Selcuk Meral, Chairman of the Board of Directors of GMT, the company organizing the African Tourism Forum and Exhibition in Sharm El-Sheikh, said that this event will be held annually in Sharm El-Sheikh due to the great success achieved by the first session during the 20th and 21st of May.
He expressed his belief that the first session of the forum, which was held in cooperation with the Rixos Hotels Group, which is the first of its kind on the African continent, contributed to creating added value for the tourism sector, tourism professionals and investors, to creating new partnerships, and providing a platform for exchanging business and information for everyone in the most effective way,
He added, “I was pleased with the strong impressions of the ministers and senior officials who participated in the working and opening sessions, and the African Tourism Forum will serve as the beginning of this innovative initiative.” “
Mr. Selcuk said, “The African Tourism Forum and Exhibition is the first edition, which is scheduled to become the largest tourism exhibition in Egypt and Africa, bringing growth to this vital sector and stimulating development.”
He added, “This event will help the sector’s leading brands formulate their plans for the period 2024-2025, focusing on the key advantages of the tourism sector such as economic growth, employment and revenue generation.”
In its upcoming sessions, the Forum seeks to enhance cooperation in the field of tourism between African countries, attract foreign investments, and create new job opportunities for African youth.
The exhibition accompanying the forum witnessed the participation of representatives of more than 2,000 companies from 35 countries, as they signed tourism contracts and deals for the coming season and until the end of the year, worth hundreds of millions of dollars. In addition to the participation of representatives from about 40 international airlines representing about 20 countries around the world.
He said that many hotel operators and tourism companies from Europe and Africa have confirmed their participation in the next session of 2025, and he praised the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, the South Sinai Governorate, the Egyptian-African Businessmen Association, and the Rixos Egypt Hotels and Resorts Group in supporting and sponsoring the exhibition and forum.
The two-day conference succeeded in introducing international investors to investment opportunities in the tourism sector in Egypt and Africa, the investment incentives granted by the continent’s governments, and the plans of tourism ministries and agencies to attract investment, in addition to the competitive advantages of each country in terms of natural and historical attractions, available labor force, and an attractive and supportive environment for investment and tourism.
Mr. Selcuk said, “The tourism ministers from African countries stressed the importance of this event in developing the tourism sector in their countries, and the representatives of tourism bodies and institutions who participated in the exhibition said that they were happy with the results achieved.”
He added, “Hundreds of tourism bodies and institutions in Africa, including national tourism boards, regional bodies, international tourism organizations, and tourism and travel companies, were present at the exhibition from various parts of Africa and a number of European and Asian countries, offering their tourism services and products to visitors.”
African and international airlines participated in the exhibition, displaying their offers on flights to various tourist destinations in Africa.
The hotels and hospitality resorts that were present at the exhibition presented their offers on the accommodation and tourism services they provide. Transportation companies that provide services to tourists, such as car rental companies and bus companies, also participated in the exhibition.
Media from various parts of the world, television channels, satellite channels, newspapers, news agencies, news websites and specialized magazines participated in covering the forum and exhibition to cover the activities of the exhibition and highlight its importance in promoting tourism.
