Egypt welcomes 8.7 million visitors in first half of 2025

Egypt welcomed 8.7 million tourists in the first half of 2025, marking a 24 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The surge comes as global travel demand rebounds and geopolitical tensions ease, according to Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, speaking at a press conference in Cairo, as reported by Asharq Bloomberg.

The sharp rise in visitor numbers aligns with the government’s target of achieving an overall 14 percent growth in tourist arrivals by the end of 2025 — reaching a total of 18 million tourists, a goal previously announced by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in January.

Tourism continues to be one of Egypt’s most important sources of foreign revenue. In 2024, the sector recorded a 9 percent year-on-year increase in earnings, hitting a record high of $15.3 billion, according to Central Bank data published in May.

Popular destinations such as the Red Sea resorts and Nile cruises also contributed significantly to this momentum. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Egypt saw a 25 percent rise in tourist arrivals, totaling 3.9 million visitors, as noted by Minister Fathy last April.

In response to this strong performance, the government launched a 50 billion EGP initiative in October 2024 to boost the sector further. The program aims to expand hotel room capacity by providing low-interest loans at a declining rate of 12 percent, supporting tourism companies across the country.