Cairo: A recent report by Egypt's Cabinet Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) has revealed projections for significant growth in Egypt's tourism sector.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the country is expected to welcome 17.76 million tourists by the end of 2025, with the number rising to 18.56 million in 2026.
The report, focusing on global and domestic tourism trends, highlighted the role of museums as cultural and economic assets. Tourism is identified as a crucial sector worldwide, contributing 10% to global GDP in 2024, equivalent to $10.9 trillion, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). This contribution is anticipated to rise to $11.7 trillion by 2025, ultimately reaching 11.5% of global GDP, or approximately $16.5 trillion, by 2035. This underscores tourism's importance in driving economic recovery and development.
The tourism industry has seen a robust recovery, with international arrivals reaching 1.47 billion in 2024, a 12.5% increase from 2023. Global tourism revenues surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2024, exceeding $1.73 trillion. The sector supported 356 million jobs in 2024, a figure projected to increase to 371 million in 2025. Museums have played a significant role in this recovery, with Egypt's Grand Egyptian Museum expected to attract around 5 million visitors annually once it fully opens in 2025.
Tourism's contribution to Egypt's GDP rose to 3.7% in the fiscal year 2024/2025, recovering from 2.4% in 2021/2022. The sector is among Egypt's top 10 economic activities, bolstered by political stability, infrastructure improvements, and successful promotion campaigns. Tourism revenues increased to $14.4 billion in FY 2023/2024, a 34.6% rise from the previous year. In the first nine months of FY 2024/2025, revenues reached $12.5 billion, up 14.7% year-on-year.
Tourist arrivals in Egypt grew by 7.2% to 14.9 million in FY 2023/2024, with overnight stays increasing by 5.5% to 154 million. The country currently offers 1,270 hotel establishments, 3,440 souvenir shops, 1,600 restaurants and caf©s, 608 diving and marine activity centers, 17,230 tourist vehicles, and 2,240 licensed travel companies.
According to Fitch Solutions, Egypt's tourism sector is set to maintain steady growth through the decade, with an average annual growth rate of 5.7% from 2025 to 2029. Visitor numbers are projected to reach 20.65 million by 2029, with tourism revenues rising from $17.1 billion in 2025 to $19 billion in 2029, spurred by the Grand Egyptian Museum's inauguration.
Egypt improved its global standing, ranking 61st in the 2024 World Economic Forum Travel and Tourism Development Index, up from 66th in 2019. Regionally, it placed 6th in the Middle East and North Africa, and it was named Africa's leading travel destination for the third year in a row in the Nation Brand Performance Index 2024/2025.
The report emphasized government efforts to strengthen the tourism sector through reforms, infrastructure upgrades, human capital development, and digital transformation. These initiatives include modernizing tourism regulations, improving transport networks, training over 42,960 workers in 2024, and launching digital campaigns with Meta to promote Egypt's heritage.
Egypt hosted the 2025 Africa Tourism Expo in Sharm El-Sheikh under the theme 'The Sun of Tourism,' highlighting the region's potential to international markets. With record visitor numbers, increased revenues, and strong international recognition, Egypt's tourism sector is poised for robust growth in the coming decade.