CAIRO, Sept 28 (MENA) – President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi emphasized the importance of closely monitoring every detail to ensure that the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) be opened in a manner aligned with its status as a global cultural and archaeological landmark.
He also stressed the need to continue enhancing the visual identity of the surrounding area.
This came during a meeting held on Sunday between President Sisi, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy.
Presidential Spokesman Mohamed al-Shennawy stated that President Sisi was briefed on the overall execution and logistical details, as well as the preparations for the various events planned for the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, scheduled for November 1st.
The briefing also included updates on completed phases of the project and the ongoing development efforts in the surrounding area.
Meanwhile, Fathy presented the latest updates on the tourism investment portfolio, reflecting the state’s commitment to attracting further investment into this vital sector.
He noted that initial indicators point to a consistent increase in demand for Egyptian tourism from various global markets, supported by continued efforts to develop the tourism product, expand into new tourism formats, intensify promotional campaigns and improve service quality.
In this context, President Sisi underscored the need for the private sector to play a central role in tourism investment, contributing to an increase in tourist arrivals, enhancing the tourism infrastructure, diversifying destinations and establishing a comprehensive marketing strategy targeting new markets.
He also stressed the importance of maximizing foreign currency revenues from tourism and ensuring a governed and sustainable tourism ecosystem.
The spokesman added that the meeting also addressed ways to advance the tourism sector and develop hotel facilities to accommodate larger numbers of tourists.
Fathy highlighted that the sector is currently experiencing its highest growth rates and is among the top contributors to foreign currency inflows, the spokesman said.
Fathy outlined a series of recent measures to stimulate the sector, particularly those aimed at facilitating the conversion of land and buildings for hospitality use and increasing the number of vacation rental units, thereby expanding hotel capacity. (MENA)
