Egypt’s tourism sector is off to a promising start in 2024, with tourist arrivals witnessing a notable 6 percent year-on-year increase during the first 50 days of 2024. In a statement, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed Issa, revealed ambitious plans to further enhance the country’s position as a leading tourist destination, targeting significant growth in global tourism share and aiming to attract 30 million tourists by 2028.
This came during the minister’s participation in the 71st edition of the Africa Regional Conference and Exhibition of the Airports Council International (ACI).
Key statistics and targets
The minister revealed that Egypt aims to elevate its share of global tourism from 1.6 percent to 1.7 percent in 2028. This strategic goal aligns with the government’s vision to position Egypt as a premier tourist destination on the global stage. Additionally, the country is striving for an annual growth rate of 25 to 30 percent in inbound tourism, highlighting its commitment to fostering sustainable growth in the sector.
Issa also highlighted that reaching industry targets requires a three-fold increase in airline seats compared to 2021. Therefore, continuous work, coordination, and integration between the ministries of tourism and civil aviation are essential to achieve Egypt’s tourism goals.
Record-breaking tourism figures
Issa reviewed Egypt’s share of global tourism, which rose in 2023 to 1.2 percent. This represents a 33 percent growth compared to its share in 2019 of 0.9 percent. He stated that global tourism recorded over 1.4 billion tourists in 2019. This number is expected to increase to 1.7 to 1.8 billion by 2028.
Minister Issa also highlighted the record-breaking number of tourist arrivals Egypt recorded in 2023 which totaled 14.906 million tourists. Moreover, Egypt’s tourism sector recorded about 3.6 million tourists during the last quarter of 2023, a growth of 6 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.
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Pillar to the national economy
The tourism sector in Egypt is considered one of the main pillars of the national economy. Minister Issa highlighted the sector’s direct impact on enhancing growth rates of national income. Moreover, he stated that Egypt’s tourism sector is one of the main drivers of job opportunity growth in the country. Therefore, this milestone underscores the country’s appeal as a preferred destination for travelers worldwide and serves as a testament to Egypt’s efforts to revitalize its tourism industry and economy.
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