World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched a special Leadership Cruise along the historic Suez Canal, bringing together more than 300 public and private sector leaders to discuss the future recovery and resilience of global travel and tourism.
The event is being held with support from the Government of Egypt and sponsored by organisations including the Antonio Lefebvre Foundation, Visit Egypt, Crystal Cruises, Coral Travel Group, and Abercrombie & Kent.
Gloria Guevara praised Egypt’s tourism recovery and highlighted the country’s strong growth under the leadership of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. According to WTTC data, Egypt’s tourism sector contributed USD 34.4 billion in 2025 and welcomed around 19 million international visitors.
Guevara described the Suez Canal as a fitting location for the gathering, given its global significance in trade and connectivity. She also acknowledged the role of Egypt’s tourism and economic development ministries in supporting the sector’s expansion.
Egypt has seen tourism revenues rise sharply from USD 4.9 billion in 2020/21 to over USD 18 billion in 2025. The country is now investing heavily in tourism infrastructure, including plans to double hotel room capacity from 240,000 rooms and expand aviation capacity across its 27 airports.
The country has also strengthened its cultural tourism appeal with the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, showcasing more than 100,000 artefacts. Egypt is also home to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites and over 200 museums and archaeological attractions.
Manfredi Lefebvre called the event a landmark moment for the tourism industry, noting that leaders aboard the Crystal Serenity are discussing strategies for future tourism growth and recovery.
According to WTTC’s latest figures, global travel and tourism contributed US$11.6 trillion to world GDP in 2025 and supported 366 million jobs worldwide.
