Tourism in Egypt: A Look at Ancient Wonders and Modern Experiences

Tourism in Egypt:

Tourism in Egypt plays a significant economic role and is one of the country's most important sources of income. In 2018, Egypt was visited by over 13 million foreign guests, making it the third most visited country in Africa, behind Morocco and South Africa. The tourism industry employs 2.5 million people (9.4% of all jobs) and contributes 29.6 billion USD to the GDP (5.6% of the total economic output). It also brings important foreign currency earnings to the country, which is otherwise relatively uncompetitive in the global market and has a high trade deficit.

Foundation:

Due to the country's rich history, a large number of attractions, and its proximity to Europe, tourism in Egypt has excellent foundations. Tourist activity is concentrated in areas such as the Red Sea coast, large cities, and sites of particular interest like the Pyramids of Giza or the Abu Simbel temples. The Nile is also increasingly being developed for tourism. The high season in Egypt runs from mid-October to May, when temperatures are most pleasant. Most international tourists arrive via the country's 9 international airports.

Tourism has always been a priority for previous governments as a tool for national development. A problematic factor is the country's poor security situation and ongoing political instability. As of June 2019, the Foreign Office issued a partial travel warning, advising caution. Travel to northern Sinai and the Gaza-Israel border is discouraged due to poor security conditions.

In the 2017 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report by the World Economic Forum, Egypt ranked 74th out of 136 countries.

History:

In 1951, Egypt hosted 100,000 tourists. From the 1970s, tourism was promoted as a key economic sector. During this time, Egypt began loosening visa restrictions for almost all European and North American countries and started advertising campaigns to attract travelers. In 1976, tourism became the focus of the government's Five-Year Plan, which allocated 12% of the budget for modernizing state-owned hotels, creating a loan fund for private hotels, and modernizing infrastructure (including roads, railways, and public transport). Additionally, air connectivity to major tourist centers along the coast was improved.

In 1979, tourism experts and consultants from Turkey were brought in, and with Turkish help, new universities were established between 1979 and 1981 to offer courses in gastronomy and tourism management. The number of tourists grew from 1.8 million in 1981 to 5.1 million in 2000. The industry faced setbacks due to politically motivated attacks on tourists, starting with the 1997 Luxor massacre that killed 62 people. Further incidents occurred in Sinai in 2004, Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh in 2005, Dahab in 2006, and Hurghada in 2017, which damaged the country's reputation as a travel destination. In 2015, Egyptian security forces mistakenly killed 12 tourists from a Mexican tour group.

Tourism peaked in 2010 with 14.7 million visitors. A major setback occurred during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, although most tourist destinations were not directly affected by the unrest. Visitor numbers dropped by over 37% from 14 million in 2010 to 9 million by the end of 2011. Another blow came with the military coup two years later. In 2016, tourist numbers had fallen by nearly two-thirds compared to 2010, causing significant economic disruptions in the sector. From 2016 onwards, a consolidation phase began, and the number of tourists started to rise again.

Main Attractions:

Some of Egypt's most famous tourist destinations include its millennia-old monuments along the Nile. Key sites include the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx in Giza, the Abu Simbel temples south of Aswan, the Karnak temple complex, and the Valley of the Kings near Luxor. In Cairo, notable attractions include the Cairo Museum and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha. On the Sinai Peninsula's coast, there are popular resorts such as Hurghada and the famous resort of El Gouna, 25 km from Hurghada.

Pyramids of Giza

Located 20 km southwest of Cairo, Giza is home to several remnants from the 26th century BC, including temples and monuments dedicated to pharaohs, such as the Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Saqqara

About 30 km south of Cairo, Saqqara is a vast ancient burial ground that served as the necropolis for the ancient capital of Egypt, Memphis. It features numerous pyramids, including the world's oldest still-standing step pyramid, as well as a series of mastabas.

Luxor

Located approximately 500 km south of Cairo, Luxor is the site of the ancient city of Thebes. It includes the ruins of the Karnak and Luxor temple complexes, which lie within the modern city. On the opposite side of the Nile, the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens host monuments, temples, and tombs from the necropolis.

Abu Simbel Temples

Abu Simbel, located about 850 km south of Cairo near the border with Sudan, consists of two massive rock temples originally carved into a mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC. The complex was entirely relocated in the 1960s to prevent it from being submerged during the creation of the Nasser Lake. It now sits on an artificial hill above the Aswan Dam’s reservoir.

Alexandria

A popular summer holiday destination, Alexandria is known for its beaches, ancient history, and museums, particularly the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a modern project that aims to revive the ancient Library of Alexandria.

Sinai Peninsula

The Sinai Peninsula hosts resorts like Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, and Taba, as well as biblically significant sites like Mount Sinai (Jabal Musa). The Saint Catherine's Monastery is possibly the oldest active Christian monastery in the world.

Ain Sukhna

Located about 110 km east of Cairo, Ain Sukhna is known for its beach resorts.

Assiut

In southern Egypt, Assiut has historical buildings from the pharaonic period and old mosques.

Hurghada and El Gouna

Both located on the Red Sea coast, Hurghada and El Gouna are famous for their beaches, snorkeling, and diving. El Gouna is especially renowned for its vibrant nightlife.

Ancient Egypt:

Ancient Egypt's civilization left behind many monuments and temples, which are now key attractions for today's visitors. These include:

Pyramids

Along the Nile, there are more than 70 pyramids, with the three pyramids of Giza being the most famous. The Sphinx, a lion-bodied guardian, stands next to the pyramids in Giza. The pyramids were built over 4,000 years ago during the reigns of Kings Cheops, Kefren, and Mykerinos. The bodies of these three kings were entombed in the pyramids. The Great Pyramid of Cheops, standing at 145 meters tall, is the largest and is also called the Great Pyramid.

Saqqara Complex

Saqqara's massive necropolis, including Memphis, lies 24 kilometers south of central Cairo. Memphis, founded around 3000 BC by Menes, was the administrative capital of ancient Egypt. Saqqara features the Zoser tomb complex, the tomb of Mereruka, and the Serapeum, an underground complex where mummified Apis bulls were housed in giant granite sarcophagi.

Valley of the Kings in Thebes

Due to tomb robberies inside the pyramids, the tombs of 26 pharaohs from the 18th to 20th dynasties, including Tutankhamun, Ramses the Great, and Thutmose III, were carved into the rocks of the Valley of the Kings. More tombs are found in the Valley of the Queens.