Wednesday 13/Aug/2025 – 10:09 AM
Sherif Fathi, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, continued, for the second consecutive day, his official meetings held during his current visit to the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, to hold a meeting with Stasa Kosarac, Deputy Prime Minister of Bosnian and Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and responsible for the tourism file, to discuss a number of important files that would serve the interests of the two countries at the tourist level.
Tourism: Signing a Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Field of Tourism with the Board of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The meeting was attended by Ambassador Walid Hajjaj, the Egyptian ambassador to Sarajevo, Engineer Ahmed Youssef, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Strategic departments and Acting CEO of the Egyptian General Authority for Tourism Activation, and Mr. Wael Shiha, Deputy Egyptian Ambassador in Sarayevo.
After the meeting, the two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding for joint cooperation in the field of tourism between the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to enhance the frameworks of joint cooperation in the tourism sector, where the two ministers valued the importance of the memorandum of understanding signed, which will be the beginning that would lead to the opening of wider horizons for cooperation between the two countries in the field of tourism.
For his part, Mr. Sherif Fathi expressed his appreciation for the warm reception that he has received since his arrival in Sarajevo, stressing the Egyptian state’s keenness to develop relations with the Bosnian side in various fields, especially in the field of tourism because of the importance it represents for the national economy, as it is the soft power that would support the bonds of cooperation and communication between countries, noting that there are many opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in this field.
He also pointed to the importance of communication and exchange of visions between the Egyptian and Bosnian sides at the governmental and private levels, pointing to the possibility of organizing introductory trips for representatives of the Bosnian and Egyptian tourism companies to introduce them to the products and tourism experiences in both countries, as well as organizing tourist convoys and workshops between the tourism sector in the two countries to advance inter -tourism and enhance cooperation in the field of tourism investment.
He also touched on the Ministry’s promotional strategy and the international campaign that it launched under the slogan “Egypt … an incredible diversity”, which highlights the unique tourism products that characterize Egypt, as well as relying on modern promotion tools, especially those that depend on artificial intelligence in support of international marketing campaigns for Egypt.
The Minister also talked about the positive performance of the tourism sector in Egypt during the year 2024, and the achievement of the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
For his part, the Bosnian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, responsible for the tourism file, pointed to the friendship between the two countries, pointing to his aspiration to develop relations between the two countries during the coming period and increase the movement of inter -tourism between Egypt, Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting that his country enjoyed many tourism capabilities.
He also pointed out that his country will participate in Expo 2027, which will be held in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, and that it will be an opportunity to promote Bosnian and Egyptian tourism, congratulating Mr. Sherif Fathi on agreement with the Serbian government to organize an interim exhibition for ancient Egyptian antiquities during the Expo period, stressing that it will be an important platform for tourism promotion to countries.
He also stressed the importance of the tourism sector for the Bosnian economy, pointing out that his country is currently working on developing this important sector. He also pointed out that Sarajevo hosts every year in August the Sarajevo Film Festival, inviting the minister to participate in the ministry in the festival next year, and Mr. Sharif Fathi welcomed this idea and the possibility of the ministry’s participation through the Egyptian General Authority for Tourism Activation in this festival.
The two ministers also discussed the possibility of cooperation in the field of training and benefiting from Egyptian expertise in the field of tourism and hotel, as Mr. Sherif Fathi stressed that the ministry pays great attention to developing the human element in the tourism sector, and that it works with the colleges of tourism and hotels in Egypt to develop education and training systems for students and unify concepts related to tourism work and link academic and theoretical education, training and practical experience.
For his part, Ambassador Walid Hajjaj pointed out that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding would give a strong boost to the existing cooperation between Egypt, Bosnia and Herzegovina and contribute to increasing the movement of inter -tourism between the two countries, pointing out that this movement also comes at a time when bilateral relations between the two countries are witnessing a great momentum and mutual interest in developing all frameworks of cooperation between them in various areas of common priority, especially in terms of economic relations and trade exchange And diplomatic consultations, and cooperation in the field of defense and cultural exchange, as well as the tourist field, which represents an essential pillar of relations between the two countries and their peoples.
At the end of the meeting, Mr. Sharif Fathi invited the Bosnian Minister to visit Egypt, who welcomed this generous invitation.
