Istanbul: Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy has inaugurated the Egyptian pavilion at the 29th edition of the East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Exhibition (EMITT 2026), taking place in Istanbul from February 5 to 7. In statements during the opening ceremony, Fathy emphasized the significance of Egypt's participation in the global event, calling it one of the world's leading tourism forums and a crucial meeting place for industry experts.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the expo provides an essential platform to engage with Turkish tour operators and airlines, aimed at boosting tourist arrivals from Turkey to Egypt. This comes on the back of a significant increase in tourist visits from Turkey to various Egyptian destinations during 2025 compared to the previous year.

The Egyptian pavilion spans 200 square meters, featuring 18 private exhibitors, which include 9 tourism companies, 9 hotel establishments, and national flag carriers, EgyptAir and Air Cairo. During a tour of the pavilion, Fathy discussed exhibitors' proposals for boosting tourist inflows to Egyptian destinations.

Egypt's Ambassador in Ankara, Wael Badawi, and Egypt's Istanbul Consul General, Hatim Elalfy, attended the opening ceremony alongside CEO of the Egyptian Tourism Authority, Ahmed Youssef, and several senior officials from the ministry.

EMITT attracts over 100 countries and approximately 600 exhibitors annually, drawing over 30,000 visitors. During his current visit to Turkey, the minister is expected to hold several high-level meetings with Turkish officials to explore bilateral tourism cooperation and conduct media interviews to highlight the latest developments and diverse attractions in Egypt.