A record 15.7 million tourists visited Egypt in 2024

Egypt attracted a record 15.7 million tourists in 2024, surpassing the previous year's record of 14.9 million, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy said.

"What tourism has achieved in Egypt, despite the geopolitical situation in the region and the changes in the world in general, came as a result of a collective effort that we should all be proud of and preserve," Fathy told a Senate meeting.

He ascribed the record to the government provision of security and safety for tourists, as well as support for the tourism and antiquities sectors. 

Following years of pandemic-related challenges, which saw tourist arrivals drop to 3.6 million in 2020, 8 million in 2021, and 11.7 million in 2022, the sector has rebounded and surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

Tourism is one of Egypt’s key sources of foreign currency, along with remittances from Egyptians abroad, the Suez Canal revenues, and foreign direct investments.

Egypt’s top ten markets in 2024 included Germany, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Poland, Italy, the Czech Republic, the US and France, said Reham Samir, associate to the minister of tourism and antiquities for international relations, told Al-Ahram Weekly.

Tourism revenues reached $6.6 billion in the first half of 2024, up from $6.3 billion in 2023 and $5.6 billion in 2010.

A recent UN Tourism report ranked Egypt first in Africa for tourism revenues in 2024, reaching a record $14.1 billion.

The Egyptian government has developed a national tourism strategy for attracting 30 million tourists by 2028 by expanding capacity and improving the tourist experience.