.webp?language=en)
Date: 9 October 2026
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has presented H.E. Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt, with its Global Champion Award, recognising his leadership in advancing Egypt’s Travel & Tourism sector and his strong commitment to public-private collaboration.
The award was presented during WTTC’s 26th Global Summit in Valletta, bringing together more than 1,000 delegates, including over 200 of the world’s leading Travel & Tourism CEOs and government leaders.
The Global Champion Award recognises public leaders whose policies and initiatives have increased the growth, competitiveness and global visibility of Travel & Tourism, while championing collaboration between governments and industry.
Under Minister Fathy’s leadership, Egypt has continued to reinforce its position as one of the Middle East and Africa’s most dynamic tourism destinations, supported by a clear vision for growth, investment and international competitiveness.
A strong advocate of public-private partnership, Minister Fathy has consistently highlighted the importance of engaging the private sector in shaping the future of Travel & Tourism, recognising that sustainable growth and long-term success depend on close cooperation between government and industry.
Egypt has become an important example of Travel & Tourism resilience and investment-led growth. WTTC research shows the sector contributed US$34.4 billion to Egypt’s economy in 2025, while welcoming almost 19 million international visitors.
The country continues to invest significantly in tourism infrastructure, including expanding hotel capacity, strengthening aviation connectivity and enhancing visitor experiences. The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum has further reinforced Egypt’s appeal as one of the world’s most iconic tourism destinations.
As Egypt continues to pursue ambitious growth targets, collaboration between government and the private sector will remain critical to attracting investment, creating jobs, developing tourism products and enhancing the country's global competitiveness.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said: “Minister Fathy has demonstrated a strong commitment to public-private collaboration, recognising that the most successful tourism destinations are built through genuine partnership between governments and industry.”
“Egypt's tourism achievements reflect not only the country's extraordinary assets, but also a clear ambition to create an environment that supports investment, growth and innovation. Minister Fathy has been an important champion of dialogue with the private sector and of policies that help unlock the sector's enormous potential.
We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Minister Fathy and his team as Egypt continues to strengthen its position as one of the world's leading Travel & Tourism destinations.”
WTTC and the Egyptian Tourism Authority further strengthened their relationship in August 2026 when the organisation joined WTTC as a Destination Partner, reinforcing a shared commitment to sustainable tourism growth, investment and deeper engagement with the global private sector.
– ENDS –
For more information about WTTC, please visit wttc.org
For media enquiries, please contact Paul Charles / Philip Allport /
Rob Morris at The PC Agency via [email protected]
About the World Travel & Tourism Council
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is the global body representing the private sector of Travel & Tourism and the leading authority on the sector’s economic and social contribution worldwide. Its members include Chairmen, Presidents and CEOs of the world’s leading travel and tourism companies across hotels, airlines, airports, cruise lines, tour operators, technology platforms and destinations, spanning every major region globally.
WTTC works to advance sustainable growth across the Travel & Tourism sector by driving collaboration between industry leaders and governments, shaping global policy, and providing authoritative research on the sector’s economic impact worldwide.