Cairo:According to State Information Service Egypt, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy emphasized the need for genuine integration and continued coordination among all relevant ministries and state agencies to maximize the benefits of Egypt's tourism potential. He highlighted the sector's significant economic value and its role in supporting the economy and creating jobs.Fathy made these remarks during the Al Ahram Egyptian Tourism Forum session titled 'Egypt: Unparalleled Diversity - From Diverse Assets to Enhanced Competitiveness and Investment.' He noted that tourism should not be seen as the responsibility of a single ministry but as an industry reliant on the cooperation of numerous ministries and state agencies.The minister pointed out that every one million tourists visiting Egypt support approximately 220,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly, emphasizing the sector's impact on the labor market and national economy. He stressed the importance of addressing tourism as an integrated e conomic and development issue.Fathy also highlighted the role of the private sector as 'the backbone of tourism work everywhere in the world,' and stated that the state is working to strengthen its partnership with the private sector. This collaboration is seen as a key element in developing Egypt's tourism product and enhancing its competitiveness.The development of the tourism product depends on more than just tourism and archaeological assets, according to Fathy. It also requires quality services, infrastructure, and ease of access and transportation between different destinations. He mentioned the importance of modern transport projects, such as the high-speed electric train, in supporting the tourism industry.Ease of travel between tourist destinations is crucial to capitalizing on Egypt's diverse tourism offerings. Faster and smoother connections between destinations would enable visitors to experience multiple tourism products during a single trip, enhancing Egypt's ability to offer varied touris m programs.Hossam El Shaer, President of the Egyptian Federation of Tourist Chambers, underscored the importance of speeding up the issuance of construction permits for tourism investments. Coordination on this matter is underway with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.Nader El-Beblawy, Chairman of the Egyptian Travel Agents Association (ETAA), stated that digitization has facilitated procedures for tourists. He noted that the electronic visa significantly contributes to increasing tourist numbers in Egypt.