north-eastern coast, Egypt’s new tourist magnet.
The dialogue underscored Egypt’s desire to showcase the attractions of traditional destinations, such as the Red Sea resorts of Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh.
They also demonstrated the Arab country’s desire to put new attractions on the international tourism map.
Egyptian representatives attending the meeting also sought to invite attention to Cairo as a potential destination in the programmes drawn out by Russian tour operators.
CEO of the Egyptian Tourism Authority, Amr el-Kady, held a series of discussions with a host of Russian tour operators, specialising in the Egyptian market.
During his meetings with the operators, el-Kady reviewed their operational strategies for the promotion of Egyptian tourist destinations duringthe summer season and in the next winter season.
The meetings also sought to address challenges encountered by Russian tour operators and develop effective solutions to these challenges.
The Egyptian and Russian sides agreed, meanwhile, to intensify promotional efforts for Egyptian tourist destinations in the Russian market in the coming period.
The BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting inaugurated Russia’s presidency of the BRICS conference this year.
The conference was held under the central theme, ‘Advancing Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security’.
The meeting of the ministers of tourism focused on the promotion of collaborative efforts among BRICS member nations to promote sustainable tourism development and identify diverse opportunities within the tourism sector.
In January of this year, Egypt became a member of the BRICS grouping. Egypt is optimistic that this inclusion would entail economic advantages for it and for other member nations.
El-Kady said Egypt is committed to achieving significant growth in the tourism industry, especially with the implementation of the National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism 2030.
The strategy, he said, aims to increase the number of incoming tourists to 30 million by 2028, with an annual growth target of between 25 and 30%.
The strategy, he added, aligns with Egypt’s vision for sustainable development in 2030.
“The strategy focuses on boosting the incoming tourism movement by expanding airline capacity and enhancing the overall tourism climate and infrastructure, particularly in the hotel sector,” el-Kady said.
“Our efforts are directed at improving the tourism experience and elevating the quality of services in Egyptian tourist destinations,” he added.
El-Kady revealed that Egypt has allocated a significant portion of its domestic product, about 22% over the past seven years, to the development of infrastructure, transportation networks, including railways and airports.
These investments, he said, have had a positive impact on the tourism sector.
He highlighted the ‘Your Expectations are History’ Tourism promotion campaign which was launched by the Egyptian Tourism Authority.
The campaign, he said, was developed in 2021 to present Egypt as a vibrant, modern, and dynamic tourist destination.
The campaign targets major tourism markets, including Germany, England, Italy, the US, Arab Gulf states, Russia, as well as Poland, the Czech Republic, France, and Spain.
It aims to appeal to diverse tourist segments, both from established and emerging markets, showcasing Egypt’s rich and varied tourism offerings which are tailored to all tastes and preferences.
