Cairo: Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny said boosting air traffic to Marsa Matrouh International Airport year-round would support tourism development efforts, noting that closer integration between aviation and tourism would open new growth opportunities and allow greater use of the governorate's promising potential.
According to State Information Service Egypt, Hefny made the remarks during a meeting with Matrouh Governor Mohamed El-Zamlout at the governorate headquarters at the start of his visit to the city. The meeting was attended by officials and representatives of tourism companies and hotel owners to discuss ways of boosting air traffic and tourism and making better use of Matrouh's tourism potential amid rising demand for destinations along the North Coast.
The visit comes as Matrouh Governorate continues to benefit from promising tourism and development opportunities, while destinations along Egypt's northwestern coast have witnessed notable growth in inbound air traffic.
The meeting highlighted the importance of operating domestic flights to Marsa Matrouh Airport throughout the year rather than limiting them to the summer season. It also addressed strengthening cooperation among airlines, hotels, and the tourism sector and removing obstacles facing serious proposals aimed at increasing traffic, thereby supporting tourism and maximizing the governorate's diverse tourism assets.
The participants also stressed the importance of integrating different modes of transportation to serve tourist destinations and promoting the diverse attractions of Matrouh and Siwa, which would help increase tourist arrivals and support development and investment opportunities in the governorate.
Hefny said the notable increase in charter flights from several European markets to Marsa Matrouh Airport reflected growing demand for Egyptian tourist destinations. He stressed the importance of building on this growth by continuing to improve services and operational efficiency to meet the needs of passengers and airlines and enhance the competitiveness of the destination.
Following the meeting, Hefny inspected Marsa Matrouh International Airport to review operational regularity, the level of passenger services, and the airport's readiness to handle current and expected traffic during the summer season.
Hefny also reviewed efforts to upgrade several airport facilities and stressed the need to ensure the airport is ready to accommodate additional flights and support inbound tourism to the governorate.
The minister emphasized the importance of maintaining operational readiness and improving the efficiency of airport teams while continuing coordination among relevant authorities, airlines, and the tourism sector to ensure effective performance and high-quality services that meet the needs of growing traffic.