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Boosting tourism in Egypt: Developing a more enhanced, local experience

Steps away from Bab Zuweila, one of the last-standing ancient gates to Historic Cairo, is a narrow alleyway lined with vibrant fabric and handmade artisanal items. Known as Sharia Khayamiya (Street of the Tentmakers), where one-of-a-kind handcrafts have been designed, made and sold since the 17th century, it is a living testament to Egypt’s rich cultural heritage.

The area’s name is taken from the Arabic word for the intricately appliquéd textiles used to decorate the interior of tents. Ayda Abdullah, who has a shop in the middle of Khayamiya, spends hours every day making pillows, mattresses, table runners and other specialty cloth items.

“People working in this ages-old market do everything by themselves, from designing a product to actually producing it,” Abdullah says. “Nothing is manufactured. Everything is handmade, which means more hours are put in to produce high-quality traditional products representative of Egypt’s historic culture.”

Abdullah has been running the shop on her own for the past 10 years, since the death of her husband. She supports her three children, and her livelihood depends entirely on tourism, which was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, she is struggling to promote her business.

“I realize I have a role to play in cultural tourism, but I am also aware of some impediments in pursuing that role, including marketing skills and platforms for exposure,” she says. “I cannot market my work and I am at the mercy of merchants. I also have a hard time purchasing raw materials as they are very expensive.”

Abdullah will be participating in a workshop, hosted by the Integrated Management of Cultural Tourism (IMCT) project, to hone her skills. Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and implemented by FHI 360, IMCT is endeavoring to create more authentic experiences for people traveling to Egypt while bolstering the country’s tourism industry and improving the quality of life for those living and working in Historic Cairo and Luxor Governorate.

Learning by doing is one way that tourists can make a deeper connection to Egypt’s history and culture. Photo credit: Motaz Bellah/FHI 360

FHI 360 is collaborating with the government of Egypt to improve the sustainability of the sector and forging public-private partnerships to help stimulate investment in cultural heritage sites and nearby businesses. But the communities around those sites — the voices of local shop owners and employees — are guiding the project’s work. In November 2021, FHI 360 held community engagement workshops, inviting local artisans, shop owners, employees and aspiring entrepreneurs to share their greatest challenges and goals around strengthening and growing their businesses.

Using the information gleaned at those sessions, FHI 360 will host trainings to help community members build their skills in areas considered most important for success — marketing, branding, product design, communications, storytelling and English. FHI 360 has also partnered with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to connect local business owners with microfinance institutions for the funding they need to develop high-quality products and expand their operations.

“I have great hope that through the project I will be able to have a sales outlet and great marketing skills to promote my work from my own stance, sell my products away from merchants and earn a decent living,” says Abdullah.

Community coordinators like Hayam Abdel Ma’soud ensure that the biggest needs and priorities of the communities are understood.

“Marketing is one of the major impediments that people here in Historic Cairo face,” says Ma’soud. “They do not really have their own sales outlets to market and sell their products. They are not even linked to expos to showcase their products. Many local artisans and business owners working in heritage and cultural tourism are deciding to move on from their current work, given the low levels of revenue.”

Five minutes down the street from Abdullah’s shop, Eid Saleh hand-knots carpets and rugs using the art of Egyptian and Iranian embroidery. Often he will sit for eight hours straight to produce a single knotted line. It is tedious work, and turning a profit is rarely guaranteed. Most of his creations are sold through merchants, who take a steep cut of his earnings.

“I need as many people as I can find to know me and realize the piece of work I’m producing,” he says. “I am very keen on attending the IMCT marketing and communications workshops. I believe these workshops will provide me with the perfect skill set to promote myself and my work and help me retain my workers in this valuable industry.”

Through IMCT, FHI 360 will support about 500 shop owners and employees like Saleh and Abdullah, helping them to reap the rewards of their unique crafts, engage with tourists and ensure the preservation of heritage sites for decades to come.

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A sustainable tourism model transforms economic development: the Egypt case study

Yomna Mohamed, Head of Experimentation

September 12, 2022

Egypt is a world-renowned touristic destination. Tell someone you are visiting Egypt, and the pictures immediately come into focus: the iconic pyramids of Giza, with the mysterious Sphinx standing guard; the beautiful beaches along the coast, warm and inviting; the vibrant and bustling bazaars, infused with the legacy of the pharaohs, teeming with the rich cultures of its people.

As the top destination for tourists visiting North Africa, how might Egypt evolve its tourism industry into a sustainable engine for economic development – particularly as the world emerges from the pandemic?  More fundamentally, might tourism sector provide an opportunity to rethink the development model capable of withstanding & thriving in the context of interlinked, largely unpredictable and fast-moving crises – from food security and changing climate, to rapid inflation, polarization, economic downturn & inequality?

This is the critical question facing UNDP Egypt, one of nine country offices selected by UNDP’s Strategic Innovation Unit to join the second cohort of Deep Demonstrations, an initiative financed by the Government of Denmark.

In this post, we detail the context for tourism in Egypt, consider emerging trends in the economic model, and share progress to date in shaping broader system transformation.

The Egyptian Context

Egypt is best characterized as a Low-Cost Mass Tourism Magnet. According to the IMF , the tourism industry employed 10 percent of the population and contributed to about 12 percent of GDP pre-pandemic. Egypt ranks first in Africa, fifth in MENA, and 51 st globally in the travel and tourism development index (TTDI). It is a top performer in the MENA region with regards to environmental sustainability (31), natural and cultural resources (33), and business and cultural travel (22). With over 100 million in population, Egypt is both a prime destination for nature-based activities and a home to rich cultural diversity.

While the pandemic has definitely been an accelerant, the combination of economic factors and new norms that underpin global tourism raise fundamental questions about long-term viability (see fig 1). Even as the global airline industry recovers from the pandemic, the costs of long-haul travel have become increasingly unaffordable – not only in the rising price of fuel but also in its contributions to climate change. The unexpected benefits of lockdown, improved environments and ecosystems, have countries questioning whether they want to return to the risky, crowded, over-reaching pre-pandemic world. And COVID-19 has magnified the vulnerability of local communities who already do not benefit from unsustainable tourism.

fig 1. Macro Trends, or the Opportunity Space for Change

This requires rethinking the model entirely. The circumstances call for collective effort that transforms the system to one based on sustainability, resilience, and putting local communities first.

Looking at the adjacent possible and entry points for unlocking systems transformation

In response, UNDP Egypt has embarked on a journey to rethink the tourism model and develop a portfolio of policy options on sustainable tourism that align with national priorities.

This approach relies not on a singular discrete intervention but a full system-wide transformation. The adaptive framework is designed to continuously learn from experience and detect new opportunities or needs in the system. A portfolio-based approach serves as a dynamic repository of strategic ideas that frame policy, an investment pipeline for funders, and a coordinating mechanism for relevant stakeholders.

