Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled Al-Anani has arrived in the Polish capital, Warsaw, for a short visit to stimulate tourism between the two countries.
During his visit, Al-Anani is set to undertake discussions on ways to enhance tourism sector cooperation between the two.
The ministerial visit came as part of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities’ plan to promote Egypt’s tourism sector, and enhancing tourism movement from outside markets.
The minister started his visit by meeting with the President of the Federation of Tourist Chambers in Poland, as well as representatives from the country’s major tour operators and tourist media.
This included discussions on points and proposals that would contribute to attracting more Polish tourists to Egypt, especially in light of Egypt’s capabilities.
During the meeting, Al-Anani reviewed the Egyptian state’s efforts to support its tourism sector during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This included measures to resume tourism, and to encourage companies and tour operators to organise more trips to Egypt’s tourist governorates.
The measures included exempting entry fees for inbound tourists travelling to the Red Sea and South Sinai governorates, and the temporary halting of tourist visa fees, landing and accommodation fees, until 31 October 2020.
This comes in addition to reductions in aviation fuel prices, and the extension of the current flight stimulus programme until 29 October 2020.
Al-Anani also reviewed the precautionary measures and health safety controls that are currently being applied at all Egypt’s tourist and hotel establishments, museums and archaeological sites. These were applied as the country’s inbound tourism resumed on 1 July.
The minister stressed the Polish market’s importance for Egyptian tourism, and expressed his hopes that the number of Polish tourists coming to Egypt would increase in the coming period. Meanwhile, the Polish side praised the efforts made by the Egyptian authorities and the health and safety controls they have put in place.
