Tourism Ministry: Local participation important to tourism development

Advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Training Affairs Soha Bahgat on Monday said that striking a balance between tourism development and preserving cultural identity represents a challenge that requires the involvement of the local communities in the process.

Bahgat was moderating a dialogue session titled “The role of community empowerment in sustainable tourism and cultural heritage,” that took place at the second edition of the International Spanish-Egyptian Congress for Tourism, Hospitality, and Heritage (ISECT).

The ISECT, held in Cairo, was organized by the Sinai High Institute for Tourism and Hotels in collaboration with Spain’s Complutense University of Madrid.

Empowering communities plays a crucial role in making tourism sustainable, as giving local residents a greater role creates more authentic experiences for visitors, supports local businesses and promotes responsible tourism practices, Bahgat added.

The second edition of the ISECT took place between February 4-6 in Cairo