In order to design this portfolio, it is necessary to start with strategic intent. This involves three specific actions –

1. Create a shared vision at the national level: 

This frames the possibilities for a transformative agenda and mobilizes stakeholders to build sustainable, innovative tourism in Egypt. A critical mindset shift is seeing investment in the population and nature as an investment in tourism, where tourism becomes an entry point for rethinking the country’s existing development paradigms.

2. Reimagine a tourism industry that benefits all: 

These include activities that strengthen climate resilience and deliver sustainable benefits to local communities at the forefront.

3. Expand the diversity of business models: 

By focusing on innovative and integrated experiences for tourists, Egypt can accelerate and drive sustainable growth in the industry.

Informed by this strategic intent, existing models, and portfolio ambitions, we have identified three main shifts to create in conjunction with our partners and stakeholders, showcased in fig 2.

fig 2. Three Shifts in the Model

As innovation advisors, we have learned to trust the process. Through this system transformation framework, two parallel but complementary pathways have emerged –

1. Continuously exploring and deeply learning the needs and opportunities in the system; and

2. Identifying key policy options that accelerate the investment pipeline

We are taking these shifts and translating them into specific and coherent offers to be pursued with partners. A sample of these is shown in fig 3.

fig 3. Three Shifts, in Practice

A system transformation is premised on collective action and stakeholder engagement around a coherent approach. In this deep demonstration on sustainable tourism, we embarked on a journey to learn about the problem space, design a portfolio of policy options, and activate a set of evidence-based interventions.

We have yet to determine where best to introduce this portfolio of interventions, but we invite all potential partners to learn alongside and act with us as we work together to make tourism a sustainable economic engine in Egypt.

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What reforms are supporting Egypt's tourism industry?

Egypt | Tourism

After years of recovery following the decrease in tourism that resulted from the 2011 revolution, Egypt is once again attracting international visitors, with annual growth for 2020 projected in double figures. Although the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic significantly impacted the global tourism industry throughout the first half of 2020, it is expected that the growth seen in Egypt’s tourism segment in recent years will likely resume in 2021.

Structure & Oversight

In 2019 the structure of Egypt’s tourism sector changed significantly when the Ministry of Tourism merged with the Ministry of Antiquities to become the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA). Khaled El Enany, who was at the time the minister of antiquities, was named minister of tourism and antiquities. Merging the two ministries was a move to further develop Egypt’s antiquities tourism, with the aim of shifting the country’s multifaceted travel industry away from the more traditional sun-and-sand offerings.

In November 2018 the MoTA launched the Tourism Reform Programme – known as E-TRP – which outlined a new tourism strategy. The programme covers a number of objectives, including hiring at least one member of every household directly or indirectly in the sector, and driving sustainable tourism forward. The reform presents a wide-reaching strategy with five pillars: institutional reform; legislative reform; promotion and marketing; infrastructure and tourism development; and global tourism trends. The programme aims to revise and improve the legal framework governing the industry, which has been in place since 1970. Administrative restructuring will improve bureaucracy in the system through modernisation and digitisation, supported by capacity building, which aims to enhance the skills of all those working within the sector. This includes greater access to vocational training and improving the English-language skills of those employed in hospitality.

Performance & Size

According to The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Egypt’s tourism industry has demonstrated rapid growth since the decline that followed the 2011 revolution. In 2019 travel and tourism contributed LE496.4bn ($30.6bn) to Egypt’s GDP, around 9.3% of the total, representing a 0.2% increase on the previous year.

In 2019 the tourism industry indirectly employed almost 2.5m people – representing 9.7% of total employment in the country, with the WTTC estimating that this figure would reach approximately 3.2m by 2029. Growth, however, will likely be somewhat more subdued than anticipated as a result of the Covid-19 virus and its effects on the sector.

Airports & Flight Routes

Since 2018 Egypt’s government has invested heavily in new international airports as part of its plan to reinvigorate tourism. In July 2019 construction began on Capital International Airport, 70 km east of Cairo, which will serve the new capital city starting in late 2020 or early 2021. This comes as part of ongoing infrastructure development efforts to alleviate pressure on Cairo International Airport. Further investment in the Sphinx International Airport – located close to the Great Pyramids, west of Cairo – will also commence new flight routes and support greater air traffic for those visiting the current capital.

In February 2020 EgyptAir announced the return of a connecting flight between Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada – resort cities – and Luxor, which is said to hold around one-third of the world’s antiquities. The new flight, set to run once per week, would link those leisure resorts with archaeological sites.

More flight routes are set to open as a result of the MoTA incentives programme, which was introduced as part of E-TRP. Working closely with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the MoTA programme – which runs between 2018 and 2020 – provides incentives based on different criteria. A number of requirements include non-discrimination between charter and regular aviation, and the distinction of governorates or destinations that receive high numbers of incoming tourists.

According to the MoTA, in October 2019 the programme resulted in around 22,300 flights, transporting some 3.6m tourists during the first 10 months of that year. A new aviation incentive unit, established by the MoTA to manage a digital database, will use results from this programme to inform future incentive strategies.

Source Markets

Most tourists travel to Egypt for leisure purposes – accounting for around 86% of total visitor spending – while business travel makes up the remaining 14%. According to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), in 2019 visitor numbers increased by 21% to 12.6m arrivals. This figure had been expected to reach approximately 15m in 2020, rising to heights last seen in 2010; however, global travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic are likely to affect this figure. Although the long-term effects of the virus on the sector remain unclear, it is expected that tourism will resume growth in 2021. According to the WTTC, in 2019 international visitor spending accounted for 59% of total tourist spending, with the domestic market contributing the remaining 45%.

According to the most recent “Egypt Tourism and Hospitality Market” report from Colliers, as of 2018 tourism to Cairo was driven largely by business travellers from within the region. Corporate visitors accounted for around 67% of hotel occupancy, followed by meetings, incentives, conventions and events (MICE) activities (20%) and leisure visitors (13%). Leisure travellers tend to stay closer to the pyramids, booking short stays in the capital on their way to other destinations within the country.

Security & Health

Following the dip in tourism after the 2011-13 political transition, Egypt experienced a drop off in tourist activity. Despite relative political stability, a somewhat negative international public perception of security kept tourists away. The bombing of two tourist buses – one in December 2018, which killed two people, the other in May 2019, injuring 16 – damaged Egypt’s public image. In addition, travel warnings regarding access to specific regions made many tourists uncertain of which areas were safe to visit. However, significant government efforts to improve security and the public perception of Egypt as safe to visit have resulted in tourism numbers gradually increasing, returning to levels last seen prior to 2011.

To enter any of Cairo’s famous museums or to gain access to the pyramids, visitors must currently undergo an identification check and metal detector scan. Similar schemes have been established following terror attacks in major European cities, such as bag checks in museums in both London and Paris. Additionally, the police are more strictly enforcing an existing rule that requires tour operators to maintain and submit their tour group itineraries.

