Egypt's choice

Egypt expects to attract 30 million international tourists by 2028.

According to Egyptian government statistics, in 2019, the tourism industry contributed $32 billion to the economy . After the Covid-19 pandemic, although the country's "smoke-free industry" has recovered significantly, it has not yet reached its peak levels. In 2022, tourism revenue only reached $22 billion, contributing 12% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). To boost tourism development, the Egyptian government has recently launched several measures aimed at achieving a growth rate of 25-30% annually.

In its national tourism development strategy, Egypt has emphasized improving accessibility to tourist destinations, increasing the number of flights to Egypt, stimulating and enhancing the investment environment, and improving the tourism experience at destinations.

In a notable move, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi approved Law No. 27 of 2023, concerning the establishment and management of tourism offices. This is considered one of the pillars of the national strategy for tourism development and a significant step in the roadmap to improve the investment environment and enhance the functions of tourism offices.

Furthermore, Egypt's Minister of Local Development, Hisham Amna, stated that the country is prioritizing the development of tourism sites and heritage to help achieve sustainable economic growth and improve the quality of life for its citizens. “Unprecedented challenges are threatening our tourism cities and heritage sites, such as climate change and rapid urbanization. Sustainable tourism development requires a balance between environmental, socio-economic, and cultural needs and concerns. Currently, the Egyptian government is allocating resources to develop the necessary infrastructure in cities with heritage sites and reviewing conservation planning to achieve sustainable tourism goals.”

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities encourages diversification of tourism programs to attract potential tourists through upgrading hotels, resorts, and environmentally friendly facilities. The country has created four ecotourism zones: coastal, desert, riverside, and wetland. According to Dr. Hesham El-Barmelgy, specializing in urban design and sustainable development, Egypt's tourism potential will be hampered without proper planning, marketing, and management. With its attractive natural resources and a long-term sustainable tourism strategy, Egypt's ecotourism industry could develop globally and lead other countries in the future.

Identifying human resource training as one of the top priorities for the tourism industry in the coming period, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is currently promoting the training and development of staff, with a focus on language proficiency and service skills for most recruitment drives in the hotel and tourism sector. Simultaneously, the Egyptian government is strengthening cooperation with the World Tourism Organization to modernize standards for the tourism industry. In the aviation sector, in addition to enhancing security measures at domestic tourist destinations, Egypt's local and international airports have demonstrated greater professionalism, creating opportunities for the tourism industry to flourish.

In the financial sector, the Central Bank of Egypt allows tourism companies to borrow at preferential interest rates, reduced by 8%, and to defer repayment when facing difficulties related to the decline in tourist numbers to Egypt. The Ministry of Finance has provided nearly $100 million in insurance credit to the CBE to be channeled to commercial banks to achieve the goal of lending at an interest rate of 5% for a period of 3 years, applicable to hotels and tourism businesses.

With its rich and diverse natural resources, history, and cultural heritage, Egypt hopes to enhance its competitiveness to attract the largest number of tourists from various markets and achieve its goal of welcoming 30 million international visitors by 2028.

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