Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt tourism minister, South Sinai governor meet investors to boost sector
Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy and South Sinai Governor Ismail Kamel held an expanded meeting with members of the South Sinai Investors Association in Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss plans to develop the tourism sector and attract more visitors to the region, the ministry said in a statement.
The meeting, attended by leading private-sector tourism figures and senior ministry officials, reviewed the current tourism situation, challenges facing investors and ways to stimulate inbound travel to Egypt, particularly to South Sinai.
Fathy said he valued such direct meetings, which allow for the exchange of ideas and practical solutions to support the sector’s growth. He stressed that attracting 30 million tourists is a national target and highlighted Egypt’s unique tourism diversity, which he said encourages repeat visits.
He added that the ministry is integrating different tourism products to create new experiences and relies on targeted marketing strategies for each source market, using artificial intelligence tools, social media and global influencers to promote Egypt.
The minister said tourism indicators remain generally positive despite “relative slowdowns” in some future bookings due to regional conditions. He noted that cancellations have been mostly limited to individual travelers, while group bookings remain stable.
Fathy said coordination with the foreign ministry has helped ensure that countries’ travel advisories reflect “the reality of safety and security” in Egypt. He added that the ministry has taken steps to keep Egypt visible in global markets, including adjusting the load factor in its aviation incentive program and intensifying promotion in fast-response markets.
He underlined ongoing cooperation with private-sector partners and pointed to efforts to expand hotel capacity, including the recent regulation of the “holiday homes” accommodation model.
Fathy said he was optimistic about the sector’s prospects, noting that Egypt recorded 21 percent growth in tourist arrivals last year. Current indicators, he added, show the sector is performing well aside from some booking slowdowns. Sustained growth could allow Egypt to reach its target of 30 million tourists before 2030, he said, with the main challenge being increased hotel capacity and airline seats.
South Sinai Investors Association head Tamer Makram welcomed the meeting and praised the minister and governor for engaging directly with investors.
Governor Kamel said developing the tourism sector was his top priority, in line with directives issued after he took office. He presented the governorate’s strategy to strengthen Sharm el-Sheikh’s position as a global destination and support tourism across South Sinai.
He said the governorate was committed to removing obstacles facing investors and was forming a committee to receive complaints and address challenges, aiming to streamline procedures and boost tourism flows.
During the meeting, participants discussed investment, governance, human resources development and licensing requirements. The minister and governor responded to questions raised by attendees.