During his recent visit to Egypt, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, indicated his intention to nominate Zahi Hawas as Egypt’s ambassador for tourism to the organization.

On hearing the news, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled Al-Anani expressed his happiness with the choice. The minister noted that Hawas is the best global ambassador Egypt has to promote the country’s tourism and antiquities.

For his part, Hawas described the choice as a great responsibility, especially at the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created exceptional times, and caused great suffering worldwide.

Hawas stressed the importance of presenting new and distinguished ways to promote Egyptian tourist destinations as a means of overcoming the current situation. The move aims to restore tourism to its previous highs, whether in Egypt or worldwide.

Pololikashvili held an official four-day visit to Egypt on 22 August, as his first official trip outside the European Union (EU) since the global pandemic has started in March.