Tunisia brings together Arab tourism giants... and Egypt presents a new vision to revitalize travel and Umrah

 Written by: Mohammed Omran

The Tunisian capital hosted the 25th edition of the Arab Tourism and Umrah Forum (IFT25), with wide participation from Arab tourism, aviation and hotel companies, in a move that reflects the growing interest in developing the religious tourism sector and strengthening cooperation between Arab countries, especially in light of the recovery that the sector is witnessing after years of challenges.

The forum, organized by the Arab International Company for Organizing Exhibitions and Conferences in cooperation with the Tunisian Federation of Travel and Tourism Agencies, witnessed the presence of more than 45 exhibitors representing Egyptian, Tunisian and Arab tourism companies, in addition to representatives of hotels and airlines, most notably EgyptAir.

The opening of the forum was attended by Tunisian Minister of Tourism Sofiane Tekaya, along with a number of senior Tunisian officials, while Egypt was represented by Ambassador Bassem Hassan, the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Tunisia, who reviewed during his speech the opportunities for cooperation between Cairo and Tunis in the tourism sector.

Ambassador Bassem Hassan confirmed that Egypt has taken several measures recently to facilitate travel, including expanding the issuance of visas at entry points for Tunisian citizens and tourist groups, which contributes to increasing the rates of tourist flow between the two countries.

A platform for partnerships and exchange of expertise

The forum provided an important opportunity for travel agencies, airlines and hotels to hold direct professional meetings, explore business cooperation opportunities, and review the latest services and technologies for organizing Umrah trips and religious tourism.

The participants also discussed ways to develop services provided to travelers, improve the experience of pilgrims, and keep pace with the digital transformation taking place in the tourism sector, especially in the areas of electronic booking, trip management, and smart services.

Religious tourism is a major driver of growth

The forum sessions focused on the future of religious tourism as one of the fastest growing sectors in the Arab region, in light of the increasing demand for Umrah trips and the expansion of investments in transportation, accommodation and tourism programs.

The participants stressed that cooperation between governments and the private sector is a key factor in improving the efficiency of services, developing infrastructure, and facilitating the movement of travelers between Arab countries.

Egypt strengthens its tourism presence

Egypt’s participation in the forum came as part of Cairo’s efforts to promote its tourism assets and enhance cooperation with Arab markets, as Egypt seeks to increase the number of tourists coming from Arab countries by providing visa facilities, improving air connectivity, and supporting partnerships between tourism companies.

The participation of EgyptAir and a number of Egyptian tourism companies also provided an opportunity to showcase the latest offers and services, and to explore mechanisms for cooperation with their counterparts in Tunisia and Arab countries, in order to support travel and tourism in the coming period.