Egypt’s tourism sector generated $6.6 billion in revenue during the first half of this year, marking a 5% increase compared to the same period last year, according to a statement from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The ministry reported that Egypt welcomed 7.069 million tourists since January, showing a slight increase over the same period last year, which was described as a “record year with the highest level of activity in the history of Egyptian tourism.”
The statement also highlighted the positive impact on estimated tourism revenues, reaching $6.6 billion, up from $6.3 billion during the same period in 2023.
While the statement did not specify the nationalities of the tourists, it revealed that the number of “tourist nights” in the first half of this year exceeded previous records, surpassing 70 million nights compared to 67.6 million during the same period in 2023.
Tourism is a critical sector for Egypt, employing two million people and serving as a significant source of foreign currency, which the country currently faces a severe shortage of, exacerbating its economic crisis.
Egypt’s tourism industry has faced multiple challenges since early 2011, including the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which affected visitor numbers from both countries, traditionally major sources of tourists.
However, 2023 saw a notable recovery, with nearly 15 million tourists visiting Egypt, the “highest rate of inbound tourism activity in the history of Egyptian tourism,” according to the statement.
