Egypt reveals health tourism drive

The Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETA) has announced plans to drive more health tourism to the country.

And to kick start its campaign, Cairo will host an international conference on health and therapeutic tourism on December 11.

"Egypt is an ideal destination for visitors interested in health tourism due to the wealth of the country's natural resources," said ETA chairman Amr El Ezabi.

"This sector is very promising on all fronts for the visitors and investors alike with many opportunities and locations to explore."

El Ezabit said he was "optimistic" that the conference would be an "excellent platform for sharing experiences and an opportunity to pave the way for the rapid development of this sector in Egypt".

The conference will be attended by leading international experts who will share best practices from other countries in the field of health and therapeutic tourism. It will highlight the importance of this sector for Egypt's tourism industry and raise awareness among government officials, investors and key stakeholders on how to grow this newly emerging sector.

The development of Health Tourism in Egypt was initiated through cooperation between the Ministry of International Cooperation and The Office of the European Commissioner in Egypt who would extend technical assistance in support of establishing this sector in Egypt.

The ETA submitted its final strategy report containing a marketing and feasibility study with recommendations on how this sector can flourish and develop in Egypt.

The strategy, which was submitted by the ETA last November and highlights a 10-year plan with locations to be developed as part of this emerging sector, also includes a section on developing services and human resources, which is an overall priority for Egypt's tourism authorities.