Officials are also looking to address health concerns in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. In mid-June 2020 hotels were mandated to adhere to guidelines established by the Chamber of Hotel Establishments, including operating at 25% capacity and other preventative measures. Hotels must also follow government regulations, as well as guidelines from the World Health Organisation.

Arrival Markets

Tourism to Egypt is led by Germany, which made up 15% of total visitors in 2019, followed by Saudi Arabia with 8%, and Sudan, the UK and Libya, each with 4%. According to data published ahead of the 2019 Arabian Travel Market (ATM), an annual travel and tourism exhibition held in Dubai, the number of European tourists to Egypt is forecast to rise from 6.2m in 2018 to around 9.1m in 2022. Tourism from Russia and the UK experienced a dip following an attack on a Russian plane in October 2015. The incident resulted in a two-year travel ban from both countries; however, direct routes to Sharm El Sheikh were reopened in 2019 following Egyptian investment of nearly £20m to improve security, and tourism levels have returned to normal.

New airport safety measures include the construction of a six-metre-high wall separating Sharm El Sheikh from the rest of the Sinai Peninsula. To encourage visitors to return to the region, the government has introduced a number of additional security measures at the airport. The first passport check occurs at the motorway exit to the airport, while inside the airport, there are new swab tests, as well as photograph and fingerprint processes.

Efforts to improve security have been made in other airports. Egypt invested LE60m ($3.7m) in a new security scanning system at Marsa Alam International Airport, which includes computed tomography – or CT – scans, set to be completed by the end of 2020. A similar device was installed in Terminal 2 of the Hurghada International Airport in 2018.

Travel from the Middle East rose substantially between 2015 and 2020, with Saudi Arabia accounting for 6% of all visitor arrivals in 2018 and 8% in 2019. Tourist arrivals from the Middle East are expected to grow from 1.5m in 2018 to 2.2m in 2022 – an increase of around 50%. The MoTA has increasingly focused new promotion strategies on emerging tourist markets in recent years. Subsequently, a video from Egypt’s People To People campaign was awarded the best promotional film award in the Middle East by the UNWTO in September 2019.

A number of sector representatives, including the Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETA) and the Egyptian Hotel Association, were scheduled to attend the ATM in April 2020, but the event was moved to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Egypt’s attendance is intended to further promote the sector within the Middle East and on the international stage.

In addition to marketing campaigns targeted at the Middle East, the MoTA is also focusing promotional activity towards Eastern Europe and new markets in Central and South Asia. Following the temporary decline in tourism from the UK and Russia, the MoTA turned its attention to alternative markets. Japan, China and Vietnam are some of Egypt’s most promising tourist markets, with around 670,000 tourists from Asia visiting Egypt in 2018, the most recent year for which this information is available. In 2017 Japan reopened its direct flight between Tokyo and Cairo, following a four-year hiatus due to low demand. The MoTA is aiming to increase the total visitors from Japan to around 130,000 annually, following a 38.2% increase in visitors between January and September 2019.

Hotel Infrastructure

Travel agencies have flourished due to the increase in tourism over recent years, with many making group bookings in hotels and helping to drive occupancies rates up. Greater demand from travel agencies across the country reflects the growth in the business and leisure tourism, as private investors signal plans for widespread development. As part of its 2018 E-TRP strategy, the MoTA is aiming to increase the total number of hotel rooms from 89,993 in 2018 to 238,114 rooms by 2030.

Hotel occupancy rates increased in 2019, with average revenue per available room (RevPAR) growth of 20% compared to 2018. In the first 10 months of 2019 Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Alexandria experienced RevPAR growth of 12%. In 2019 the occupancy rate in Cairo was 75%, up from around 70% in 2018. This trend was expected to continue with estimated occupancy rates of 81% in Cairo, 84% in Alexandria, 64% in Sharm El Sheikh and 70% in Hurghada in 2020; however, the outbreak of Covid-19 in the first half of the year has led to a considerable drop in overall rates. In January and February 2020 Cairo’s average daily room rate and RevPAR were $92 and $71, respectively, before dropping significantly in March.

In a move to significantly boost hotel offerings, the Egyptian Hotel Association (EHA) announced planned infrastructure investments of $800m for 2020. In November 2019 Maged Fawzy, chairman of the EHA, told local media that around 100,000 rooms were under construction and 8000 of these were expected to be completed in 2020, but as of June 2020 this had been delayed until at least 2021.

In 2018 E-TRP introduced new norms for hotel classification, with the aim of ensuring that national hotel classification criteria meet international standards. The EHA has overseen this process by contracting independent standards agencies to carry out comprehensive reviews across the sector.

New Projects

Meanwhile, a number of international hotel giants have announced new projects across Egypt, focusing on Cairo and the surrounding area. In February 2020 Saudi Arabia’s Hospitality Development Group announced its intention to build eight hotels over two years, at an investment cost of about $450m. The new hotels are set to be located in Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Marsa Alam, Luxor and Aswan. In 2018 the Marriott International and Hilton hotel groups announced several multimillion-dollar projects across Egypt, which are slated for completion by 2023.

Niche Markets

Millions of visitors flock to Egypt every year, not only for its sun-and-sea tourism, but also for its rich cultural heritage and wide array of historical sites. Beyond Cairo and the famous Great Pyramids, Luxor is attracting large numbers of tourists with its expansive range of archaeological offerings and popular hot air balloons. According to Tharwat Agamy, chairman of Luxor’s Tourism Companies Chamber, in 2019 land hotel occupation in the city increased by 90% and floating hotel occupation increased by 100%.

Egypt held its first niche tourism forum in 2013, with representatives from National Geographic’s Centre for Sustainable Development and over 100 dignitaries in attendance to discuss and plan the development of the country’s promising niche travel sector. The country has since highlighted the growing potential for ecotourism, with Egypt’s Tourism Development Authority emphasising the potential development of four specific ecotourism zones: coastal, desert, riverbanks and wetland.

Although ecotourism is developing somewhat more slowly than other areas of the industry, the Egyptian government has already established 21 protected areas in response to pressure by foreign donors. The EU and other institutions have funded environmental protection projects including a number of resort destinations in national schemes.

Religious tourism is another of Egypt’s niche segments. Egypt is home to a large number of historic temples, synagogues, churches and mosques. In 2018 the country was an official Roman Catholic Church pilgrimage destination, and it is hoped that this will result in greater numbers of Catholic pilgrims in the years to come.

Between 2018 and 2020 the MoTA invested LE65m ($4m) in the renovation of the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue, the oldest and largest synagogue in Alexandria. It was inaugurated on January 10, 2020 and is expected to entice greater tourism in the coming years. The renovation of the synagogue, which had fallen into disrepair, demonstrates the Egyptian government’s ongoing commitment to repairing and restoring buildings of historical importance.

