A new alliance between Saudi Arabia and Egypt is taking shape to boost tourism collaboration.
Egypt’s Minister of Tourism, Sherif Fathy, has unveiled new agreements with his Saudi counterpart, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, to cooperate on several tourism initiatives, reported Asharq Al-Awsat.
New Initiatives
The Egyptian Tourism Minister noted that these new initiatives include joint marketing campaigns, shared tourism programs and collaborative environmental protection efforts, in addition to promoting certain types of tourism in the Red Sea.
This collaboration is the product of a recent visit by Fathy to Riyadh, where he met with Al-Khateeb and several Saudi business leaders and tourism stakeholders.
Their discussions involved ways to boost cooperation across various tourism sectors between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as well as how to increase the flow of tourists between both countries.
Both officials also explored potential areas of collaboration, including joint training programs and organizing workshops between Egyptian and Saudi tourism agencies.
According to Fathy, Egypt and Saudi Arabia plan to proceed with the agreed initiatives in the near future.
Middle East Tourism
During his stay in Riyadh, the Egyptian Minister visited the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) regional office.
The office is dedicated to fostering tourism education, enhancing infrastructure, and promoting sustainable tourism, as well as preserving the region’s cultural and environmental heritage.
Fathy pointed out that the office’s location in Saudi Arabia contributes to fostering the UNWTO‘s efforts in the region and enhancing communications with other countries.
Furthermore, he underscored the Middle East’s status as a key player in global tourism. Hence, a dedicated office is required to support all the region’s countries. This, in turn, strengthens collaboration and positions the Middle East as a premier destination for tourists.
Saudi-Egyptian Cooperation
The Director of the UNWTO regional office for the Middle East, Samer Al-Kharashi, pointed out that the office supports 13 countries in the region, with Egypt being a key member.
Moreover, he said that Fathy’s visit to the UNWTO’s office encourages collaboration, as he also serves as Vice President of the regional committee. This collaboration will promote the role of tourism in boosting the national economy, creating more jobs, and enhancing sustainable eco-friendly practices.
Al-Kharashi told Asharq Al-Awsat that collaboration with Egypt has great potential, owing to the country’s rich history and numerous tourist attractions. He added that the discussions covered various opportunities for joint projects and would benefit Egypt and the wider region.
The discussions also addressed key issues related to Egypt’s tourism sector, including challenges and growth opportunities. Additionally, both officials explored future cooperation in tourism training, improving services, and boosting investments.
Fostering Tourism Collaboration
Egypt seeks to harness international collaboration to promote its tourism sector. The country ranks first in Africa, fifth in the Middle East, and 61st globally on the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI).
During his visit to Riyadh, the Egyptian Tourism Minister met on Thursday with the Saudi private sector representatives at the Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC). The meeting was organized by the Saudi-Egyptian Business Council.
In an effort to foster cooperation with Egypt, Saudi investors proposed the creation of investment funds to develop tourist destinations and projects in Egypt.
The proposed initiative involves contributions from both public and private financing institutions from Saudi Arabia and Egypt, in addition to allocating Egyptian airports to enhance visitors’ experience.
Areas of Collaboration
During the meeting, Fathy invited Saudi investors to explore investment opportunities in Egypt, including archeological sites management and yacht tourism, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Furthermore, Saudi-Egyptian Business Council chairman, Bandar Al-Ameri, highlighted the comparative advantages of investing in Egypt’s tourism sector. He noted that the upcoming period could witness increased cooperation across various fields, most notably hospitality and tourism.
He also suggested forging Saudi-foreign partnerships to promote investment in Egypt’s tourism sector.
