Egypt has achieved a historic milestone, welcoming 15.7 million international tourists in 2024, according to a statement from the Egyptian government. This record number highlights the resilience of Egypt’s tourism industry, which has long been a cornerstone of its economy.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly expressed confidence in the sector’s continued growth, referring to the 15.7 million tourists as a “promising” figure. Speaking at a weekly press conference in Egypt’s newly established administrative capital, Madbouly noted that regional instability and external challenges had hindered even greater growth, suggesting that without these obstacles, the number of visitors could have reached as high as 18 million.
Madbouly is optimistic about the future, projecting that Egypt will reach the target of 18 million tourists in 2025. The anticipated official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, one of the country’s largest cultural projects, is expected to play a pivotal role in attracting more visitors to Egypt’s world-renowned historical sites.
Tourism in Egypt experienced a sharp downturn in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused a steep decline in international travel. Visitor numbers plummeted from more than 13 million in 2019 to just 3.7 million. However, the sector has shown a steady recovery, with tourism rebounding to 8 million in 2021, 11.7 million in 2022, and 14.9 million in 2023, according to official data.
Tourism remains a vital source of foreign currency for Egypt, alongside income from the Suez Canal, exports, and remittances from its diaspora. As the country continues to recover from the pandemic, officials are optimistic that the sector’s growth will remain robust, particularly with the addition of new cultural attractions and enhanced tourism infrastructure.