Egypt's tourism industry has recently seen a significant rise in foreign tourists. Last year, the country welcomed around 14.9 million international visitors, an increase of over 27% compared to the previous year. It marks the highest level of tourist arrivals in Egypt's history despite the turmoil in the region, especially since the outbreak of the war in Gaza on October 7.
Egyptian tourism authorities' statement revealed that, despite various challenges, 2023 witnessed record-breaking numbers for the volume of incoming tourism to Egypt.
The statement further mentioned that the fourth quarter of last year saw a great demand in the tourism movement, as 3.6 million foreign tourists arrived in Egypt.
However, according to a statement by Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa, the number of tourists visiting Egypt during the fourth quarter of 2023 was 600,000 less than the target. This was due to the war on Gaza, which made it difficult to achieve the expected numbers for this time of year.
Egypt had set a goal of 15 million tourists last year to reach 18 million by 2024. Despite falling short of the target for the fourth quarter of 2023, the country did manage to break its previous record of 14.731 million tourists set in 2010.
In the fiscal year 2022-2023, Egypt experienced a surge in tourism revenue, reaching $13.6 billion, a 26.8% increase. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict had an impact on the tourism industry, which is now recovering, which is the cause of this growth. The country's hard currency sector is thriving due to this boost in tourism.
Online Visa to Stimulate the Tourism Sector
Last June, the Egyptian government made great efforts to increase the number of foreign tourists by issuing a new multiple-entry visa valid for five years for $700. This move aims to stimulate the tourism sector and make it easier for foreigners to visit the country, increasing its revenues and reflecting positively on the national economy. Egypt currently allows citizens of 78 countries to obtain an online visa for a single entry for $25 or multiple entries for $60. You can apply for a visa on the Egyptian Ministry of Interior's website.