Nîmes - Egyptian Vice Tourism Minister Ghada Shalaby said on Thursday that travel plays a big part in COP27 which will be held in Sharm El Sheikh next month, noting that Egypt is focusing on the hotel industry and transforming it into a sustainable industry along with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s vision towards “Go-Green” initiative.
The vice minister’s remarks came as she took part on Thursday in the “A World for Travel” forum held in Nîmes in the heart of the Occitane region of Southern France, bringing together more than 100 speakers, dignitaries, academicians, politicians, heads of global business and industries that touch the traveler.
Shalaby spoke about the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), to be held from November 6-18 in Sharm El Sheikh, in addition to the culture and history of Egypt and its tourism sector.
She said that she was happy to attend this forum and thanked the organizers, offering them wishes of continued success.
Shalaby added that COP27 is an event that will bring together more than 120 world leaders to talk about climate change, keeping our planet healthy and sustainable for generations to come.
She said that global warming is affecting sea levels and ski resorts, which will be demolished if no action is taken. “We have to move from promises and talks to actions and put together a plan,” Shalaby commented.
The United Nations has recognized Egypt’s commitment and actions throughout previous years, on behalf of the African continent, to the environment and climate action, putting Africa in general and the hotel industry on the map.
On rising to the sustainability challenge, the vice minister referred to Egypt’s accomplishments and projects in the tourism sector that have created job opportunities, in addition to other initiatives that are being carried out in Egypt to that end. She also pointed to a shift to focus on the local community as stakeholders in the tourism sector.
The vice minister also highlighted the top projects being carried out like the new administrative capital, Al Galala city and others including the “Haya Karima” (Decent Life) project which aims to alleviate the burden on citizens in the needy communities in the countryside, in addition to the comprehensive development of the needy in rural communities to eliminate multidimensional poverty and provide a dignified life and raising the social, economic and environmental levels of the targeted families.
