Egypt’s Tourism Minister Discusses Ambitious Plans with Anex and Wizz Air

Tourism Minister during the meeting.

Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, recently met with Fazil Özmen, the Regional Operations Director of Anex Group, and Ian Molin, the Chief Commercial Officer of Wizz Air. The meetings also included high-ranking delegations from both companies and Dr. Ahmed Nabil, the minister’s aviation advisor.

These discussions are part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to boost tourism to Egypt and enhance collaboration with major global companies in the tourism and aviation sectors.

During the meetings, attendees explored ways to strengthen cooperation and expand both companies’ activities in the Egyptian market, aiming to attract more tourists to Egypt’s popular destinations amid a significant increase in international demand.

In his meeting with Anex Group, company representatives detailed their operations in Egypt, noting that they organize tourist programs from 12 different markets. They highlighted a growing demand from key markets including Russia, China, and Kazakhstan.

The group aims to increase tourist arrivals to Egypt through their services from approximately 6,000 to 8,000 tourists per month while also expanding their presence in Marsa Alam due to rising interest.

Additionally, Anex officials expressed interest in exploring hotel investment opportunities in Egypt by either developing new hotels or acquiring and upgrading existing ones in key destinations like Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, and Marsa Alam.

During the meeting with Wizz Air representatives, they presented their current operations and future plans. They emphasized their commitment to expanding within the Egyptian market and targeting an influx of around two million tourists by 2031.

The company reported a growth rate of 5% for the Winter 2026 season, reflecting increased demand for travel to Egypt through its airline routes.

Minister Fathy welcomed the proposals made during these discussions. He noted that Egypt is experiencing heightened interest from numerous international markets. The Ministry aims to enhance this interest by expanding cooperation with international partners capable of accessing new markets and increasing flows from existing ones. He pointed out that collaboration with airlines—especially low-cost carriers—is crucial for improving air connectivity and facilitating access to Egyptian tourist sites.

The Minister also expressed appreciation for international companies’ interest in investing in Egypt’s hospitality sector amidst promising market opportunities driven by growing demand for tourist destinations. He highlighted that the Ministry is particularly focused on developing promising tourist spots like Marsa Alam while enhancing their attractiveness and capacity to accommodate expected increases in tourism traffic.