On Thursday, September 8, 2024, Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, conducted a press conference in which he announced that, for the first time, New Alamein City welcomed tourists from 104 different nationalities this year.
This international press conference was held in conjunction with a tour of the New Alamein Festival, attended by 13 foreign ambassadors and officials, as well as the Managing Director of the United Media Services Company. The purpose of the tour was to familiarize attendees with the festival's activities, which were also covered by representatives from 24 foreign media outlets.
The Alamein Festival is part of the United Media Services Company's strategy to initiate national projects aimed at showcasing the urban development occurring throughout the Northwest Coast region, particularly in New Alamein City. The festival also seeks to promote tourism in the city, highlighting its beautiful beaches and pleasant climate throughout most of the year, while also emphasizing investment opportunities in the Northwest Coast region and the importance of soft power in supporting the state's efforts to enhance various tourist destinations.
Minister Sherif Fathy noted that the airports of Borg El Arab, Marsa Matrouh, and Alamein have significantly improved access to various tourist locations.
During the press conference in New Alamein City, the Minister further stated that the United Media Services Company plays a crucial role in the promotion of Egyptian tourism.
Sherif Fathy expressed his gratitude to the United Media Services Company for the effective organization and management observed at the New Alamein Festival.
Sherif Fathy stated that, despite the challenges faced, tourism has made significant advancements, and Egypt has successfully identified solutions to its tourism-related issues.
He remarked, "The New Alamein City has rapidly evolved into a substantial tourist destination, and the Alamein Festival, supported by the United Company, has highlighted the city's potential."
He elaborated that the government's objective is to attract 30 million tourists. However, he noted that certain projections have not been realized due to the geopolitical climate and a slowdown in investments for hotel construction. He emphasized that the primary barrier to achieving the target of thirty million tourists is the need for additional hotel accommodations.
The Minister of Tourism added, "We have proposed two initiatives to the Cabinet and are fully prepared to collaborate with the private sector. We welcome any interested investors in Egypt, as our ultimate aim is to achieve mutual benefits from these investments."
He further explained that another aspect involves collaborating with the United Company to promote tourism through indirect marketing and social media engagement, rather than depending solely on traditional advertisements and films.
The United Media Services Company has introduced the U LIVE channel to showcase the activities of the second session of the El Alamein Festival. This new channel operates on a frequency of 11785 vertical and is designated as the United U LIVE channel. It will remain active until the conclusion of the El Alamein Festival at the end of August, consistently featuring the festival's key events.
The United Company has made a concerted effort to incorporate a diverse range of artistic, cultural, sports, and entertainment programs into the agenda of the second session of the New Alamein Festival, catering to the varied interests of visitors and appealing to tourists from different nationalities.
The Alamein Festival is set to host over 20 varied events, including theatrical performances produced by renowned producers and featuring prominent stars alongside emerging young artists.