Tourism Boom in Egypt: Millions of Visitors Arrive

Published on December 1, 2025

In 2025, Egypt’s tourism sector continues to perform strongly, welcoming 15.6 million arrivals from January to October. This is 21% more than during the same timeframe in the preceding year, reflecting Egypt’s growing status as a global tourism destination. This was communicated by Ehab Abdel-Aal, the treasurer of the Egyptian Tourism Federation, during the annual conference of the German travel agents association, RTK International, in Hurghada on 20-24 November 2025.

The increase in tourist arrivals has also contributed to a general recovery of the tourism sector that has suffered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a steady growth of international arrivals continues, Egypt is expected to sustain its status as one of the most visited countries in the Middle East and North Africa, thanks to its impressive cultural heritage and ancient sites.

Increased Tourist Arrivals to Egypt

There has been a sharp increase in marketing Egypt as a potential cultural and leisure destination. Egypt has many famous tourist sites, such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, and the Valley of the Kings, attracting many tourists. Furthermore, the country’s Red Sea resorts in Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada have stunning beaches and provide a variety of world-class diving. Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada also have great nightlife activities making the country of Egypt a diving and nightlife tourist destination.

With the improvement in the country’s tourism infrastructure, Egypt has been able to cater to a large number of leisure and business tourists. Egypt has also experienced a large influx of business tourist delegates participating in international events and conferences held in Sharm El Sheikh, Alexandria, and Cairo.

Key Destinations Attracting International Visitors

Tourism numbers vindicate the enduring popularity of Egypt’s top spots. Visitors flock to Cairo’s rich historical and cultural offerings. The capital is one of the most visited cities across the globe. Ancient sites, vibrant street food, and the capital’s bustling souks attract tourists and other travellers. The Egyptian Museum is a major draw for history lovers and academics, housing many famous artefacts.

Another hub for Egyptian tourism is Sharm el-Sheikh, on the Sinai Peninsula. The resort town is famous for its stunning beaches, world-class diving, and adventure tourism. Sharm el-Sheikh is a premier travel destination for sun and sea. The town’s closeness to Ras Mohammed National Park, known for its incredible coral and rich marine life, further boosts its tourism appeal.

Recent developments in tourism have seen the popularity of Hurghada also surge. Its hotels are perfect for any type of traveller when on holiday. Accommodation as well as activity packages are available so tourists have complete flexibility in tailoring singular or multi day activities such as tanning on the beach or wakeboarding. Along with night clubs there are also belly dancing shows so when the sun sets there are more activities available. With the family activities also available, Hurghada has made a name for itself as the number one vacation spot.

The Role of International Markets in Egypt’s Tourism Growth

Egypt’s tourism continues to surge with visitors from Europe as well as the United States. However, these markets are not the only ones to positively impact Egypt’s tourism. Citizents from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Russia, and more recently China have also made a significant impact in positively growing Egypt’s tourism. These tourists are able to arrive in Egypt as a result of the introduction of direct flights to Egypt from the major cities in the visitors countries. These flights have also made a significant impact in growing the number of tourists arriving internationally to Egypt.

A positive development was the Egyptian Federation of Tourism’s decision to focus their marketing efforts on specific market segments. In turn, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism was then able to to adapt their marketing to focus on the niche subsets of the market, including heritage, soft adventure, and eco tourism. Egypt was then able to attract first time and repeat visitors for their heritage, natural, and hospitality offerings.

The Growing Tourism Sector is Supported with Essential Infrastructure

The positive increase in tourism numbers is a direct result of the extensive investments that Egypt has made with respect to the country’s tourism infrastructure. Most notably, Egypt has made considerable investments in their transportation infrastructure, particularly for the new international airports in Sharm El Sheikh and Luxor, as well as for the expanded Cairo International Airport. This has made it easier for tourists to access Egypt’s major attractions and top destinations.

Apart from transportation improvements, accommodation has also been enhanced. Hotels, resorts, and hospitality services have diversified to cater to luxury and budget travelers. There are several options, including luxury resorts on the Red Sea and cheap hotels in Cairo. This accommodation versatility is unlocking greater potential in and is making the industry more competitive.

Challenges and Opportunities for Egypt’s Tourism Industry

Even with the increased volume of travel to the country, there are difficulties the sector must overcome for the industry to be sustainable over the years to come. More infrastructure, including tourist facilities, and the implementation of more sustainable practices within the sector will be needed. Furthermore, the country will need to continue to improve on safety and security to provide peace of mind to potential international travelers to the country.

On the other hand, Egypt has the continued rise of digital marketing, the growth of online travel agencies, and the increased influence of social media on travel decisions. These are strengths Egypt is able to focus on to improve their position in the sector. More focus on digital marketing, and on niche tourism such as adventure, wellness, and eco tourism will improve the country’s position.

Future Perspectives: The Upcoming Scope of Tourism in Egypt

Having received more than 15 million international travelers in the year 2022, Egypt is on its way to remaining a top-ranked international touristic destination for the 5th consecutive year according to the UNWTO Tourism barometer. Tourism in Egypt is expected to grow further as the government continues to invest in the development of the country’s rich cultural heritage, natural attractions, and state of the art facilities. Egypt’s future in the travel and tourism industry looks bright, as the government focuses on the becoming a tourism hub in the Middle East.