Egypt welcomes 1st Chinese tourist group since COVID-19 outbreak

Egypt’s Cairo International Airport has received the first Chinese tourist group on Friday since the outbreak of COVID-19 three years ago, marking the resumption of Chinese tourism to Egypt, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities stated on Saturday.

During a welcoming ceremony, Egyptian vice Minister for Tourism and Antiquities Ghada Shalaby welcomed the Chinese tourists, expressing aspiration to see more Chinese tourist groups.

For her side, Chinese ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang thanked the Egyptian government for giving a warm welcome to the Chinese tourists and wished for an ever-lasting friendship between the two countries.

Egypt pays to the health and safety of tourists, Shalaby said all workers in all Egyptian hotels and tourist facilities have been vaccinated and trained on the highest health and safety standards.

Feng Jian, a tourist from the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, said it is his first time to travel abroad since the start of the pandemic.

Another tourist from Beijing, Fu Bo said “I always wanted to visit Egypt as I interested in Egyptian history and culture.”

Noteworthy, the number of weekly flights between Egypt and China will be increased to 13 starting March: seven to the southern city of Guangzhou, three to the eastern city of Hangzhou, and three to Beijing, said Yehia Zakaria, EgyptAir’s CEO.

Chinese tourist market is considered one of the most important markets exporting tourism to Egypt, Ashraf Hassan Aliwa, the owner of a tourism company said.