Number of tourist arrivals Egypt 2010-2023
In 2023, the number of tourist arrivals in Egypt amounted to about 15 million, up from around 12 million in the previous year. In 2020, tourist arrivals were at its lowest, at 3.62 million. The significant drop was mainly due to travel restrictions implemented due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Within the period under review, two major declines in arrivals can be recognized, one in 2016 and the other in 2020. In 2015, a Russian plane crashed in the Sinai Peninsula, significantly leading to the drop in 2016.
Egypt as a top tourist spot on the continent
Since 2020, Egypt has been leading Africa in tourist arrivals. In 2019, the country ranked second to Morocco, which registered over 12.9 million tourists. In fact, both countries held leading positions in terms of international tourism receipts. In 2023, inbound tourism expenditure reached around 14.1 billion U.S. dollars, while that of Morocco added up to 10.3 billion U.S. dollars. Overall, according to the travel and tourism competitiveness index, Egypt is the third highest-ranking African country in terms of its attractiveness in tourism sector development, just after South Africa and Mauritius.
A popular destination for Europeans
Egypt is a globally famous tourist site, mainly for Europeans. In 2022, around 7.3 million European visitors visited Egypt, the highest number compared to other regions. Furthermore, as of the latest data in 2019, the country had almost 202,430 hotel rooms to accommodate tourists. That year, the occupancy rate for the rooms stood at over 62 percent.
