Tourism in Egypt

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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, [1] serving approximately 14.7 million visitors to Egypt, and providing revenues of nearly $12.5 billion [2] as well as contributing more than 11% of GDP and 14.4% of foreign currency revenues. [3]

Contents

History

Income from tourism (1982-2003) Egyptbar.svg
Income from tourism (1982–2003)

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. [2] [4] 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. [5] 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. [6]

Impact of the Egyptian Revolution of 2011

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. [7]

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. [3] [8]

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. [9] [10] As of the 2019 rankings, Egypt ranks 65th overall. [11]

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. [12] 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. [13]

In 2017, Bloomberg said Egypt has "shed its years of social and political unrest" and made the top 20 list of 2017 travel destinations. [14] 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. [15]

Security

An Egyptian tourist police officer with his mounts in Muizz Street shr` lm`z m` lHrs.jpg
An Egyptian tourist police officer with his mounts in Muizz Street

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. [16] [17] 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. [18]

Statistics

Most tourists to Egypt came from the following countries

Country202220212020201920182017201620152014
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 1,302,240423,272352,8451,729,0511,707,3821,232,343653,9151,020,879877,228
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 1,010,9211,115,46880,643264,108145,64293,99253,8642,389,8823,138,958
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 799,560501,813150,886891,626909,092669,574507,325433,067350,109
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 640,180168,17537,855530,226405,399234,986234,676161,035140,425
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 528,26985,06395,804619,425421,992225,148131,458332,932400,356
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 506,460109,398114,651455,614435,772319,388231,299869,481905,713
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 428,448233,376118,079349,596287,796226,429184,341188,712154,619
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 420,832286,723111,289413,892303,720177,43367,231207,253302,815
Flag of France.svg  France 310,126150,98989,218298,812217,533150,241101,075136,623144,766
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 242,7661,402,460741,9471,551,6801,174,234797,270425,000363,586446,450
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 298,319250,125135,584440,309410,659336,370282,845268,541210,957
Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 222,171134,69947,993163,630136,01073,85568,34462,240114,057
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait 190,43069,28139,939164,873164,532176,629150,352139,666120,882
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 184,84655,64565,024218,527189,679151,79182,823150,422126,817
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 178,962120,22642,450203,603208,283211,842179,827177,131170,783
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 150,726180,81058,145156,591133,01569,5706,57122,99815,106
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 140,52150,46632,823173,720164,696122,91667,541144,772130,522
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 136,11285,35233,758119,541110,40575,40346,08990,48380,389
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 121,68134,01531,488148,974136,89195,72550,59192,01074,246
Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg  Syria 103,07378,66831,00064,26865,80363,68753,66252,28163,081
Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 58,81443,53631,13890,94669,90742,63217,21631,78030,856
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 58,11631,30144,173214,202234,747287,260179,459115,15861,697
Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 56,920247,219135,156327,332273,987162,48153,972149,641166,550
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 52,45052,08343,11094,702104,80590,92276,57847,53349,986
Total Foreigner11,724,0657,997,9173,676,35913,026,44111,346,3898,292,3265,398,9349,327,8049,877,762


Tourism in Egypt in 1995–2019 [2] [3] [19] [20]
YearTotal number of tourists,
million
Total number of nights,
million
19952.9
20005.2
20058.2
201014.7147.4
20119.8114.2
201211.5137.8
20139.594.4
20149.997.3
20159.384.1
20165.437.2
20178.9
201811.3
201913.026 [21] 136
20203.5 [22]
YearTotal revenue,
billion USD
19953.0
20004.7
20057.2
201012.5
20118.7
20129.9
20136.0
20147.2
2015-20163.3
2016-20174.4
2017-20189.8
2018-201912.6
20204

Major attractions

A beach in the Red Sea resort town of Sahl Hasheesh Sahl Hasheesh R03.jpg
A beach in the Red Sea resort town of Sahl Hasheesh

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. [23]

Old Cairo Cairo, madrasa del sultano qalaun, 02.JPG
Old Cairo

Ancient Egypt

Tourists riding an Arabian camel in front of Pyramid of Khafre. The Giza Necropolis is one of Egypt's main tourist attractions. Camel and the pyramids.jpg
Tourists riding an Arabian camel in front of Pyramid of Khafre. The Giza Necropolis is one of Egypt's main tourist attractions.

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.

Nile cruises

Old Nile Cruise Nile cruises.jpg
Old Nile Cruise

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.

History

Nile cruising started during the early 19th century when Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt made his journey up and down the Nile. [24] 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. [25]

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.

Transportation

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. [23]

Airports

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. [26]

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.

Railways

Misr Train Station in Alexandria Misr Train Station, Alexandria.jpg
Misr Train Station in Alexandria

Egyptian Railways is the backbone of passenger transportation in Egypt, with 800 million passenger miles annually. [27]

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.

See also

References

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  2. 1 2 3 Adla Ragab (January 14–15, 2014). Recent development of TSA in Egypt (PDF). Fourteenth Meeting of the Committee of Statistics and Tourism Satellite Account (TSA). Retrieved 9 October 2014.
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  4. "Egypt – international tourism" . Retrieved 11 October 2014.
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  10. "Table 1: The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2015" . Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  11. "Table 1: The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  12. DK. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Egypt . DK Publishing; 2 February 2016. ISBN   978-1-4654-5320-4. p. 334–.
  13. "Israeli tourists visit Egypt for first time in 18 months under high security: embassy". Egypt Independent. January 5, 2017.
  14. "Where to Go in 2017". Bloomberg. January 4, 2017.
  15. Haines, Gavin (August 7, 2017). "10 surprising destinations where tourism is booming in 2017". The Telegraph via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  16. Regev, Dana (15 July 2017). "Egypt's tourism industry suffers a critical blow". DW. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  17. Aziz, Heba (1995). ""Understanding Attacks on Tourists in Egypt"". Tourism Management. 16 (2): 91–95. doi:10.1016/0261-5177(94)00016-4.
  18. Coffey, Helen (26 April 2017). "Why UK Tourists Should Consider Returning to Egypt on Holiday". The Independent. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  19. "Search:Egypt". e-unwto. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
  20. "International tourism, number of arrivals - Egypt, Arab Rep. | Data". data.worldbank.org.
  21. "الجهاز المركزي للتعبئة العامة والإحصاء". www.capmas.gov.eg. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
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  26. "Aircraft Charter World: Airports in Egypt".
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