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A Coptic bvsinessman encourages Egyptian tourism during time of Islamist presidency
July 26, 2012
By: Samir Mitri Gayed
CAIRO, Egypt (AWR) – Until I came to know the work of Cornelis Hulsman on the Holy Family tradition, I was hardly aware of the great importance of this tradition. With Hulsman I visited locations of the Holy Family in 2002 and 2003 and then started to develop thoughts about how this tradition could be used to stimulate the Egyptian economy through encouraging and developing a new type of tourism, namely religious tourism. Throughout the years I have met with other businessmen, researchers and several Ministers of Tourism and developed my thoughts as presented here.
Electro Mitry Co. has been operating for more than fifty years in the field of technology transfer in various areas including safety of marine navigation in Egyptian ports, peaceful application of atomic power and other projects related to the Egypt’s national security as the company acts as the commercial agent of many foreign companies. My interest in the Holy Family journey to Egypt was growing in spite of the fact that Electo Mitry is not operating in the field of tourism, doesn’t own any touristic properties, resorts or hotels and has never been a partner or investor in any tourism business.
Starting from this basis, I present the following memorandum, hoping that it may become the starting point for mega tourist projects.
When the Roman Pontiff John Paul II made a visit to Egypt in the year 2000, he made his famous statement “I am making a pilgrimage to Egypt”, referring to the advent of the Holy Family to Egypt. This was for me an encouragement to engage in efforts to encourage Christian tourism projects in Egypt. I have discussed with Egyptian Ministers of Tourism on promoting religious tourism starting from Dr. Mamdūh al-Biltājī, Eng. Ahmad al-Maghribī, Mr. Zohayr Jarānā, and finally Mr. Munīr Fakhrī 'Abd al-Nūr.
I published more than 20 articles in national newspapers and other media outlets about this subject, especially the potential hard-currency returns of a touristic product that has not yet been sufficiently launched and which can’t be out-competed by any other country.
The question now is can this project be realized today under the current presidency of President Muhammad Mursī?
I believe this to be possible on basis of the following facts...
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Samir Mitri Gayed is an accomplished Egyptian Coptic Orthodox businessman, founder and director of Electro Mitry Company, a company with the largest share in nuclear energy development in Egypt
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