China, Egypt discuss ways to boost tourism

CAIRO, April 4 (Xinhua) -- A workshop between Egyptian and Chinese tourism companies and tour operators was held in Egypt's capital Cairo on Tuesday to discuss ways to increase tourism between the two countries.

Speaking at the workshop, China's Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping said China and Egypt are world-renowned tourist destinations and important sources of tourists to each other.

"Both countries have good tourism resources, great potential for cooperation and broad space for development. The current recovery of the global tourism industry is accelerating. China and Egypt have ushered in a great opportunity to deepen tourism exchanges and cooperation," Hu said.

The minister added that he hoped to "further strengthen exchanges and cooperation between China and Egypt in the field of tourism and antiquities."

For his part, Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa said Egypt is looking forward to working with China, expecting rapid growth in tourism and archaeological expertise exchange between the two countries.

He added that Egypt appreciates the increase of Chinese excavation missions in Egypt.

Both China and Egypt are ancient civilizations with a long history and splendid civilization, which is the foundation for strengthening cultural exchanges and tourism cooperation, said Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang.

"We are full of confidence in the prospect of tourism cooperation between the two countries," Liao said, adding that the travel demand accumulated for the past three years will be fully released and the tourism cooperation between China and Egypt will achieve fruitful results.

China is a major source of tourists to Egypt, with hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists visiting the North African country each year before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to tour its historical sites and enjoy its sunny sandy beaches.

"The travel agencies in Egypt are looking forward to establishing contact with Chinese travel agents and more Chinese tourists coming to Egypt," said Sun Guizhen, deputy president of the China Association of Travel Services.

Ramez Azmi, the general manager of Avicon Travel, an Egyptian travel agency, said the agency is working to promote its activities and tourist attractions to Chinese tourists.

He expected more Chinese tourists to come to Egypt soon thanks to the Chinese government's decision to lift the COVID-19 travel restrictions.

"Egypt is the preferable country to visit with its beaches and historical landmarks," he told Xinhua. "I'm going to China soon to make good deals with other companies to bring Chinese tourists to visit Egypt."