As part of the MoTA strategy to diversify tourist source markets, the ETA is also working to promote sports events and spaces. The Mena House Oberoi Golf Club, located close to the Great Pyramids, has welcomed golfers since the late 1800s. There are now 20 luxury golf courses to be found across Egypt, many of which have hosted large international golf tournaments. Since 2015 the country has hosted a number of gold tours as part of an initiative between the ETA and the Egyptian Golf Federation. Thanks to its warm winters and substantial investment in practice facilities, Egypt is now able to host major golfing events, attracting both amateurs and pros.

The modernisation of marketing is a key goal under E-TRP. Pillar three of the reform, promotion and marketing, provides several objectives to improve the current tourism marketing strategy. The pillar contains three broad goals: to establish international marketing and promotion partnerships; to adopt modern, digital and competitive promotion approaches; and to diversify revenue streams and increase the sector’s resilience by tapping new international source markets.

To establish an effective marketing campaign, the MoTA intends to brand by individual destination, creating identities for each of Egypt’s different tourist centres. In addition, all marketing materials will be promoted via both traditional and digital media. The country has already demonstrated considerable innovation by establishing the first specialised tourism Instagram TV – better known as IGTV – channel in the MENA region. As part of tourist market diversification, the MoTA is aiming a new winter tourism campaign at India, China and Latin American countries. Another strategy is set to focus on the Gulf, to be carried out at the ATM in 2021.

The ETA website informs visitors about all of Egypt’s major attractions and tourist destinations. The site includes an interactive map displaying what each tourist area has to offer, general tourism information, as well as a link to download the ETA app. The ETA has also introduced the #ThisIsEgypt hashtag in order to encourage travellers to share their visits and discover other experiences.

In 2019 the MoTA announced that progress had been made on its tourism promotion campaign through partnerships with international marketing and media companies including New York-based creative agency Beautiful Destinations, US news network CNN, China’s travel site Ctrip, US-based Discovery Channel, online hotel-booking site Expedia and the UK’s digital marketing company Isobar.

The MoTA hopes to attract larger numbers of international visitors with the opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). The long-awaited GEM was originally slated to open in late 2020, but has been delayed until 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Through close collaboration and promotion of the #GEM2020 hashtag, the MoTA aims to establish Egypt as a prime destination for tourism.

The $1bn GEM will have a direct view of the Grand Pyramids, and is set to be the largest museum in the world with a focus on civilisations. Its exhibition of over 100,000 artefacts will include a Tutankhamen collection and several objects that have not been shown to the public since their discovery in 1922. In addition, the $17m Sphinx International Airport is expected to be fully operational for the launch of the GEM, alleviating pressure on Cairo International Airport. “The Giza Plateau is like Stratford in London,” Ibrahim El Missiri, CEO of Abu Soma Development, told OBG. “Following the 2012 Olympics, the area has been changed significantly due to massive investment. We plan the same for Giza.”

Although the spread of the Covid-19 virus in the first half of 2020 significantly impacted tourism worldwide, Egypt’s push to develop its tourism reform alongside infrastructure investment and global promotional activities looks set to lead the industry to success in the longer term.

The move to establish the country as a world leader in antiquities tourism, and further development of its traditional sun-and-sea offerings, has reinvigorated Egypt’s tourism industry. A number of new flight routes and increased airport capacity will provide international visitors greater access to the country’s many attractions in the years to come.

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How Egypt is trying to encourage the return of tourism

Oct 5, 2020 • 2 min read

Egypt tries new ways to attract tourists © Dale Johnson/500px

The year 2020 was set to be a blockbuster one for tourism in Egypt. The Grand Egyptian Museum was slated to open this year after nearly two decades in the making, prompting Lonely Planet to name Cairo one of the top cities to visit in 2020 . It’s easier than ever to travel around the country, with the recent introduction of e-visas , the opening of a new airport in Giza and new domestic flight routes between Sharm El Sheikh and Luxor , two of the country’s main tourist hubs.

But even as the coronavirus pandemic continues to stifle international travel, Egypt is trying new tactics to lure visitors to the country. In June, the government eliminated the need for tourist visas for visitors to the country’s ‘touristic governorates’ – South Sinai , Red Sea , Luxor and Aswan – and the country’s cabinet has just decided to extend the incentive until the end of April 2021 to encompass the winter season, which is usually when Egypt receives the highest number of visitors. Travelers who fly with EgyptAir or Air Cairo also get a 20% discount on tickets to museums and archaeological sites.

The country reopened to tourists in July , and it’s yet to be seen whether these offers will entice more visitors. When arriving in Egypt, all passengers are required to present a negative PCR test certificate, with the test conducted no more than 72 hours before departure.

Egypt had expected to receive some 15 million tourists in 2020, matching the number of visitors in 2010, a year before the Arab Spring revolutions brought turmoil and uncertainty to the region, but as with all other countries, the numbers will fall far below the target. Tourism is an important industry in the country and makes up more than 10% of Egypt’s economy.

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National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism 2030

The strategy aims to increase tourism traffic to 30 million tourists by 2028, by working to achieve incoming tourist traffic rates to the Egyptian tourist destination by about 25% and 30% annually, within the framework of Egypt's vision for sustainable development 2030.

The strategy is based on 6 axes:

The first axis: institutional and legislative reform:

In this aspect, a number of laws and legislative procedures related to the tourism and antiquities sector have already been completed and amended, including the amendment of the Antiquities Protection Law to increase the penalty for theft and smuggling of antiquities, and the fight against stowaways, climbing antiquities, and others, in addition to issuing laws establishing two economic bodies, namely the Grand Egyptian Museum Authority in 2020, and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization Authority in 2021, in addition to the House of Representatives' approval of the Tourism and Antiquities Support Fund Law to maximize the Fund's income, and the Hotel and Tourism Establishments Law to facilitate the Investors to terminate licenses, which have not been amended since the seventies of the last century, and the laws regulating Hajj and Umrah and the establishment of two gates with two laws for Umrah and Hajj .

The second axis: raising the competitiveness of the Egyptian tourist destination:  

In this axis, work is  done to optimize the exploitation of the state's tourism, natural, human and archaeological resources and work to ensure their sustainability, and provide a distinguished and advanced infrastructure and service to increase the competitiveness of Egypt, by encouraging investment opportunities, raising the efficiency of the human element and using modern technology methods, through institutional and legislative frameworks to keep pace with global development, with the application of the best ways to promote and activate tourism locally and internationally to attract the largest number of tourists from various markets and all categories, especially those with high spending,  Encouraging domestic tourism, increasing tourism and archaeological awareness, carrying out archaeological excavations, implementing projects to secure, restore and maintain antiquities, building and developing museums throughout the Republic.

