Statue of Ramses II greets visitors at the Grand Egyptian Museum’s Grand Hall. Photo: GEM official website
She described the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum as “a turning point” for Egypt in both tourism and culture.
Speaking to Al-Ahram on the sidelines of her participation in the 26th General Assembly of the organization, held for the first time in the Arab region, and the global Torais Tourism Forum in Saudi Arabia, Bayona emphasized Egypt’s prominent position on the world tourism map.
Bayona expressed her admiration for the official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, describing it as “a truly spectacular and grand celebration attended by heads of state, kings, senior officials, ministers, and distinguished global figures.”
She confirmed that she personally followed the ceremony and considered it a global cultural event that reinforces Egypt’s soft power.
She further highlighted the positive momentum surrounding Egypt, pointing to the election of former Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr Khaled El-Anany, as the new Director-General of UNESCO, noting: “This is not only a moment of pride for Egyptians, but also a meaningful development for the tourism and heritage sectors, as he comes from the same professional field.”
Bayona stressed that the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum represents more than a diplomatic showcase, adding that it will bolster Egypt’s global tourism appeal through diverse cultural and experiential pathways.
She also noted that international tourism is experiencing rapid growth and confirmed that Egypt is moving “confidently and positively” toward increasing its inbound tourism flows, supported by strategic projects and strong global visibility.
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