Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt’s tourism sector is experiencing a strong resurgence, with the country welcoming approximately 15 million tourists in the first nine months of 2025 a 21% year-on-year increase putting it within reach of its full-year target of 18 million visitors.
The figures were revealed by Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, in remarks he noted that Egypt Welcomes 15 Million Tourists in Nine Months, Nears 2025 Tourism Targetclimbed to 12.8 million by the end of August, and rose further to nearly 15 million by the end of September.
“These numbers clearly show that Egypt is on track to reach between 17.5 and 18 million tourists by the end of the year,” Fathy said.
The tourism sector remains one of Egypt’s most vital sources of foreign currency, alongside remittances, Suez Canal revenues, and exports. In 2024, the country recorded its highest-ever annual tourism figure with 15.78 million visitors. With current trends, 2025 is likely to surpass that record.
While the minister did not disclose specific revenue figures for the first nine months of 2025, data from the Central Bank of Egypt showed that tourism revenues in 2024 rose 9% year-on-year, reaching $15.3 billion.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, tourists from Saudi Arabia, Germany, and Russia topped the list of arrivals in 2024, reflecting strong regional and European interest in Egyptian destinations.
Boost Expected from Grand Egyptian Museum Opening
A major catalyst for continued growth is the long-awaited full opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, scheduled for early November. Minister Fathy stated that daily visitor numbers to the site currently between 5,000 and 6,000 are expected to triple once the museum opens its doors entirely to the public.
Located just one mile from the iconic Giza Pyramids, the museum has been two decades in the making and is poised to become one of the world’s premier cultural and archaeological destinations. Spread over 120 acres, it is billed as the largest archaeological museum in the world.
Once fully operational, Egyptian authorities anticipate the Grand Egyptian Museum will attract up to 5 million visitors annually. It will house around 100,000 artifacts, including the full collection of treasures from the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun many of which will be displayed together for the first time.
International travel media and outlets like Bloomberg have pointed to the museum’s opening as a potential game-changer for Egypt’s tourism industry, likely to increase both the volume and spending of inbound tourists.
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Despite the promising figures, Egypt’s tourism sector continues to face external pressures from global economic uncertainty to regional instability. However, the government’s investment in infrastructure, digital transformation in visa services, and partnerships with key source markets are helping to mitigate risks and position Egypt as a year-round destination.
The Ministry of Tourism is also working to diversify its tourism offerings, promoting not only its historical and archaeological heritage but also beach tourism, eco-tourism, and adventure travel in destinations such as the Red Sea, Sinai, and the Western Desert.
If current momentum continues, Egypt may not only hit but exceed its ambitious tourism targets for 2025 providing a vital boost to its economy and reinforcing its status as one of the world’s most enduring travel destinations.