The third axis: economic objectives related to (increasing the number of tourists - increasing the number of tourist nights - tourism spending rates - and targeting segments with higher spending of tourists):

The strategy aims to show the Egyptian tourist destination as a vibrant young destination, in addition to shedding light on the tourist elements of the Egyptian tourist destination and its various patterns and products, in addition to launching a number of electronic promotional campaigns on various social media platforms in a number of major tourist markets exporting tourism to Egypt, and organizing major celebrations of historical events and others such as the procession of royal mummies and Luxor Rams Road and their great impact in promoting Egyptian tourism and creating more The passion of the peoples of the world to visit Egypt and see the ancient Egyptian antiquities, in addition to that it contributed to raising the tourist and archaeological awareness among the masses of the Egyptian people, and many bloggers and influencers on social networking sites from different countries of the world who enjoy a high follow-up rate were hosted to visit and promote the Egyptian tourist destination, in addition to organizing visits to a number of ambassadors of the countries of the world to attend a number of events organized by the ministry, who also contributed to promoting the Egyptian destination, where ambassadors The European Union countries in Cairo published more than 20 short films to promote Egyptian tourist and archaeological sites on their social networking sites and their embassies.

Fourth Theme: Enhancing Social Participation and Raising the Efficiency of Human Resources:

In this aspect, work has been done to provide an accurate database on employment in the tourism sector, in addition to the inventory of official establishments operating in the sector and the data of official workers, improving the process of harmonizing supply and demand for labor, providing the required labor for the owners of tourist establishments, reducing unemployment rates in the tourism sector, and raising the competitiveness of the tourism labor market in Egypt, in order to facilitate work in this sector, attract foreign investments, and provide information to investors.

Fifth Theme: Working to maximize the use of technological means.

Sixth Theme: Maintaining the environmental balance and sustaining tourism and archaeological activity:

It is concerned with maintaining the environmental balance and the sustainability of tourism and archaeological activity, and the state has made efforts in this aspect to transform the Egyptian tourism sector into an environmentally friendly sector, which comes in line with the objectives of the ministry's sustainable development strategy and Egypt's vision 2030 to maintain the environmental balance and the sustainability of tourism and archaeological activity, stressing that these efforts do not coincide only with the special preparations for Egypt's hosting of the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP27).But to transform the tourism sector into a sector that applies all the requirements of environmentally friendly green practices in accordance with the concept of sustainable tourism, pointing to the  ECO Egypt campaign, which was launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment to promote ecotourism locally and internationally, pointing to the ministry's keenness to support responsible and sustainable ecotourism, which aims to preserve the environment for green transformation.

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Tourism in Egypt..Positive Indicators and Constructive Proposals to Strengthen the Sector

Tourism is one of the most important sectors of the global economy, as it is a major source of income, foreign currency revenues, tax revenues, and employment, especially since a tenth of the world’s population works in it, and hundreds of millions of others earn from it, and it accounts for about 7% of international trade, and 28% of international service exports. In addition, it represents nearly 20% of the gross domestic product of some countries.

Number of tourists increased in the first quarter of 2023 by 86% compared to the same period last year, and reached 80% of pre-pandemic levels, and the Middle East region witnessed the strongest performance in the first quarter of 2023 as the only region that exceeded the levels of 2023. 2019 by 15%, according to a report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Egypt is one of the most important destinations attracting tourism in the world due to its rich and diverse natural resources and tourist, archaeological and human potentials, in addition to its unique cultural heritage, which enables it to maximize its revenues from the tourism sector, especially as it contributes about 11.3% of the total national income, and provides About 13% of the total foreign exchange, and about 12.6% of the total strength of the Egyptian labor market.

The Strategic Forum for Public Policies and Development Studies “Derayah” presents a research paper that illustrates the economic importance of the tourism sector in Egypt, sheds light on the reality of the sector through multiple performance indicators, and monitors the state’s efforts to develop and enhance the sector, and finally recommends many proposals that would support the tourism sector This research paper reached a set of results, including:

-The tourism sector is the third largest source of foreign income after exports and remittances of Egyptians working abroad, with a percentage of about 13%. -The tourism sector contributes to the country’s gross domestic product, by about 91.4 billion pounds during the year 2021/2022, with a growth rate of 31.5%. compared to the previous year, which amounted to 69.5 billion pounds.

-Tourism revenues increased by an average of 25.7% to record about 7.3 billion dollars (compared to about 5.8 billion dollars), which contributed to the reduction of the current account deficit.

-The net inflows of foreign direct investments in the tourism sector during the second quarter of 2023/2022 amounted to about 98 million dollars, compared to 60.1 million in the first quarter of 2023/2022, and 29.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2022/2021.

-Egypt received 7 million tourists during the first five months of 2023, including 1.35 million tourists during April, the highest level recorded by Egypt during one month in its history.

-Revenues of the tourism sector during the fiscal year 2021/2022 amounted to about 10.7 billion dollars, compared to 4.9 billion dollars in 2020/2021, an increase of 121.1%. -The tourism is characterized as a labor-intensive sector, with 3 million people working in professions directly and indirectly related to tourism, representing about 12.6% of the total labor force in Egypt.

First: The importance of tourism contributions in Egyptian economy

Many experts and researchers attribute the economic importance of the tourism sector to a variety of reasons and justifications, which can be explained as follows:

-Tourism is a dynamic sector characterized by high growth rates and its large sectoral contribution to GDP growth. It is one of the main sources of foreign exchange in Egypt.

-It is characterized by the expansion of its labor capacity, as its hotel and tourism facilities provide many job opportunities, especially for the youth crowd.

-The development of the tourism sector and the subsequent establishment of new communities in desert and rural areas contribute to the redistribution and migration of the population, and pushes the wheel of Social Development.

Tourism has become one of the pillars of the Egyptian economy, due to its contribution to several economic aspects, the most important of which are:

-It is one of the most important foreign exchange inputs to the national economy, at a rate of about 13%.

According to official data, the tourism sector is the third largest source of foreign income for the country after exports and remittances of Egyptians working abroad, followed by revenues from the Suez Canal and foreign direct investment.

2- The tourism sector occupies an advanced position among the economic activities, in terms of its contribution to the country’s gross domestic product.

The gross domestic product of this sector increased at current prices during the year 2021/2022 to about 91.4 billion pounds, with a growth rate of 31.5%. compared to the previous year, which amounted to 69.5 billion pounds, according to the report of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development issued in mid-2022.

3-The tourism sector contributes directly to improving the position of the balance of payments and increasing the added value through the revenues that the sector pumps, whether in the form of investments, taxes or fees.

In this context, the Central Bank of Egypt announced in a press release that tourism revenues increased by 25.7%, to record about $7.3 billion (compared to about $5.8 billion) during the first half of the fiscal year 2022/2023 (July-December period), This has contributed to the reduction of the current account deficit.

