Sunday 04/January/2026 – 07:22 AM
Sherif Fathi, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, confirmed that the state is currently working to achieve qualitative leaps in… Tourism sectorIn parallel with the continuous increase in the number of tourists, he pointed out that the current numbers are good, but they are still less than the true size of Egypt’s tourism potential.
Fathi: The country is currently working to achieve qualitative leaps in the tourism sector
The minister explained, during television statements, that the government is focusing on developing infrastructure as the most important challenge, through expanding the establishment of hotel rooms, and developing and expanding airports, in line with the significant increase in occupancy rates that have reached 100% in some tourist destinations.
He pointed out that the new year will witness an increase in tourism revenues, pointing out that the average prices of hotels and tourism programs have increased by about 30% compared to previous years, which is a positive indicator even if it comes at the expense of the number of tourists.
Fathi revealed that at least 25,000 new hotel rooms will enter service during the coming period, in addition to a future plan to create about 15,000 rooms in the Pyramids area within the general plan to develop the region.
He also pointed out the importance of the hotel apartments and holiday homes model in accommodating tourism growth, stressing that the government has approved new facilities that allow the conversion of residential units into hotel apartments without fees, in support of this model in place in many major tourist countries.
Regarding future expectations, the minister said that the expected tourism growth rate in 2026 ranges between 5 to 7%, with the possibility of breaking the barrier of 20 million tourists, especially with the continuation of programs to stimulate charter flights, which represent a large percentage of tourist traffic.
The Minister of Tourism stressed that the Grand Egyptian Museum had a significant impact on Egypt’s tourism image globally, not only in terms of the number of visitors, but in enhancing Egypt’s cultural and archaeological status and improving its international reputation, in addition to the security and political stability achieved that reflected positively on the tourism sector as a whole.
