The Egyptian Cabinet has approved a decision to form a new ministerial group to consider tourism-related issues, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Anany said. El-Anany made his remarks during a meeting with a host of investors at a tourist resort in Hurghada, in the presence of Red Sea Governor Maj. Gen. Amr Hanafi. He said that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi instructed the government to provide all forms of support needed to promote the tourism industry and overcome the difficulties facing investors, highlighting the colossal importance of Hurghada for the sector's competitiveness. Meanwhile, Hanafi said that tourism activities are expected to witness a significant growth within the governorate. He also highlighted the sector's vital role in creating job opportunities for a large number of citizens, adding that efforts are underway to promote the tourism industry and attract more tourists to increase the state's foreign currency reserves. Egypt continues to push through with efforts to revamp a once ailing sector which suffered major hits due to political instability in the past years, including a Russian plane crash over Sinai, which killed all on board in late 2015. Flights to the popular Red Sea hub of Sharm El-Sheikh were grounded following the deadly crash pending improved security measures in the country's airports; however, a number of European countries, excluding Russia, announced the resumption of flights to the resort. Earlier this month, Sharm El-Sheikh received the first direct flight from the UK since 2015, two months after the British government lifted a ban on flights to the Red Sea resort town. Egypt aims to attract 12 million tourists in FY 2019/2020; an 11 percent rise from the FY 2018/2019, according to a government document seen by Reuters. Tourism revenues rose by 28.2 percent in FY 2018/2019, hitting $12.5 billion, up from $9.8 billion in FY 2017/2018.
