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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
23
Tourism Back on Rise in Egypt
Incredible history and culture lure international visitors
Hon. Hisham Zaazou
Minister of Tourism - Egypt
Hon. Hisham Zaazou, formerly the Senior Assistant to Egypt’s
Minister of Tourism, was named the new Minister of Tourism
for this renowned global destination in August 2012.
Zaazou came to this position after more than 30 years in
the public and private sectors. Beginning in 1980 in North
America with R&H Tourism Co., he expanded operations
to Egypt. He then moved on to Sakkara Travel as General
Manager. His interest in the role of the public sector in
tourism started when he was elected as the Director
General of the Egyptian Tourism Federation followed by his
appointment as Assistant to the Minister of Tourism in 2008.
Egypt, the 2012 Partner
Country for ITB Berlin,
saw a 17% increase in
tourists in 2012. Hon.
Hisham Zaavou, Egypt’s
Minister for Tourism,
explains more about
the national goals...
Tourism is one of Egypt’s
top priorities and a vital
source of foreign currency,
which also creates an
outstanding opportunity for
job creation. This has been
reflected in the fact that the
tourism industry employs
12.6% of the total Egyptian
workforce. Approximately
14.7 million tourists visited
Egypt before the 25th
January Revolution. We,
as the Tourism ministry,
are working extremely
hard in order to achieve
our goal of bringing 30
million tourists to Egypt by
the year 2020. Egypt has
started its transformation
into becoming a stable
and democratic country,
and we hope that this will
play an important role in
attracting tourists to our
great nation. Amidst the
multiple changes Egypt is
weathering, the impressive
variety of history and
culture, plus the splendor of
the myriad experiences that
can only be had here, are
not only preserved, but also
safeguarded by the People
of Egypt.
After a drop from 14.5
million tourists in 2010 to
a little under 10 million
in 2011, 2012 has seen
a healthy increase in
visitors. How did the year
finish?
Egypt will always be a major
worldwide destination and
the number of tourists that
visited Egypt in 2012 is
11.5 million, an increase
of 17% in comparison
to 2011. During 2012,
tourists spent 138 million
nights in Egypt, which is
a 20.67% improvement
in comparison to 2011.
Furthermore, the amount of
income generated through
tourism increased by 13% in
2012 in comparison to 2011.
The ministry is doing all it
can to get back on the right
path and achieve figures
similar to the ones in 2010
- and eventually even better
ones.
Corresponding with ITB
Berlin we are seeing the
reopening of the Kebbash
road, connecting the Luxor
and Karnak Temples.
What new products are
being launched?
Egypt is a remarkable
tourist destination offering
an utterly unique and very
special experience for
tourists of all nationalities
and cultures. The Tourism
industry in Egypt – resilient as
ever – continues to develop,
plan and move ahead with
various new and unique
promotional programs and
products. For instance, we
have recently resumed the
glorious super-long Nile
cruises from Cairo to Aswan
after a period of more than
15 years when they did not
run. The Kebbash Road,
connecting Luxor Temple
with Karnak Temple,
will also be reopened to
visitors in March 2013, after
we are working
extremely hard in
order to achieve our
goal of bringing
30 million tourists to
Egypt by the year 2020.
restoration work has been
completed. Furthermore,
new measures are being
taken to renovate the area
around the pyramids. All
tourist sites in Egypt are fully
open to visitors as usual. All
the new improvements and
development processes
that are taking place in
countless places across
Egypt could not have
been achieved without
the support of the current
government and its
acknowledgment of the
tourism industry as one
of pivotal importance.
The Ministry of Tourism
– once again – expresses
its commitment to further
develop and sustain this
vital industry.
How do you plan to
encourage investment in
the sector?
I think the positive messages
sent by the President and
the Prime Minister to the
whole world confirming
their support of the tourism
sector are important.
Also, emphasizing that
Egypt always welcomes
its guests, promising them
unforgettable experiences
while encouraging foreign
investments in all fields, is
key to growing confidence
for potential investors.
[Interview by Richard Barnes]
Hall 23 A
ITB BERLIN NEWS • Wednesday 6 th March 2013