Egypt’s Ambitious Tourism Surge: Doubling Visitors by 2028
Egypt is setting its sights on a bold tourism initiative, with plans to double the number of visitors within the next five years. The ambitious goal, articulated by Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa in an interview with the Associated Press, aims for 30 million visitors by 2028. Issa highlighted the current surge in demand for travel to Egypt, with the country having already welcomed 10 million tourists in the initial eight months of 2023, putting it on track for a potential record of 15 million visitors for the entire year.
This resurgence is significant, considering the setbacks that Egypt’s tourism industry has faced in recent years. The popular uprising in 2011 and subsequent unrest, followed by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, had collectively dealt severe blows to the sector. Despite these challenges, Egypt is striving to reclaim its status as a premier tourist destination.
Tourism is a vital source of foreign currency for Egypt, with last year’s revenues reaching $10.7 billion, a notable increase from approximately $5 billion in 2021, according to Egypt’s central bank. The government’s comprehensive plan to achieve its tourism targets focuses on the “supply side,” as outlined by Issa. This involves a strategy to increase the number of hotel rooms and flight seats to Egypt by over 30 percent annually, along with fostering more private investment in the tourism sector.
Issa elaborated on the plan’s key components, emphasizing a focus on the “supply side” to accommodate the anticipated influx of tourists. The strategy includes a significant expansion of hotel rooms, with the goal of adding 25,000 to the existing capacity of about 210,000. This boost in accommodation aims to support the government’s target of attracting 18 million tourist visits by 2024, marking the most rapid growth in hotel room capacity in Egypt over the past two decades. As Egypt continues to enhance its infrastructure and tourism offerings, it seeks to position itself as a premier destination for global travelers in the coming years.