Egypt achieves record primary budget surplus of EGP 629bn despite sharp fall in Suez Canal revenues    Escalation in Gaza, West Bank as Israeli strikes continue amid mounting international criticism    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Resumption of production at El Nasr marks strategic step towards localising automotive industry: El-Shimy    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, UNDP discuss outcomes of joint projects, future environmental cooperation    United Bank achieves EGP 1.51bn net profit in H1 2025, up 26.9% year-on-year    After Putin summit, Trump says peace deal is best way to end Ukraine war    Jordan condemns Israeli PM remarks on 'Greater Israel'    Egypt's Supreme Energy Council reviews power supply plans for 14 industrial projects    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, bilateral ties in calls with Saudi, South African counterparts    Egypt prepares to tackle seasonal air pollution in Nile Delta    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egyptian pound closes high vs. USD on Tuesday – CBE    Egypt, Colombia discuss medical support for Palestinians injured in Gaza    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Officials reflect on possibility of 12 million tourists targeted by year-end
Published in Daily News Egypt on 08 - 04 - 2015

With the Ministry of Tourism's current strategies, all signs indicate an increase in tourist numbers, and that it may reach 12 million tourists by the end of 2015.
The 2014 figures show 10 million tourists arrived in Egypt in 2014, with this year's figures indicating a potential 2.5 million increase, said Raouf Bakry, member of Marsa Alam Investors Assembly.
However, Minister of Tourism Khaled Rami told Daily News Egypt in a press conference Sunday that Egypt is targeting a 20% growth in tourist numbers next winter, and 15% next summer. He noted that Egypt's tourism income was $7.5bn in 2014, a growth of $1.6bn compared to 2013.
Most of the tourists heading to Egypt come from Western Europe, where there is a strong comeback of Italian and German tourists in, despite a huge decrease in Russian tourists' numbers. In spite of the Russian decrease, Egypt is targeting other nationalities to reach its aim of increasing the numbers by 20%, Bakry added.
Tourists mostly target the Red Sea and South Sinai areas, with government support given to promote tourism in Luxor and Aswan during the next period. It is hoped this will increase the numbers of tourists heading there next winter, Bakry noted.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, hotel capacity in Egypt is at 225,000 rooms, 65% of which are in the Red Sea and South Sinai, while the rest are distributed between Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan.
The increase in Egypt's tourism is attached to the country's stability in security. Whenever the security situation stabilises, tourism rates will rise, said the CEO of tourism company Blue Sky, Hisham Al-Shaer.
Meanwhile, occupancy rates of hotels reached 70% in Hurghada and Sharm Al-Sheikh last winter, whereas it has currently remained between 40% and 50%, with the majority of tourist groups being German and British, Al-Shaer added.
Tourist expenditure per night during last year increased from $74.3 per night at the beginning of the year to $81.3 at its end, according to Rami.
However, the Ministry of Tourism aims to double tourism income over the next five years from the current $81.3 to $120 per night, according to Economic Adviser to the Minister of Tourism Adela Ragab.


Clic here to read the story from its source.