Florence: Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy met with Naoya Haraikawa, Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency, to explore avenues for enhancing bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector. The meeting took place during the first gathering of Tourism Ministers of the G7 countries in Florence, Italy (G7 ITALIA 2024).

According to State Information Service Egypt, Fathy highlighted the strong and strategic partnership between Egypt and Japan, which serves as a model for international cooperation. He expressed optimism about continuing and expanding this fruitful partnership to new dimensions. Key projects under the Japanese-Egyptian partnership, such as the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and the restoration of the Second Khufu Boat, were cited as significant achievements in the tourism and antiquities sectors.

The discussions also covered the development of tourism flows and the potential increase in direct flights between the two countries to support this initiative. Both parties emphasize
d the importance of cultural exchanges to strengthen the ties between the Egyptian and Japanese peoples. Plans for the exhibition “Ramesses and the Gold of the Pharaohs,” set to be held in Tokyo in 2025, were also part of the conversation, highlighting ongoing efforts to promote Egyptian archeological heritage abroad.