The tourist flow from Russia to Egypt in January-April increased by 15%

The number of Russian tourists visiting Egypt from January to April 2024 increased by about 15% compared to the same period in 2023, Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa told reporters on Monday.

"Last year, 1.5 million Russian tourists visited us. In the four months of 2024, we see a 15% increase in the tourist flow from Russia," he said on the sidelines of the Africa Tourism Forum in Sharm el-Sheikh, answering a question from Interfax.

He also said that Egypt plans to increase the foreign tourist flow annually by 25% in order to reach the figure of 30 million tourists by 2030.

As Taras Demura, chairman of the Board of directors of the FUN &SUN tour operator, said on the sidelines of the forum, citing expert estimates, the Russian market for Egypt is the second largest after Germany, and by the end of 2024, the tourist flow from Russia to Egypt may reach 1.6 million people.

In turn, the CEO of Rixos Hotels Egypt, Erkan Yildirim, said that, according to his forecast, the growth of the tourist flow from Russia to Egypt by the end of the year could reach 35%.

"I expect - based on the flight program of tour operators, which I know, and the share of returning guests - an increase in the volume of the Russian market by 30-35% by the end of the year," he told reporters.

He clarified that the Rixos Hotels Egypt chain has already seen an increase in tourist traffic from Russia by more than 40% in January-April, which is partly due to the opening of new facilities and a marketing campaign.

Africa Tourism Forum takes place from May 20 to May 21 in Sharm el-Sheikh. It is attended by representatives of diplomatic missions of the countries of the continent, as well as tour operators, including Russian ones.

According to the Border Service of the FSB of Russia, 300 thousand Russian citizens left for Egypt in the first quarter of 2024. This is almost 10% more than in the same period a year earlier.