Tourism Minister Mounir Fakhri Abdel Nour officially declined on Saturday joining the new ministerial formation in the same post.

Abdel Nour expressed his wish not to stay in post even before the new prime minister was named.

In a statement to the Middle East News Agency (MENA), Abdel Nour said he was asked by officials to nominate others to be in charge of the Ministry of Tourism during the coming phase, adding that he has already nominated two substitutes.

Abdel Nour expressed his wishes for newly-appointed PM Hisham Kandil to be able to form a harmonious national government that can achieve success.

He also emphasized the need to focus on the tourism sector and provide it with all means of success so that it returns to its distinguished standards that place Egypt in its rightful position.

Tourism is the major engine for the success of the Egyptian economy for its role in providing national income and income of foreign currency.