Tourism in Egypt

Tourism is one of the leading sources of income, crucial to Egypt's economy. At its peak in 2010, the sector employed about 12% of workforce of Egypt, serving approximately 14.7 million visitors to Egypt, and providing revenues of nearly $12.5 billion as well as contributing more than 11% of GDP and 14.4% of foreign currency revenues.
The number of tourists in Egypt stood at 0.1 million in 1952. Tourism became an important sector of the economy from 1975 onwards, as Egypt eased visa restrictions for almost all European and North American countries and established embassies in new countries like Austria, Netherlands, Denmark and Finland. In 1976, tourism was a focal point of the Five Year Plan of the Government, where 12% of the budget was allocated to upgrading state-owned hotels, establishing a loan fund for private hotels, and upgrading infrastructure (including road, rail, and air connectivity) for major tourist centers along with the coastal areas. In 1979, tourism experts and advisors were brought in from Turkey and several new colleges were established with Turkish help between 1979 and 1981, to teach diploma courses in hospitality and tourism management. The tourist inflow increased to 1.8 million in 1981 and then to 5.5 million in 2000. Tourists arrivals reached a pinnacle in 2010 by reaching 14.7 million visitors. Revenues from tourism reached the highest point at $12.6 billion in the fiscal year 2018–2019. In the year 2020, tourism-related revenues dropped nearly seventy percent to $4 billion. Citing the Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled El-Enany, Egypt's tourist arrivals plunged to 3.5 million in 2020. In February 2022, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva in a publication disclosed that Egypt's tourism sector was the biggest loser from the coronavirus outbreak.
During the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, the number of visitors plummeted by over 37 percent, falling from 14 million in 2010 to 9 million by the end of 2011. This has impacted a diverse range of businesses directly or indirectly dependent on tourism, from travel accommodation and tourist attractions to car rental and air transportation, as well as health and wellness industries. Tour operators offering heavy discounts to encourage tourists back have been somewhat successful at the Red Sea resorts where prices remain lower compared to 2011.
In the first half of 2014, the number of tourists further declined by 25 percent compared with the same period in 2013, while revenues also shrank by 25 percent.
In 2013, Egypt ranked 85th as the world's best country in terms of tourism and traveling, falling ten places from its ranking of 75 in 2011. However, it regained some ground in the 2017 rankings being rated 75th overall. As of the 2019 rankings, Egypt ranks 65th overall.
Israelis can cross into Egypt for 14 days without a visa at certain areas near Taba. They mostly come to enjoy areas on the Red Sea Riviera. In 2017, the first group of Israelis visited the more popular tourist attractions with the aid of strong security. It had been 18 months since any group of Israeli tourists had visited Egypt.
In 2017, Bloomberg said Egypt has "shed its years of social and political unrest" and made the top 20 list of 2017 travel destinations. The latest United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has revealed that Egypt is one of the world's fast-growing tourist destination. In 2017, the number rose to 8 million tourists compared to the previous year which was about 5.26 million.
The General Administration of Tourism and Antiquities Police is responsible for ensuring the security of tourists, archaeological sites, museums, and cultural facilities in Egypt, operating under the Egyptian Ministry of Interior. Its duties include securing the movement of tourist groups by monitoring or accompanying them, protecting archaeological and tourist sites, safeguarding Nile cruises, and combating crimes against tourists and antiquities. Additionally, the administration oversees tourism companies and shops, investigates tourist complaints, deploys police rescue vehicles to maintain security in key tourist areas, and addresses cases of trespassing.
Given Egypt’s geopolitical position in the Middle East and Africa, and its proximity to regional conflicts, the country has faced several terrorist incidents targeting tourism, with some of the most notable being the 1997 Luxor massacre, the 2004 Sinai bombings, the 2005 Cairo and Sharm el-Sheikh attacks, the 2006 Dahab bombings, and the downing of Metrojet Flight 9268. These attacks significantly impacted the tourism sector, leading to declines in visitor numbers and revenue.
Despite these challenges, Egyptian tourism demonstrated resilience and recovery, particularly in the 2010s. Even after the 2017 Hurghada attack, the sector quickly rebounded, achieving high annual revenues as tourist confidence was restored and security measures were strengthened.
