The Big Two have praised a “successful and progressive” meeting with the president of Egypt, which was held in a bid to boost tourism to the country three years after its revolution led to a slump in visitors.
Presisdent Abdel Fatah al-Sisi met yesterday with a number of senior figures from the UK travel industry, including Johan Lundgren and Tui Travel’s managing director of product and purchasing Garry Wilson. Thomas Cook managing director Salman Syed and group head of government affairs Anna Campopiano also joined the discussions.
The meeting centred on topics such as safety and security as well as how UK travel companies can work more closely with the Egyptian authorities to boost tourist numbers.
Speaking following the meeting, Lundgren said: “The stability in core tourism areas has helped improve confidence and the President has reassured us that he remains focused on supporting and prioritising safety and security.
“Consideration of Egypt as a destination for our customers is on the increase and we will be continuing to facilitate inbound growth and investment.”
He added: “It was a very successful and progressive meeting this morning and we have been asked personally to meet with the Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab in the coming weeks to discuss progress on these issues with a special focus on Tui Travel’s specific plans for investments and growth.”
Tui is set to double its capacity to Luxor next year, after becoming the first tour operator to return to Luxor earlier this year, with the introduction of flights from Manchester.
Meanwhile Cook’s managing director also seemed to be feeling positive following the “unique and historic meeting”.
Salman Syed said al-Sisi had “demonstrated [his] commitment to tourism and to harnessing government-wide efforts to accelerate economic growth.
“Thomas Cook welcomes the opportunity to work even more closely in partnership with the President and Mr Hisham Zaazou, the minister of tourism, as we continue to offer our customers safe, quality–assured and exclusive holidays in the region. We look forward to building on the positive discussions started today for the entire Thomas Cook Group in the future,” he added.