4- Providing millions of job opportunities: Tourism is a labor-intensive sector, with approximately 12.6% of the total labor force in Egypt working in professions directly and indirectly related to tourism, which often alleviates the problem of unemployment.

Second: indicators of tourism performance growth in Egypt

The growth of tourism performance in Egypt can be measured through four main indicators, which are the number of tourists (inbound tourism), the number of tourist nights, and tourism revenues.

Some experts may add to it the absorptive capacity index as one of the indicators used in evaluating growth indicators.

1- Inbound Tourism Indicators

Egypt received 7 million tourists during the first five months of 2023, including 1.35 million tourists during the month of April, which is the highest level that Egypt recorded during one month in its history, according to the statements of the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa, who also confirmed that the incoming tourism movement in the months of January And last February, it witnessed a growth of 35%, compared to the same period last year.

Egypt received about 11.7 million tourists in 2022, up from 8 million in 2021, 3.7 million in 2020, and 13.1 million in 2019.

Some estimates confirm that the last quarter of 2023 will witness a growth in the inbound tourism movement exceeding 28%, which will contribute to reaching the number of tourists to 15 million tourists at the end of 2023, and between 18 to 20 million tourists during the year 2024, according to the estimates of the Ministry of Tourism. Egyptian tourism, which is expected to witness the largest ever tourism movement during the coming period, and exceed the rates of 2010, which recorded visits of about 14 million tourists.

The following figure shows the evolution of the number of tourists to Egypt between 2010 and 2022

2- the indicator of the number of tourist nights

The number of tourist nights increased during the first half of the fiscal year 2022/2023 (July/December period) by an average of 27.2% to record about 78.4 million nights, according to central bank data.

During 2022, the number of tourist nights increased by 39.7%, reaching 131 million tourist nights, compared to 93.8 million tourist nights in 2021, and 43 million tourist nights in 2020, according to the data of the central agency for public mobilization and statistics in June 2023.

3- the carrying capacity indicator

The number of hotel establishments is about 1,199, the number of hotel rooms is about 230,000, the number of tourism companies is about 2,259, and there are about 2,160 archaeological sites, of which 134 are open for visiting, and 43 are antiquities museums, of which 31 are open for visits, and 479 diving and marine activities centers and 1,325 restaurants. And a tourist cafeteria, and 2,407 shops for ordinary and tourist goods, and about 18,190 tourist vehicles, according to the official website of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the statements of the Minister of Tourism.

The number of natural reserves in Egypt is about 30, representing an area of 13.6% of the total area of Egypt, and the number of airports is about 26 civil airports in June 2022.

4- tourism revenue index

Revenues of the tourism sector in Egypt increased during the first half of the fiscal year 2022-2023 by 25.7% compared to the same period in 2021-2022, according to central bank data.

The revenues of the tourism sector during the fiscal year 2021/2022 amounted to about 10.7 billion dollars, compared to 4.9 billion dollars in 2020/2021, an increase of 121.1%, according to the data of the central agency for public mobilization and statistics issued on June 9, 2023.

The data showed the growth in tourism revenues in light of the obstacles and crises that the sector has been exposed to in recent years due to the corona pandemic and the Russian and Ukrainian crisis, where tourism revenues reached 4.4 billion dollars in 2016/2017 with an increase of 16.2%, 9.8 billion dollars in 2017/2018 with an increase of 123.9%, 12.6 billion dollars in 2018/2019 with an increase of 28.2%, and 9.9 billion dollars in 2019/2020 with a decrease of 21.6%, and 4.9 billion dollars in 2020/2021 with a decrease of 50.7%, and 10.7 billion dollars during 2021/2022 with an increase of 121.1%, as mentioned earlier.

Figure No. (1) shows the volume of tourism sector revenues between 2016 and 2022

The World Bank expects that tourism revenues in Egypt in the next five years will reach: • $14.2 billion in 2023-2024. • $18.9 billion in 2024-2025 • $22.8 billion in 2025-2026 • $26.5 billion in 2026-2027 • $28.8 billion in 2027-2028

Third: Plans to promote the tourism sector in Egypt

The national strategy to support tourism in Egypt aims to achieve rapid growth in this industry, ranging from 25% to 30% annually through optimal utilization of the country’s tourism, natural, human and archaeological resources, ensuring their sustainability, and providing distinguished and advanced infrastructure and services to increase the competitiveness of Egypt.

The national strategy to support tourism in Egypt aims to achieve rapid growth in this industry, ranging from 25% to 30% annually through optimal utilization of the country’s tourism, natural, human and archaeological resources and ensuring their sustainability, and providing a distinguished and developed infrastructure to increase the competitiveness of Egypt.

In light of this, Egypt adopts a set of ambitious plans to advance the tourism sector and maximize its revenues, based on a number of main axes and pillars, the most important of which are: Focus on Marketing and Promotion

The tourism sector plan aims to intensify tourism promotion activities and apply innovative stimulation tools to enhance the product in the face of intense competition from other tourist destinations through a number of important axes such as strengthening the marketing and advertising message abroad and the effective implementation of the international promotion campaign that was contracted with major specialized companies.

Among the most important promotional campaigns are the campaigns “Your vacation is with us” and “The day in Egypt does not end” to promote tourism to Egypt during the summer season 2022, especially in the Arab market and the Gulf region, in addition to stimulating domestic tourism in Egypt.

1-Stimulating tourist investors

State agencies have taken a number of steps to support and stimulate tourism and hotel investments in the country. These steps are as follows:

– The initiative launched by the Central Bank in February of 2017, to finance the renewal operations needed by hotel establishments and fleets of tourist cars, as an amount of 5 billion pounds was allocated for this initiative.

-The central bank returned at the beginning of this year 2020 and launched a new version of this initiative, allocating 50 billion pounds to tourism companies, in order to include the largest possible number of tourism investments inside Egypt.

2-Return to work in the aviation incentive program:

The Egyptian government has sought to benefit from the aviation stimulus program as an effective tool in advancing tourism in Egypt, by encouraging air carriers to direct the largest possible number of their flights to Egyptian tourist destinations, in addition to opening new airlines, such as the Marsa Alam airport, the Netherlands and Ukraine, and another between Georgia to Hurghada.

3-Improving tourist service

The Ministry of Tourism was keen to develop a strategy to qualify and develop the human resource in the tourism sector, in cooperation with the Egyptian Federation of Tourist Chambers, through a training project for various groups working in tourism, such as tour guides, hotel workers and recreational activities, in addition to company representatives and tourist car drivers.

The Egyptian government has also taken several other stimulating and supportive measures for the tourism sector, including:

-Implementing the e-tourist visa system, and automating the purchase of tickets for archaeological sites and museums electronically.

-Establishing a unified database system for workers in the tourism sector, as well as automating the services of the hotel sector.

