Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, met with leading figures in the global yachting industry in Monaco, signalling a major push by Cairo to develop its luxury marine tourism sector as the country made its official debut at the prestigious Monaco Yacht Show. The event, which runs from 24 to 27 September, is considered the world's most important gathering for the yachting industry. Fathy's presence marks the first time the ministry has officially participated, a move he said was in line with directives from the Egyptian President to maximise the potential of yacht tourism. "Egypt, with its natural assets, unique coastal locations, and comprehensive services and advanced infrastructure, is capable of becoming one of the most important global destinations for yacht tourism," Fathy said at the opening of the Egyptian pavilion on Wednesday. The 48-square-metre pavilion was designed to showcase Egypt's diverse tourism identity and highlight the infrastructure that makes it an ideal destination for the growing sector. During his visit, Fathy held a series of high-level meetings aimed at fostering international partnerships and attracting investment. In a key discussion with Bernard d'Alessandri, Secretary General and Director of the Yacht Club de Monaco, and Jose Marco Casellini, Chairman of Monaco Marina Management, the minister emphasised Egypt's strategic location and its potential to become a major hub for the industry on both the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Proposals discussed included the establishment of yacht maintenance centres in Egypt in cooperation with local and international companies, a crucial service for the industry. Fathy highlighted new and developing tourism areas such as the North Coast and Ras El Hekma, noting their long tourist seasons and diverse offerings. The Galala region was also singled out for its potential as a yachting centre due to its prime location. Following the meeting, Fathy toured the historic Yacht Club de Monaco, which was founded last century and is one of the world's largest, with 2,500 members who own eight of the world's 12 largest superyachts. In a further drive to build connections, Fathy met with the heads of major international yachting agencies and associations, including Paschalis Patsiokas, CEO of BWA Yachting; Thierry Voisin, President of the European Committee for Professional Yachting (ECPY); Raphael Sauleau, President of the Worldwide Yachting Association (MYBA); and Christoph Bourllion, a representative of the Professional Yachting Association (PYA). Discussions focused on ways to develop Egypt's yacht tourism product and enhance its presence on the global map. The CEO of BWA Yachting praised Egypt's significant potential, calling it "the key to the development of the yachting industry in the entire region" and expressing the company's readiness to offer its expertise, particularly for the winter season. The head of MYBA noted that the Red Sea is an outstanding destination for yacht tourism in winter and discussed the possibility of operating charter yachts to Egypt. Fathy also used the platform to conduct interviews with international media outlets, including TV5 Monde and TV Monaco, highlighting Egypt's work to develop its yacht tourism sector and promoting the upcoming official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November.
