Belgrade: Egypt sees Serbia as a strategic partner, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy said at the end of an official visit to Belgrade, citing strong political support from both countries' governments and prospects for tangible joint projects.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Fathy praised growing bilateral cooperation in tourism, antiquities, and culture after talks with Serbian officials, including the prime minister and ministers of tourism, youth, and culture. He described the Serbian market as promising, with 60,000-70,000 Serbian tourists visiting Egypt in 2024, mostly to Red Sea resorts like Hurghada.

He proposed joint promotional campaigns and familiarization trips, particularly in wellness tourism, and highlighted opportunities surrounding the Grand Egyptian Museum's official opening in July. Fathy also noted growing interest from Serbian travelers in destinations like Sharm El-Sheikh and St. Catherine, the latter holding religious significance for Serbians.

He highlighted that Egypt welcomed 15.8 million tourists in 2024, up 6% from 2023, with a 23% rise in Q1 2025. He pointed out that Egypt aims to double hotel capacity by 2030 to meet demand and underscored the importance of a new global campaign launched by his ministry under the theme of: 'Egypt... Unmatched Diversity' which aims at promoting a broad tourism offering, from cultural heritage to eco-tourism.

The minister called for deeper ties beyond tourism, including cultural exchanges and content creator visits, and welcomed Serbian heritage exhibitions in Egypt.