-The Tourism Promotion Authority signed agreements with many TV stations and markets that deal with Egyptian destinations, to launch advertising campaigns aimed at introducing tourists to Egypt and its various tourist destinations.

Fourth: The tourism sector in the light of international indicators and acclaim

-Egypt advanced 20 places in the safety and security index for expatriates issued by Intentions, which measures personal safety and security as part of the quality of life, as Egypt ranked 42 in 2022, compared to 62 in 2016.

-It ranked 12th globally out of 138 countries in the global Islamic Travel Index 2022. -It ranked first in the Arab region, fourth in Africa, and 27th globally, in the road trip tourism practice index out of 118 countries, noting that the index depends on 3 sub-indicators (attractiveness, logistics, lifestyle).

-Egypt is on the list of international travel and tourism nominations, where: Choosing Egypt is among the best tourist destinations to travel to in the fall of 2022, according to a CNN Travel report.

-“Travel Inside” magazine chose Egypt as the first in the world among the most popular tourist destinations during the current period, outperforming many other tourist destinations such as the Maldives and the Caribbean islands.

– Hurghada ranked second as the best tourist destination in the Middle East for the year 2023, after Dubai, which ranked first, according to Tripadvisor.

– Egypt also won the second place as the best diving destination in the world for the year 2021, according to Dive Magazine.

fifth: proposals to promote growth in the tourism sector in Egypt

In order to develop the performance and drive the growth engine of the tourism sector in Egypt, this paper recommends the need to work on:

-Joint cooperation and integration of all efforts between the ministries and the relevant authorities in the sector, each in its field, to achieve more successes and the best desired results to reach the sector to wider horizons. -Developing stimulating policies for investment, especially hotel investment, tourist transport, the establishment of sports cities and entertainment attractions, increasing the number of hotel rooms … and others.

-Launching tourist economic zones, or free tourist zones, and granting tax and financial privileges and exemptions for specific periods of time, while creating the legislative environment to achieve this in order to increase the attraction of investors towards investment in the tourism sector , by offering units of a tourist nature consistent with international standards on local and international electronic platforms, resulting in an increase in tourist units and hotel rooms.

-Training and qualification of workers in the tourism sector on how to deal with different cultures of tourists and providing them with communication, teamwork and leadership skills.

– The need to launch a unified Egyptian platform for tourism promotion that facilitates booking, flight and visa procedures, as well as hotel reservations.

– Activating the role of tourism media to spread cultural awareness among citizens of the importance of tourism, as well as working to improve the image of tourism among foreigners.

النشرة البريدية

إشترك في قائمتنا البريدية للحصول على التحديثات الجديدة, messages and facts: reading of president's visit to beheira, repercussions of sudan war on egyptian economy, related articles, golden triangle project in upper egypt: potential and challenges, head of draya at “duke university” to talk about poverty reduction policies, houthi attacks and their impact on red sea and suez canal’s security, population aging…a reading of economic indicators and repercussions.

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Egypt is often referred to as “Um Al-Dunya,” or “Mother of the World,” as its cultural heritage has an importance on an international scale. Egypt’s ancient sites and Red Sea coast attract visitors from across the globe, with tourism accounting for about 10-15 percent of the Egyptian economy and millions of jobs. 

Through decades of partnership, the U.S. Government has invested more than $100 million to protect Egypt’s extraordinary cultural heritage and ensure local communities benefit from the growing tourism industry. USAID has partnered with the Government of Egypt on large-scale engineering projects to protect some of the country’s most iconic archaeological sites from rising groundwater and flooding. These include the Sphinx, Karnak Temple Complex, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Coptic Cairo, Bab Zuweila Gate of Fatimid Cairo, Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, and the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa in Alexandria. USAID has also supported conservation efforts at dozens of other sites around the country; including the Red Monastery, Medinet Habu, and Theban Tombs of the Nobles. In addition, USAID has invested millions of dollars in environmental conservation efforts to boost sustainable and eco-friendly tourism and protect the coastal ecosystem along the Red Sea.

CURRENT PROGRAMS

RED SEA INITIATIVE: USAID’s decades-long partnership with the Government of Egypt has ensured ongoing protection and long-term strategies to preserve the natural environment and helped local communities build resilience to the shocks of climate change. In 2022, USAID launched the Red Sea Initiative – an ambitious climate action aiming to conserve the Red Sea’s coastal ecosystem, while promoting high-value, low-impact ecotourism. The Red Sea Initiative plans to: protect the Red Sea’s coral reef and surrounding coastal ecosystem against the impacts of climate change and human activity; empower local communities to lead on climate action; establish a blended finance mechanism to support businesses in building resilience against climate change, reducing emissions and creating jobs; and partner with private businesses and other donors to leverage up to $50 million in total funding. To advance the work of the Red Sea Initiative, USAID will collaborate with the United Nations Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) to enlist additional donors and investors from the public, private, and non-profit sectors to conserve the Red Sea’s coastal ecosystem for future generations.  

INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL TOURISM: Current global trends demonstrate a growing preference among visitors for more experiential and authentic travel versus traditional package tourism. Building a platform for unique and sustainable tourism in Egypt is critical to the industry’s long-term success and is in line with USAID’s commitment to sustainable development. Through the Integrated Management of Cultural Tourism project, USAID partners with the Government of Egypt to streamline laws and regulations and develop public private partnership models that incentivize private sector investment in cultural tourism. The approach seeks to not only restore physical structures, but also add economic value by incorporating business opportunities, such as entertainment and event spaces. The program builds the capacity of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises to capitalize on cultural tourism. Focusing on Historic Cairo and Luxor, the program will increase Egypt’s tourism revenues, benefiting the local communities that live in and around historic sites. 

Implementing Partner: FHI 360; Life of Project: November 2020 – October 2024; Total Estimated Cost: $13 million; Governorates: Cairo and Luxor.

VISIT-Esna: Esna, a city rich in cultural heritage, was forgotten by tourists when a new dam built in 1994 allowed for faster passage by cruise ships. In the ensuing years, businesses closed and unemployment skyrocketed, forcing residents to abandon the area in search of new jobs and leaving the city center in a state of disrepair. To put Esna back on the map and create sustainable jobs, USAID and Takween are partnering with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Luxor Governorate, the Ministry of International Cooperation, and other public and private stakeholders to restore historic landmarks, revitalize Esna’s tourism infrastructure, and showcase Esna as a prime tourist destination for tour operators, investors, and the public. The program developed a new Esna brand to highlight the city’s diverse heritage assets, ranging from traditional cuisine to historic sites. In Esna, USAID restored an 18th century caravansary (Wakalat El Geddawy), Al Qisariya Market, and several building facades. The program trained and integrated the local community in an array of activities, from guiding tours to reviving local handicraft traditions, with an aim to generating new job opportunities, increasing revenues, and advancing economic benefits for the community.

