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Haitham Arafa: 5,274 employees received training in 2025... Investing in human capital is a priority for tourism companies
- Haitham Arafa, Head of the Training Committee and Member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Tourism Companies and Travel Agencies, affirmed that the Chamber continues to implement an integrated strategy aimed at developing and enhancing human resources in the tourism sector, stressing that investing in human capital represents a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development and strengthening the competitiveness of Egyptian tourism. Arafa said that during the period from May 2025 to April 2026, the Training Committee continued to implement its ambitious plan aimed at upgrading the skills of employees in tourism companies through specialized and diversified training programs that keep pace with the rapid developments in the tourism industry and the evolving demands of the labor market. He explained that the Chamber offers a portfolio of 22 training programs covering various disciplines and skills required in the sector, including digital marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), artificial intelligence in tourism, customer service, sales and negotiation skills, time management, decision-making, leadership and management skills, as well as specialized tourism courses. He pointed out that a total of 5,274 trainees benefited from the training programs organized by the Chamber via its training platform during the mentioned period, reflecting the strong demand for these programs and the confidence of companies in the services provided by the Chamber. He added that the Training Committee paid special attention to urgent sector needs, allocating a significant portion of the training plan to Umrah-related courses, in order to support the readiness of tourism companies and ensure compliance with the regulations governing this activity. Arafa also noted that the Committee worked to enhance professional knowledge exchange by hosting a group of experts and specialists in the tourism sector and organizing lectures and discussions addressing key industry challenges, providing opportunities for exchanging insights between professionals and decision-makers. He emphasized that the Chamber has expanded coordination with its branches across governorates, in cooperation with branch committee heads, to assess the actual training needs of tourism companies and design programs tailored to each region’s requirements and business nature. He further highlighted that the Chamber, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, has provided several international training scholarships and opportunities, including programs from the United Nations Academy in marketing and event management, the UN Tourism program in cooperation with Cornell University on Sustainable Destination Management, as well as Fulbright Foundation programs for study and research in the United States. He added that cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in e-learning resulted in training 158 participants through the Ministry’s online platform between May 2025 and March 2026. Arafa stressed the importance of linking education with the labor market, noting that the Chamber supports job fairs that bring together tourism and hospitality faculties with tourism companies, helping qualify young talents and integrate them into the labor market. He concluded by affirming that human capital development will remain a top priority for the Chamber in the coming phase, as it is one of the most important factors for improving tourism service quality and enhancing the sector’s competitiveness locally and internationally, in line with the State’s targets to increase inbound tourism to Egypt
