The Med Pearls project organized a unique BRIDGE event that brought together the tourism and ICT sectors in Alexandria and Cairo (Egypt) from 10 to 12 November 2021.
The event was held at the Cairo- ICT Fair for the Middle East and Africa, which brought together key stakeholders from the international telecommunication, ICT, and media trade sectors from across the Mediterranean. The conference titled “ICT Powering Med” was addressed by H.E Ghada Shalaby, Vice Minister of Tourism and Ibrahim Laafia, Head of European Union Cooperation Delegation to Egypt.
Facilitated by Montserrat Penarroya, the conference tackled many topics, including “Slow Tourism and connecting with your destination”, presented by Moatez Sedky, General Manager of TRAVCO Holidays and Karim El Menabawi, President of EMECO Travel. Sofia Pla, the Catalan Tourist Board’s Med Pearls Project Manager, gave a presentation on the Med Pearls Project, followed by Dr Alaa Ezz’s presentation on the iHERITAGE project’s objectives and goals. Sessions on the Trends and Challenges for “ICT for Tourism” was presented by Dr Khaled Sherif, Assistant Minister of Digital Transformation, Ministry of Tourism, Prof. Dr Nashwa El-Sherif, Professor at Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, Helwan University. The conference also addressed Mediterranean ICT Start-Ups and MSMEs, Khaled Yehia, CEO of VIBES Apps, Silvia Casellas, a Communication consultant at ITERNATURA and Sahar Barqawi, Sawwah App from Jordan.
In Alexandria, follow-up match-making took place in the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce for the Mediterranean ICT and DMCs delegations to meet their Egyptian counterparts. The event was addressed by H.E. Mohamed El-Sayed Taher El-Sharif, the Governor of Alexandria. After which, project partners had the 3rd Steering Committee meeting in the Alexandria Chamber.
And finally, project partners and DMCs had the opportunity to discover Egypt’s pilot area: the Mariout lakes and adjacent monasteries. From boat rides to visiting monasteries to a Bedouin meal, partners and DMCs both got to experience the true essence of Slow Tourism and the hidden gems and potential of the Alexandria Pilot areas.
We are delighted to have finally met our partners again in person after nearly two years! We hope to see everyone again at the 2nd Bridge event in 2022, which will take place from late February to early March.
Website: Med Pearls | ENI CBC Med