Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enany said Sunday the country has seen a notable rise in tourist numbers, especially since the beginning of 2021, according to a statement by the ministry. Ministry figures show Egypt has received 1.8 million tourists since January 2021, with around 17,500 tourists arriving a day, 65 percent of them at airports located in tourist coastal cities such as Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam, which have consistently reported among destinations with the lowest COVID-19 infection rates in the world.
El-Enany made the remarks during his participation in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2021 held from 16 to 19 May in Dubai. He opened Egypt's 305 square meter pavilion, which features 14 exhibitors, including EgyptAir, hotels, and tourism companies.
Egypt's pavilion showcases the country's safe tourist offers, as well as opportunities for business, medical, adventure, leisure, spiritual, cultural, archaeological and other types of tourism.
El-Enani highlighted Egypt's credentials as an ideal destination for holidaymakers looking for a safe travel experience as the world continues to tackle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"Since the coronavirus outbreak, we have implemented stringent regulations to protect the health and safety of our visitors and staff. In recognition of our efforts, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has granted Egypt its Safe Travels stamp," the minister said.
The tourism ministry has issued a set of regulations for tourism resumption in Egypt that are applicable to all tourist facilities across the country, including Hygiene Safety Certificates that are a pre-requisite for hospitality establishments, airlines, airports, archeological sites, and museums to receive visitors.
According to the ministry statement, all workers in the tourism sector have undergone compulsory COVID-19 awareness training while most of the tourism staff in South Sinai and Red Sea governorates, the two top tourist destinations, have been vaccinated with plans for the vaccination drive for all tourism employees to stretch for other touristic governorates.
Since the resumption of international tourism in July 2020, Egypt has witnessed a significant increase in inbound tourism over the past few months as it has welcomed 3 million tourists from more than 20 countries since then, according to tourism ministry figures.
Egypt boasts a perfect blend of leisure, adventure, history, and culture. Its favourable climate, plentiful sunlight, fresh air, and abundance of open spaces in popular tourist spots, in addition to the robust precautionary measures in place, have contributed to a notable rise in tourist numbers, especially since beginning 2021, the statement said.
"We look forward to welcoming a steady influx of visitors in the coming months and having them enjoy the many attractions our country has to offer," the minister said.
Egypt's tourism ministry seeks to connect with travel and tourism stakeholders from across the Arab world, exchange experience, and explore opportunities for collaboration to boost mutual tourism with the aim of addressing the urgent need to revitalize the sector.
"The ATM provides a perfect platform to capture the attention of visitors from the Arab region – one of the most important tourist markets for Egypt that accounted for more than 20 percent of inbound tourism pre-COVID-19. In addition to the proximity factor, pleasant weather all year round, and distinctive tourist attractions, Arab tourists feel at home in our country due to our shared language, culture, and customs. And of course, this feeling is mutually shared by Egyptians," El-Anany said.
