7 million tourists visited Egypt during first half of 2023

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As many as 7 million tourists visited Egypt during the first half of this year, said Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa.

The minister made the remarks Monday while presiding over the permanent committee for licensing hotel and tourist establishments held at the premises of the tourism ministry in the New Administrative Capital.

During the meeting, the minister lauded the efforts exerted by the private sector and the constructive cooperation of the relevant bodies to attain Egypt’s goals for the tourism industry.

In April, Egypt received a record-breaking 1.35 million tourists.

Egypt received 11.7 million tourists in 2022, up from eight million in 2021, marking a 46.2 percent increase, Issa stated in March.

The country targets tourism investments of EGP 7.4 billion in FY2022/2023, compared to EGP 6.2 billion in FY2021/2022.

Egypt has been working to ensure the recovery of the tourism industry, one of the country’s leading economic sectors, after it was hit by the coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. The Russian and Ukrainian markets are among the largest markets for tourism to Egypt.

The government took numerous measures to stimulate the sector, including deciding in January to allow 180 nationalities to obtain tourist visas on arrival to Egypt while easing visa rules for visitors from China, Iran, India, Turkey, Morocco and Algeria to stimulate the tourism industry.

It also launched in September its first-ever online platform to regulate the entry of yacht trips into the country as part of a newly developed strategy to leverage the country’s unique strategic geographical location and long coastal lines.

Promoting tourism has gained further urgency in Egypt amid the global economic crisis, which has put pressure on the local currency and caused Egypt to face a shortage in foreign currency.

source: Ahram Online