To promote religious and medical tourism between Egypt and Jordan, His Grace Anba Ermia, General Bishop and Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center, signed a cooperation agreement with Dr. Hoda Yassa, President of the Arab Women Investors Union. The agreement aims to establish a religious pilgrimage route connecting Egypt and Jordan, thereby supporting sustainable development in both countries. The signing followed a seminar titled “The Role of Religious and Medical Tourism in Driving Sustainable Development,” organized by the Arab Women Investors Union on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
The agreement is part of the “For You, My Country, Our Arab Unity, and International Cooperation” initiative, which seeks to strengthen religious tourism links between Egypt and Jordan. Both countries share a rich history of cooperation across various sectors, and this initiative highlights their sacred sites, which are visited by pilgrims from around the world. The Holy Family’s journey is central to this collaboration, with Jordan’s route extending into Egypt. The project is titled “Following the Footsteps of the Holy Family in Egypt to the Baptism Site of Christ at the Jordan River.” With their significant tourism and archaeological assets, Egypt and Jordan are positioned as top tourist destinations in the Middle East and globally.
This effort aligns with the strategic plans of both Egypt and Jordan, as their political leaders are committed to enhancing relations and cooperation across various sectors, particularly tourism (tourism integration), to strengthen their historical ties and benefit both nations and their peoples.
His Grace Anba Ermia emphasized that the agreement includes encouraging pilgrim delegations to visit sites in Egypt where the Holy Family stayed and in Jordan to visit the Baptism Site, Mount Nebo, Mar Elias, Our Lady of the Mountain, and Machaerus Fortress. The agreement also involves raising awareness about the religious sites visited by the Holy Family and their significance to Christian pilgrim groups.
In his speech, His Grace Anba Ermia highlighted the importance of tourism in fostering sustainable development in Egypt. He spoke of how Jesus Christ, accompanied by the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, traveled across Egypt, from north to south and east to west, to escape the wrath of King Herod. The places they visited became sacred sites, such as the altar in the midst of Egypt, which became the famous Monastery of the Virgin Mary, known as “El-Muharraq” in Assiut. His Grace also noted that Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary hold a special place in the hearts of all Egyptians, both Muslims and Christians. He added that Egypt, a land of blessings, has always been a refuge for prophets, including Joseph, Jacob, and Abraham, and remains a sanctuary for all.
Regarding medical tourism in Egypt, His Grace Anbs Ermia mentioned that God has blessed Egypt with unique natural features that attract tourists. He noted that visitors to Old Cairo find mosques, temples, and churches coexisting, reflecting the unity of the Christian and Muslim communities.
Dr. Hoda Yassa, President of the Arab Women Investors Union, emphasized that the agreement is part of the “For You, My Country, Our Arab Unity, and International Cooperation” initiative launched by the Union, which has received support from numerous officials in Egypt and Jordan. The initiative aims to promote religious tourism, particularly Christian tourism, between Egypt and Jordan, which cooperate across various fields. The joint cooperation is promoted under the slogan “Come to Egypt, Follow the Footsteps of the Holy Family, and Journey with Moses to Mount Nebo and on to the Jordan River.”
Dr. Hoda Yassa also noted that the Union will promote the religious pilgrimage route between Egypt and Jordan through its offices spread across the Arab, African, and international regions, as well as through conferences, awareness seminars, and its official website.
At the end of the event, the Arab Women Investors Union honored His Grace Anba Ermia, General Bishop and Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center.
The event was attended by Dr. Osama Al-Azhari, Dr. Ayman Abu Amr, MP Dr. Talaat Abdel Qawi, President of the General Federation of Associations and NGOs, Major General Ahmed Abdullah, Advisor to the Union and former Governor of the Red Sea, members of the Senate and Parliament, representatives from African and international embassies, Dr. Mohamed Gad from the Ministry of Health, representatives from EgyptAir Holding Company and EgyptAir Airlines, members of the Arab Women Investors Union, the Businesswomen’s Association for Development, the Board of Trustees of Badr, Egyptian industrialists, and investors from 10th of Ramadan City.
