Cairo: Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouli chaired a meeting with key officials and private sector leaders to discuss strategies for boosting Egypt’s tourism industry. The meeting, which included Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy and prominent businessmen like Hisham Talaat Moustafa, focused on increasing tourist arrivals, improving services, and expanding tourism infrastructure.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Dr. Madbouli emphasized tourism as a priority sector for Egypt’s economic growth, aiming to attract 30 million tourists annually. Hisham Talaat Moustafa proposed the creation of a National Tourism Development Council to streamline decision-making and suggested hiring international consultants for a comprehensive strategy. He also advocated for expanding hotel capacity by 500,000 rooms in the next decade.

Other proposals included expanding Egypt’s aviation infrastructure and promoting untapped destinations like Siwa Oasis. The businessman Basel Sami Saad highlighted the potential to increas
e tourist spending and recommended improving airport procedures to enhance visitor experience.

Minister Sherif Fathy outlined ongoing efforts to develop key tourist attractions, including the Holy Family Trail and Nile tourism, and emphasized the importance of targeted marketing. Dr. Madbouli concluded by reinforcing President El-Sisi’s call for public-private partnerships and simplifying the tourism investment process, including offering “golden licenses” for major tourism projects.

The meeting concluded with a call for stakeholders to submit concrete proposals for further review within two weeks.