Implementing Partner: Takween Integrated Community Development; Life of Project: October 2016 – September 2024; Total Estimated Cost: $8.6 million; Governorate: Luxor.

MEDINET HABU AS OPEN-AIR MUSEUM: Located on Luxor’s west bank (ancient Thebes), Medinet Habu is best known for its well-preserved mortuary temple of Ramesses III, who reigned from 1186 to 1156 B.C.E. The site also houses archaeological monuments spanning from 2100 B.C.E. to 900 C.E. Chicago House has been working at Medinet Habu off and on over the last century to document and conserve all of the monuments in the complex. Since 2015, USAID has supported Chicago House’s restoration of the archaeologically-rich Medinet Habu to increase tourist interest in the temple complex. Site improvements include a walking path and an open-air museum.

Implementing Partner: University of Chicago Oriental Institute - Chicago House; Life of Project: October 2015 – September 2023; Total Estimated Cost: $6 million; Governorate: Luxor.

Cultural Heritage and Tourism in Egypt II: Khonsu Temple is situated in the south-west corner of the Karnak temple complex in Luxor. It was built during the reign of Ramses III and dedicated to Khonsu, son of Mut and Amun. In neighboring Sohag, Abydos was the most important burial site of ancient Egypt and has a history extending back some 7,500 years. It served as the cult center of the ancient Egyptian god Osiris, ruler of the land of the dead, and was a place of great religious importance. USAID is partnering with the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) on physical improvements to Khonsu Temple in Luxor and the Osireion in Abydos through conservation and restoration efforts, thereby improving the quality of tourists’ experience. ARCE will also build the capacity of the Ministry’s staff to better protect and manage the sites as well as provide employment and training for semi-skilled labor from the local population.

Implementing Partner: American Research Center in Egypt; Life of Project: February 2023 – September 2024; Total Estimated Cost: EGP 32.4 million (equivalent to $1.1 million); Governorate: Luxor and Sohag.

Essay on My Trip To Egypt

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Trip To Egypt in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Trip To Egypt

Planning my trip.

I was excited to visit Egypt, a country famous for its ancient history. My family and I planned carefully. We packed our bags with clothes for warm weather and made a list of places we wanted to see like the pyramids and the Nile River.

Arriving in Egypt

When we landed in Egypt, the air was warm. We went to our hotel, which had a view of the pyramids. It felt like stepping into a history book. The sights were even more amazing than the pictures.

Exploring the Pyramids

The pyramids were huge! Walking around them made me feel small. We learned that they were tombs for pharaohs. It’s amazing how they were built thousands of years ago without modern machines.

Sailing the Nile

We took a boat ride on the Nile. The river was wide and calm. On both sides, I saw green fields and palm trees. It was peaceful and beautiful. I imagined how people lived by this river long ago.

250 Words Essay on My Trip To Egypt

My adventure in egypt.

Last year, I went on an exciting trip to Egypt, a country in Africa known for its ancient history and beautiful deserts. Egypt is a place where stories from old books come to life, with tall pyramids and mighty pharaohs.

Seeing the Pyramids

One of the best parts of my trip was visiting the Great Pyramids of Giza. These huge triangle-shaped buildings were made thousands of years ago and are one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Standing in front of them, I felt very small. It was amazing to think about how people long ago built them without modern machines.

Cruising the Nile River

I also got to ride on a boat down the Nile River, the longest river in the world. The water was so blue, and on both sides, I could see green lands and palm trees. People were farming and kids were playing near the water. It was peaceful and beautiful.

Exploring the Egyptian Museum

In Cairo, the capital city, I visited the Egyptian Museum. This place is full of treasures from ancient Egypt, like gold masks and real mummies. I saw the famous mask of King Tutankhamun, which shined like the sun. It was like walking into a treasure box.

My Final Thoughts

This trip to Egypt was a dream come true. I learned a lot about history and saw things I had only read about in books. I hope to go back one day and see more of this wonderful country. Egypt is a place that everyone should visit at least once.

500 Words Essay on My Trip To Egypt

Planning my egyptian adventure, arriving in cairo.

Our first stop was Cairo, Egypt’s bustling capital. The city was full of life, with cars honking and street vendors selling delicious food. We stayed in a cozy hotel near the city center, which made it easy to visit famous places.

Visiting the Great Pyramids

The next day, we went to see the Great Pyramids of Giza. Standing in front of these huge stone structures, I felt like I had traveled back in time. The pyramids were much bigger than I imagined. We took a camel ride around them, which was both bumpy and fun. I learned that the largest pyramid was built for Pharaoh Khufu and that it’s one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Exploring the Sphinx

Discovering the egyptian museum.

In Cairo, we also visited the Egyptian Museum. It was like a treasure chest filled with golden masks, mummies, and ancient jewelry. The most amazing thing I saw was King Tutankhamun’s golden mask. It shone brightly and had detailed designs that were very pretty.

We took a boat ride on the Nile River, which is the longest river in the world. The cool breeze felt nice as we watched the sunset. On the riverbanks, I saw farmers working in their fields just like in the old times.

Exploring Luxor’s Ancient Temples

Learning to write hieroglyphics.

In Luxor, we also tried writing hieroglyphics, which are picture letters that Egyptians used to write. It was tricky but fun to use symbols instead of letters. I wrote my name using a small bird, a wavy line, and a few other symbols.

Enjoying Egyptian Food

The food in Egypt was tasty. I loved eating koshari, a dish with rice, pasta, and lentils, topped with a spicy tomato sauce. We also tried falafel, which are fried balls made of chickpeas. For dessert, we had baklava, a sweet pastry with nuts and honey.

My trip to Egypt was an adventure I’ll never forget. I saw ancient wonders, learned about a fascinating culture, and met friendly people. Egypt is a place where the past and present meet, and I am happy I got to experience it. I hope to return one day and discover even more about this beautiful country.

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Here are the top countries exporting the most tourists to Egypt

The CEO of the Egyptian Tourism Authority Amr al-Kady announced an increase in tourists coming from England, Holland, Saudi Arabia and China to the Egyptian market.

During an interview with Ahmed Moussa’s TV show “Ala Massoulity” (On My Responsibility), Kady added that there are also large numbers of tourists coming from Brazil, as Egypt enjoys great fame there.

Many of the tourists visiting Egypt come from Germany, followed by Russia, Saudi Arabia and England, he explained.

Tourism companies have various programs to educate tourists on various destinations in Egypt, as the tourist sometimes asks companies about the best places to visit.

Egypt’s share of Chinese tourists is only 300,000, he noted, adding that while Japanese tourists spend a lot they also demand a lot and their numbers have yet to increase after the coronavirus crisis.

Hurghada is the top tourist destination in Egypt throughout the year and not just in winter, he said, as it has the largest hotel capacity compared to other cities.

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