Haitham Arafa, Member of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Federation of Chambers of Tourism Companies and Travel Agencies, said that Egypt’s hosting of the 2027 annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) represents a new vote of confidence in the Egyptian tourism destination from major international tourism organizations.
In press statements, Arafa said the meeting, scheduled to take place in April 2027, represents an important opportunity to establish direct communication with leading US tour operators, travel companies and tourism decision-makers. He noted that the event could pave the way for new partnerships and contribute to increasing tourism programs to Egypt, particularly as the US market is considered one of the most important high-spending markets for the Egyptian tourism industry.
He explained that the presence of a large number of leading US tour operators in Egypt will provide an opportunity to explore first-hand the major developments witnessed by the Egyptian tourism sector and the wide range of products and experiences offered by the destination, including cultural, beach, Nile, luxury and emerging tourism experiences.
Arafa praised the efforts of Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, in supporting and strengthening relations with tour operators and professional partners in the US market and other international markets. He noted that the ministry’s international professional engagements and meetings contribute to opening new markets and strengthening Egypt’s position on the global tourism map, helping encourage major US companies to hold their annual meeting in Cairo.
He stressed the need to make greater use of the opportunities available in the US market, particularly amid strong competition among global tourism destinations to attract American travelers. He called for maximizing the benefits of the USTOA event by organizing intensive B2B meetings between US tour operators and Egyptian tourism companies and turning these meetings into concrete tourism programs and actual bookings.
Arafa pointed out that the recent increase in the number of American tourists visiting Egypt reflects significant growth opportunities in this market. He called for continued targeted promotional campaigns aimed at American travelers, with greater emphasis on highlighting the diverse tourism experiences Egypt can offer.
He also praised the efforts of Ahmed Youssef, CEO of the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, who prepared a professional promotional program for the USTOA delegation during its visit to Egypt. The program included visits to a number of Egyptian tourism and archaeological destinations, which Arafa said would have a positive impact in conveying an accurate picture of Egypt’s tourism offerings to US tour operators and encouraging them to expand their sales of Egyptian tourism programs in the coming period.
Arafa concluded that Egypt’s hosting of the USTOA meeting represents an important marketing and professional opportunity that should be built upon and transformed into concrete steps to increase the number of American tourists and strengthen cooperation between Egyptian and US tourism companies, supporting the state’s objectives of increasing inbound tourism to Egypt.