Most tourists to Egypt came from the following countries
Major tourist destinations include the millennia-old monuments in the Nile Valley. Principal among them are the Pyramids and Great Sphinx at Giza, the Abu Simbel temples south of Aswan and the Karnak Temple Complex and Valley of the Kings near Luxor. Attractions in Cairo include the Cairo Museum and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha. The coast of the Sinai Peninsula has well-visited seaside resorts, in addition to Hurghada City on the Red Sea coast and the Famous El Gouna Resort 25 km Hurghada.
The civilization of Ancient Egypt left behind numerous monuments and temples, many of which are major attractions for modern visitors. Among them are the pyramids, with over 70 pyramids along the Nile, the most famous being the three pyramids of Giza. Built over 4,000 years ago during the reigns of Kings Cheops, Kefren, and Mykerinos, these pyramids served as royal tombs, with their bodies buried within. The pyramid of Cheops, also known as the Great Pyramid, is the largest, originally standing at 145 meters. Beside the pyramids stands the Sphinx, a colossal lion-bodied statue guarding the site.
Further south lies the Saqqara Complex, a vast necropolis that includes Memphis, the administrative capital of ancient Egypt, founded around 3000 BC by Menes. This area contains 11 pyramids, as well as Zoser's funerary complex, the tomb of Mereruka, and the Serapeum, an underground vault where mummified Apis bulls were interred in massive granite sarcophagi.
In Thebes, the Valley of the Kings holds the rock-cut tombs of 26 pharaohs from the 18th to 20th dynasties, including Tutankhamun, Ramses the Great, and Tuthmosis III. These tombs were carved into the cliffs to protect them from looting, unlike the exposed pyramid tombs of earlier periods. Nearby, the Valley of the Queens contains additional royal burials, preserving the legacy of Egypt’s most powerful rulers.
Cruises are offered along the Nile ranging from short tours between Luxor and Aswan to longer cruises that include the northern town of Dendera.
In the past, it used to work all the way from Cairo to Aswan for more than two weeks, but due to the development of the Nile, they stopped doing Nile Cruises all the way from Cairo, and it is now working from Luxor to Aswan except few Nile Cruises that started again to do long Cruise from Cairo to Aswan.
Nile cruising started during the early 19th century when Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt made his journey up and down the Nile. The late 19th century saw the publication of a novel written by a Miss Edwards. The novel, titled The Nile and its Monuments, details the various historical sites see along the river during Nile cruises.
Many cruises are aboard a larger vessel that functions as a floating hotel. Other Nile trips can be on a felucca, a traditional sailboat, on which overnight journeys may require passengers to sleep in the open air on deck and the sailors to double as cooks.
Between October and mid April the daytime temperatures are cooler and the Nile’s locks are open. From around the middle of April locks on the river are closed in order to manage water levels, requiring passengers to disembark on one side of the lock and transfer to another boat on the other side.
Passports and visas are required for foreign visitors except nationals of several Middle Eastern countries. Travelers from most African countries must present proof of cholera and yellow fever vaccination.
There are 15 international airports in Egypt that serve all of the country's major cities including Cairo International Airport, Sphinx International Airport, Sharm El Sheikh International Airport, Borg El Arab International Airport and Hurghada International Airport.
Cairo International Airport is the main gateway to Egypt and is located about 15 miles northeast of the city in northern Egypt. Cairo's three terminals receive flights from all major world cities including those in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Central Cairo is accessible from the airport by bus, taxi, or limousine.
Luxor International Airport, Sohag International Airport and Aswan International Airport serve Upper Egypt and act as a gateway to the tourist destinations of the region. The airport in Luxor has connections from the UK, Germany, Russia, France, Italy, and Turkey. Two terminals serve international and domestic flights, with a number of Egyptian carriers including Air Cairo and Egypt Air operating from the airport.
Egyptian Railways is the backbone of passenger transportation in Egypt, with 800 million passenger miles annually.
Air-conditioned passenger trains usually have 1st and 2nd class service, while trains without air condition will have 2nd and 3rd class. Most of the network connects the densely populated area of the Nile Delta with Cairo and Alexandria as hubs.
The Alexandria-Cairo-Luxor-Aswan link is served daily in both directions by air-conditioned sleeper trains of Abela Egypt. This service is especially attractive to tourists who can spend the night on the train as it covers the stretch between Cairo and Luxor. A luxury express train also connects Cairo with Marsa Matruh towards the Egypt–Libya border.