Egypt welcomed 15.78 million tourists last year, compared to approximately 14.9 million in 2023, marking a growth rate of 6 percent, achieving the highest level of tourist arrivals to the Egyptian destination ever.
Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, stated that Egypt received 8.7 million tourists in the first half of the current fiscal year (July – December 2024), indicating the possibility of reaching around 17 million tourists by the end of this fiscal year, assuming the average monthly arrivals remain at 1.4 million during the upcoming period.
The Minister added that several countries led the influx of tourists to Egypt, including Germany, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, both in 2024 and during the first half of the current fiscal year 2024-2025, according to a statement from the Egyptian Cabinet.
Read more: Egypt welcomes 27 percent more tourists in four months, says vice minister for tourism
He explained that the overall hotel occupancy rate in Egypt during December 2024 reached about 69 percent, an increase of approximately 25 percent compared to December 2023. The hotel occupancy rates in cities such as Sharm El Sheikh, Greater Cairo, South Sinai, and Hurghada exceeded 75 percent.
The Minister of Tourism further noted that there are many promising opportunities in hotel investment in Egypt, affirming that the Egyptian government offers various incentives and financing initiatives to support this sector, contributing to attracting more investments and stimulating the tourism sector in general, aiming to reach the goal of 30 million tourists annually.
Moreover, Fathy stated that the Egyptian tourist destination has not been affected by the geopolitical events in the region, which was reflected in the tourist influx to Egypt during 2024, with expectations of an increase in this influx compared to last year.
