Etisal organised its regular meeting within the framework of the Meet the Government series with Khaled Sharif — Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Digital Transformation. In a press statement issued by the organisation, Sherif stressed that the tourism and antiquities sector is a promising sector in light of the Egyptian state's interest in implementing the digital transformation system in projects related to this sector. He pointed out that Egypt expects during the next few years to double the number of tourists coming to it and work up to 30 million tourists, compared to 15 million tourists at the present time. Sherif added that the current digital revolution has prompted the ministry to adopt a new strategy. According to Sherif, the ministry's strategy is based on several axes, starting with improving the tourist experience, raising the efficiency of services provided to tourists and sector partners by automating services and improving service delivery time, and working to increase the competitiveness of Egypt as a tourist destination. He also said that the ministry has an estimated 30 digital transformation projects, including projects related to infrastructure, which include unifying the e-mail domain, increasing the internet speed in hotels, providing internet in archaeological sites and museums, and connecting internal offices. As for the second axis, it is based on moving to the New Administrative Capital (NAC) through several basic pillars that include activating digital transformation units and digitizing documents in their first and second stages. The third axis of the strategy is based on electronic systems and databases. This is done through the Central Information System project at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the project for automating ticket systems and gates in archaeological sites and museums, the centre system for tracking the movement of tourist vehicles, the electronic tickets and annual visit permits project, and the services system of the Supreme Council of Antiquities to the archaeological sites and museums, along with automating the services of the central management of tourism companies. Finally, the fourth axis is based on electronic portals and websites, and includes the official tourism portal in Egypt, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, the National Museum of Liberation, and the Promotional Portal. Sherif called on Egyptian companies and start-ups to submit projects in this regard to the ministry or through innovative new projects that may contribute to revitalising tourism and facilitating the movement of tourists in Egypt. For his part, Hossam Megahed — Chairperson of Etisal's Board of Directors — said that the meeting was interactive and that a dialogue took place on the role of Etisal in helping companies present their ideas and projects to the ministry.
