WTTC Summit Brings International Tourism Leaders to Egypt

In Egypt from May 6th to 9th, 2026, a high-level meeting is held by the World Travel & Tourism Council under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly on an Abercrombie & Kent cruise, which will be crossing the Suez Canal. From around the globe, 300 tourism leaders have become part of the event.  

The theme of the high-end meeting was “Leadership Journey: Recovery, Transformation, and Future Horizons in Tourism,” addressed by the high-ranking officials like the minister of tourism and antiquities of Egypt, Mr. Sherif Fathy, and the chairman of WTTC, Mr. Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio. Alongside them, the major world tourism leaders, ministers, company executives, decision-makers, and public/private tourism sectors have shown their active participation.  

By hosting the world-level event, it has reinforced Egypt’s growing international position in the global tourism market. During the event, Egypt’s renowned infrastructure, ability to house major events, and connectivity have been highlighted by the officials. Also, it has brought light upon the growing tourism despite tensions in the Middle East, which also came to the knowledge of global leaders. 

The chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, Mr. Admiral Ossama Rabiee, announced on the 7th of May, 2026, that the canal has witnessed the transit of the cruise ship Crystal Serenity. With this, the ship that hosted the WTTC global leader journey has shown the vital role that the canal plays for global cruise liners organizing intercountry mega cruises. The event, themed “Leadership Journey: Recovery, Transformation, and Future Horizons in Tourism,” has successfully brought the world leader together with officials of public and private tourism sectors in Egypt. Also, the chairman of the Suez Canal Authority has expressed his gratitude and pride, which comes from choosing the Suez Canal as a key stop by the officials of the WTTC global leaders’ journey in Egypt.  

With that, he also added the selection of the Suez Canal for organizing the summit, which has emphasized the growing confidence in the canal’s overall ability to welcome a wider range of cruises. He also explained that SCA has recently introduced many new services to support the various needs of ships crossing the Canal. Additionally, as a supporting statement, he mentioned that all this is the result of ongoing waterway development projects and flexible marketing plans, which have been attracting more passenger cruising ships to Egypt. 

Admiral Ossama Rabiee has stated that the canal has recently made progress in improving tourism and maritime facilities; authorities here also want to strengthen the canal’s position as an important center for maritime tourism. Also, the yacht marina in Ismailia has been upgraded, and now it is Egypt’s first environment-friendly marina, especially for yacht tourism. He also mentioned that the Suez Canal area includes several historical places that are considered important tourist attractions in Egypt. 

Here the chairman of the WTTC, Mr. Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, has said that Egypt is one of the world’s leading tourism destinations because of its rich history, culture, and infrastructural attractions that are welcoming people. He warmly said people around the world want to visit Egypt once and also expressed being honored to meet Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and praised his future-focused thinking for the country. 

The chairman has said a lot about the achievements that Egypt has made, especially in the infrastructure sector in recent years. Mr. Lefebvre also shared his admiration for the Suez Canal and described it as an incredible engineering achievement. He added that the Suez Canal plays a very important role in global trade by connecting Europe and Asia through one of the world’s most important maritime routes. 

Master of the Crystal Serenity cruise ship, Mr. Captain Birger J. Vorland, has praised the efforts of the Suez Canal Authority in improving services for ships passing through the canal. Additionally, he spoke about the effort made by SCA to ensure that ships pass safely. Genuinely have appreciated the experienced pilots who guided the vessel during the transit. 

The captain of the ship also has canal development projects aimed at widening the waterway and increasing double-lane navigation areas. He mentioned that these improvements help make the movement of large ships faster, smoother, and safer. The chairman of SCA has appointed Mr. George Safwat, the official spokesperson of the authority, to speak during the summit sessions. Mr. Safwat presented the authority’s efforts in supporting tourism and welcomed the WTTC CEO during the event. Commemorative gifts were also presented as part of the official summit activities during the event. 

Conclusion  

These global events in the tourism sector in Egypt are contributing to enhancing the state’s position as the best destination to travel to and are also helping the tourism authorities in achieving their goal of attracting tourists in the millions. We’re a Nile cruise booking company in Egypt, so follow us for regular tourism updates and reach out to us for any inquiries related to Egypt river cruises. 

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