By Layla Hassan l
The rollercoaster years of boom and bust for Egypt’s tourism industry are over. With a record number of visitors and international interest in its ancient treasures reactivated, the country is reveling in what has been hailed as a new “golden age” of travel.
A Record-Breaking Revival
Egypt welcomed more than 14.9 million tourists in 2023, a record. The return to this dramatic turn, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism credits, has been the outcome of years of focused efforts in infrastructure development, marketing, and cultural heritage protection. Contributing about 12% to Egypt’s GDP, its return not only remains crucial to Egypt’s economy but to tens of millions of Egyptians that directly rely on it.
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) ranked Egypt recently in the list of top-performing tourist recovery nations in the Middle East and North Africa. WTTC commended Egypt in 2023 as it managed to host foreign tourists as services were always improved.
Ancient Wonders, Modern Enhancements
From the pyramids striding over Giza to Luxor’s enigmatic tombs, Egypt’s past is a draw. But the tourists viewing them today are viewing them in an entirely different way. 3D virtual reconstruction, green buses on digs, and multi-lingual guides are only a few of the newer ways that tourists are visiting.
Longest to take shape, and most nervously awaited, perhaps, is the Grand Egyptian Museum, the largest archaeological museum in the world when finished. Along the Giza Plateau, the museum will contain thousands of secrets tucked away, from the entire contents of Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Diversifying the Tourist Experience
Although the country’s ancient history is still of appeal to history buffs, Egypt is becoming more of an in-vacation-resort destination. Sea resorts such as Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada have scuba diving and sunbathing areas, i.e., rainbow-hued coral reefs and high-end resorts. Sinai Peninsula, valuable for centuries on religious and spiritual fronts, is discovering desert safaris and spas to market.
Egypt further hosted Climate Conference COP27 in 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, further entrenching itself as the hub of sustainable tourism and global diplomacy.
“We are not looking to invest in the past, but to invest in the future,” Republic of Egypt Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Ahmed Issa asserted. “We aim to create an all-season destination that respects its past but is working toward the future.”
Infrastructure That Connects
To facilitate such growth, Egypt has enhanced its infrastructure to a great extent. The newly built airport, rail, and road terminals have made it convenient to travel between cities and tourist spots with ease. Cairo suburbs now conveniently connect the Sphinx International Airport to Giza, facilitating Cairo International Airport and accelerating the boom of tourist tourists.
And simplified entry points and visa websites have opened the country wider than ever to the world’s citizens.
A Bright Horizon
As the world rediscovers Egypt’s magic, the country is a testament to resiliency, re-invention, and to the timeless appeal of cultural heritage. For travelers in search of old-world wonder blended with contemporary convenience, Egypt is serving up both—and much more.
With a record high of visitors and a vision for sustainable development, Egypt can be far along the road to a new golden age, pyramid by pyramid.
