Egypt’s tourism sector revenues saw a 5 percent increase to $6.6 billion in the first half of 2024 from $6.3 billion during the first half of 2023. The latest data from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reveals that Egypt welcomed 7.069 million tourists between January and June 2024, exceeding its previous record-high of 7.062 million during the same period last year. This represents a 0.1 percent increase compared to 2023 and a 2.4 percent increase from 2010.
The ministry also reveals that tourism revenues in Egypt recorded an 18 percent increase from $5.6 billion in 2010, which was a peak year for tourism in the country.
The rise in tourist arrivals boosted the number of nights tourists spent in Egypt, which reached 70.2 million during the first half of 2024, up from 67.6 million nights in 2023 and 65.7 million nights in 2010.
Propelling Egypt’s tourism strategy
This remarkable growth falls in line with Egypt’s National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism 2030, which aims to attract more tourists to the country and raise the numbers of both inbound airline seats and hotel rooms in Egypt. It also contributes to achieving the strategy’s goals which aim to boost visitor traffic to 30 million by 2028.
During the first four months of 2024 alone, Egypt’s tourism revenues hit $4.3 billion and the country received 4.6 million tourists.
In 2023, Egypt received a record-breaking number of tourists, reaching 14.906 million, which surpassed a previous record of 14.731 million tourists in 2010. Tourism revenues rose by 8 percent year-on-year to about $13.2 billion last year.
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Tourism investments
As Egypt recovers from local economic headwinds and regional tensions, it seeks to boost its tourism sector by attracting more investments.
During her participation at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, Dr. Ghada Shalaby, Egypt’s vice minister for tourism at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, expressed the government’s plans to attract more investments from the GCC to develop tourist destinations across the country.
Among the most notable projects Egypt approved since is the construction of an international tourist port in Ras El-Hekma. The project is designed to accommodate tourist cruises and yachts. Moreover, it is part of a broader initiative to transform Ras El-Hekma into a vibrant urban and tourism hub.
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