The Chairman of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, described his meeting with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as “extremely interesting and productive”, and that Egypt possesses significant opportunities to bolster its position on the global tourism map, given its continuous development of infrastructure and tourist destinations.
According to the chairman, Sisi showed a clear interest in following investor opinions and listening to various perspectives regarding the development of the tourism sector.
He added that the President was eager to listen to everything presented during the meeting and respond to various points, reflecting a sincere commitment to tourism and investment topics.
Sharing his personal impression of the meeting, d’Ovidio hailed President Sisi as a leader who possesses a great ability to listen and engage in dialogue, noting that the meeting reflected clear seriousness in handling issues related to investment and tourism.
The WTTC Chairman noted that Egypt possesses exceptional tourism assets, not only in terms of history and antiquities but also through new projects implemented in recent years. He praised Egypt’s urban and tourism development—specifically the Grand Egyptian Museum—emphasizing that the project represents a major qualitative addition to Egypt as a destination, alongside the country’s unique cultural and civilizational diversity.
He stated that Egypt does not rely solely on its historical treasures but is working on developing an integrated tourism experience capable of attracting more visitors from around the world.
The Chairman also discussed the challenges faced by the global travel and tourism sector in recent years, expressing his hope for the sector to return to its previous normal rates and confirming that it has already begun to see gradual recovery.
He highlighted the vital importance of the tourism and travel sectors in enhancing human communication and interaction, emphasizing that people should enjoy their lives through travel and participation in various conferences, entertainment, and sporting events, rather than relying entirely on technology.
Furthermore, d’Ovidio stressed that Egypt is a wonderful country with enormous potential in tourism and investment, and referred to the ongoing implementation of numerous tourism projects reflects its promising capabilities and opportunities.
He noted Egypt’s strong infrastructure, diverse airline network, and ease of access, in addition to being a favorite destination for many tourists due to the diverse experiences it offers.
The WTTC Chairman concluded his remarks by affirming that Egypt is moving in a positive direction and possesses everything necessary to achieve further growth in the coming period – both within traditional tourism and promising fields such as medical tourism.
