TravTalk India Online Magazine
Egyptian Tourism Promotion Board is focused on the India market with more marketing campaigns and newer products, including the Grand Egyptian Museum to be opened later this year.
Hazel Jain
After experiencing a lull in Indian arrivals in 2019, the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Board is now tightening its belt and looking at aggressively promoting the destination in this market. Mohamed Medhat Aziz, Vice Director of Australia & Asia Markets Unit, Egyptian Tourism Promotion Board, who was in Mumbai recently, said, “We have increased our focus on the India market. We believe it is one of the most important markets for us. We are working on this and are planning to increase our campaigns and our advertising in India.”
Indians like cultural tourism, but we also have on offer diving, golfing and M!CE; we will also open Grand Egyptian Museum this year
Speaking about the new products that the tourism board will look to push here, he added, “We know that Indians like cultural tourism, but we also have on offer diving, golfing as well as M!CE. We will start to focus on these special interest groups in India. Our aim is also to tell the travel agents and tour operators here that the political situation in Egypt is now completely stable and a good indication of this is the huge amount of investments we see coming in. We will also open our Grand Egyptian Museum later this year.”
The much-anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is part of Egypt’s new masterplan. It is reported to cost US$ 1 billion and has managed to create global excitement. The massive museum is set to accommodate nearly 100,000 objects, including a large repertoire of around 5,000 belongings of King Tutankhamen – 2,000 of which are being showcased for the first time ever. Hotels around the museum, located near the Giza pyramids, are currently undergoing a comprehensive renovation process in preparation to accommodate waves of tourists coming to the museum. The GEM will also feature several entertainment hubs, including restaurants and theatres alongside the main hall, as well as a reception area for VIP visitors, conference hall, and a playground. “It is my first visit, but not my last. India feels just like home – the people are warm and always smiling,” Aziz added.
