Subsequent to Egypt’s exclusion from the UK’s travel “red list,” easing travel restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Egypt’s minister of tourism and antiquities Khaled El-Anany held talks with Gareth Bailey, the British ambassador in Cairo, on ways to improve cooperation between the two countries in the fields of tourism and antiquities.
El-Anany reviewed Egypt’s efforts on new tourism activities such as adventure tourism, as well as integrating beach and leisure travel with cultural tourism into one product.
The Nile Valley sites of Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel with coastal resorts such as Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada are strategic to this plan, which will also incorporate the development of domestic airlines.
He explained that this will increase Egypt’s competitive advantage as a tourism destination and create an integrated and distinctive tourism product for the first time that combines entertainment, coastlines and Egyptian history.
Both countries discussed the possibility of signing a joint memorandum of understanding on recovering illegally smuggled antiquities.
The minister also briefed the British ambassador on preparations for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb.
On his part, Bailey emphasised that one of the key goals he will focus on during his time in Egypt will be to attract more British companies and investors to Egyptian markets, as well as using the Egyptian market as a gateway to African markets.