Cairo: The Cabinet Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) has identified 'silver tourism' or 'senior tourism' as a promising sector for Egypt, highlighting its potential as a significant source of foreign currency.

According to State Information Service Egypt, this tourism segment caters to older travelers who often possess more free time and financial flexibility. They seek comfortable, tailored experiences that usually focus on culture, history, and relaxation. The IDSC's recent report underscores the importance of this type of tourism, especially with the projection that individuals aged 60 and above will constitute 22 percent of the global population by 2050.

The report suggests that Egypt, with its wealth of historical monuments, beautiful beaches, and warm climate, is in an advantageous position to capture a substantial portion of this market. It further notes the opportunity to capitalize on the large senior population in Europe, where the number of people aged 60 and above reached 215 million in 2021 and is expected to increase to 247 million by 2030.

Globally, senior travelers are a significant market force, spending approximately $30 billion annually, the report reveals. They also account for 70 percent of cruise ship capacity and spend 74 percent more on holidays than younger travelers.