Egypt’s tourism sector is currently witnessing a tremendous boom, with the number of tourists exceeding 18 million, and tourism revenues increasing by approximately 20 percent during the first nine months of this year to reach US$13.6 billion, while also absorbing the continuous influx of tourists.
The head of the Egyptian Tourism Federation, Hossam al-Shaer, said that hotel occupancy rates have surpassed 90 percent in coastal and beach cities, including Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh, and the North Coast, in addition to the governorates of Luxor and Aswan.
He added that the number of tourists visiting Egypt is expected to increase by 20 percent next year, reaching approximately 22 million.
Shaer further explained that several measures have been implemented – in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Cabinet, and other relevant authorities – to address the shortage of hotel rooms.
He pointed out that among these measures is the introduction of holiday home apartments, a newly developed type of hotel accommodation, which includes three different models.
Tourism and hospitality expert Hisham Wahba said that Egypt has a clear goal of reaching 30 million tourists annually, and achieving this number will not be through government efforts alone but through participation from the private sector.
Several main issues remain
The expert pointed out that there are several key issues that tourism chambers must address diligently in the coming period to accommodate the increasing influx of tourists.
Wahba added that the first of these is increasing hotel capacity and improving quality.
He noted that the tourism sector needs to increase the number of hotel rooms quickly and effectively, especially in cities with high tourist demand, and this must be done in conjunction with improving the quality of existing facilities to meet international standards and tourist expectations.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly had previously stated that the country currently needs 240,000 to 250,000 new hotel rooms, bringing the total to over half a million, in order to accommodate 30 million tourists.
He indicated that the government has begun offering initiatives to support the tourism sector and encourage the private sector, including an initiative to subsidize interest rates for those investing in the construction and finishing of new hotels.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
