Sherif Fathy, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, lately concluded his go to to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 5 October with a gathering with Tawfiq Al-Rabeeah, the Saudi Minister of Hajj.
This dialogue aimed to reinforce cooperation between Egypt and Saudi Arabia in tourism and antiquities.
The assembly additionally included key figures reminiscent of Ambassador Ahmed Farouk, CEO of the Egyptian Normal Authority for Tourism Promotion, and a number of other different officers targeted on bettering the Hajj and Umrah expertise.
They emphasised the necessity for higher coordination on these pilgrimages to reinforce the standard of providers offered.
Fathy praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts in serving pilgrims and introduced plans for joint consciousness campaigns.
Throughout Haj season this yr, Egypt’s authorities introduced plans to prosecute 16 journey businesses and revoke their licenses because of the deaths of over 650 Egyptian pilgrims throughout this yr’s Hajj in Mecca.
Greater than 1,000 whole deaths have been reported, largely attributed to excessive warmth. Officers declare the excessive loss of life toll stems from some businesses sending unregistered pilgrims, utilizing private go to visas as a substitute of the required Hajj visas, which prohibit entry to Mecca.
Moreover, Fathy met with Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb to debate numerous tourism initiatives, together with joint advertising and marketing and environmental safety efforts, notably within the Pink Sea area.
Throughout his go to to the United Nations World Tourism Group (UNWTO) regional workplace in Riyadh, Fathy famous the significance of the workplace in enhancing tourism collaboration throughout the Center East.
He expressed optimism about future initiatives that may profit each nations and highlighted the potential for Egypt’s wealthy tourism historical past to play a major position in regional tourism growth.
Tourism is crucial for Egypt’s economic system, contributing about 10 p.c to GDP and producing vital overseas change earnings whereas supporting tens of millions of jobs.
In Saudi Arabia, tourism is a key focus of the Imaginative and prescient 2030 initiative, geared toward diversifying the economic system and lowering reliance on oil by attracting guests for each non secular and cultural experiences.
Each nations are investing in infrastructure and selling their wealthy heritage to reinforce tourism’s position in financial progress and growth.
