Saturday, 18 July 2026
Egypt tourism chief says sector grows despite regional tensions
Egypt’s tourism minister said the country’s vital tourism sector continues to show resilience despite regional challenges, as he launched a new initiative aimed at streamlining work permits for foreign employees in the industry.
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy spoke during a press conference held by the Egyptian Tourism Federation on Sunday, attended by Labour Minister Hassan Raddad, senior federation officials and private-sector representatives.
Fathy said tourism remains one of Egypt’s most important economic sectors and a major source of national income, receiving strong backing from the country’s leadership. He stressed the private sector is a key partner in driving tourism growth.
The minister highlighted recent developments in the sector and trends in tourist arrivals, noting that Egypt recorded a 4 percent increase in inbound tourism from January through the first week of June, despite regional instability.
He said rising global fuel prices have pushed up transport and aviation costs, posing challenges for the industry. Egypt has responded with incentive programmes that helped maintain both tourist flows and flights, even after some cancellations linked to regional tensions.
Fathy said the ministry is working closely with the private sector to develop flexible and fast-moving marketing strategies suited to evolving global markets. He added that Egypt’s push to showcase its diverse tourism offering has successfully improved international perceptions and boosted spending, particularly in luxury tourism.
The minister pointed to positive international media coverage and continued development of new tourism products. He said the authenticity and variety of the Egyptian tourism experience have become major attractions for visitors.
Fathy also underscored the role of infrastructure upgrades in recent years, including roads and transport networks, in supporting the tourism industry.
Speaking about this year’s tourism-related Hajj operations, he praised all parties involved and called for building on successes while addressing any challenges.
The minister thanked the labour minister for efforts to protect workers’ rights, saying the newly launched initiative on foreign worker permits reflects strong cooperation between the ministries and the private sector.
Labour Minister Raddad said tourism is a key sector for the ministry, stressing the importance of training and developing the workforce to meet industry needs.
Egyptian Tourism Federation chairman Hossam El-Shaer praised Fathy’s responsiveness to sector demands and said the tourism industry is highly labour-intensive, with a single hotel chamber generating an average of four direct jobs and many more indirect ones. He warned that losing trained workers is one of the biggest risks during crises.
El-Shaer outlined ongoing training and human-capacity efforts carried out with the tourism ministry and universities to prepare the workforce needed for the sector’s growth.
He added that tourism development requires cooperation across multiple ministries and state bodies to achieve sustainable growth.
The conference concluded with questions from industry representatives, including on Egypt’s plans to create a unified investment platform aimed at simplifying procedures and attracting new tourism investment.