JEDDAH: Egypt has welcomed 15 million tourists in the first nine months of 2025, a 21 percent increase compared with last year, bringing the country close to its end-of-year target of 18 million visitors, an official said.
Speaking to Asharq, Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy said: “The growth is continuing, and I hope that by the end of the year we can reach our target of 17.5 to 18 million tourists. Tourism revenues also rose by nearly 18 percent.”
Tourist arrivals reached 8.7 million in the first half of the year, rose to 12.8 million by the end of August, and reached around 15 million by the end of September, Fathy noted.
Tourism remains one of Egypt’s most important sources of foreign exchange. Last year, the country welcomed 15.78 million tourists, marking a record high.
The government has launched a national tourism strategy aiming to attract 30 million visitors by 2028 through expanded capacity and enhanced visitor experiences.
Fathy said: “Egypt is the world’s leading country in tourism diversity. We are the unmatched diversity.”
The minister did not provide figures for tourism revenues in the first nine months of 2025. Asharq cited Central Bank of Egypt data showing that revenues in 2024 rose 9 percent year on year to $15.3 billion.
With the full opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in early November, Fathy said visitor numbers are expected to triple from the current 5,000 to 6,000 daily visitors.
The 120-acre museum, the world’s largest archeological museum, is projected to attract around 5 million visitors annually and will house approximately 100,000 artifacts, including items from King Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Beyond established attractions, Egypt continues to uncover new archaeological sites that could further boost tourism.
In June, authorities announced the discovery of the ancient city of Emet in the Tell El-Faraoun area of Sharqia governorate, following excavations by a British team from the University of Manchester.
The dig revealed residential buildings dating back to the early or mid-fourth century BC, including multi-story “tower houses” designed for large populations, as well as service structures for grain storage and animal shelters.
In the temple area, archaeologists uncovered a large limestone floor and remnants of two massive mudbrick columns above a processional road linked to the historic Wadjet Temple.
Notable artifacts included a finely crafted green faience ushabti statue from the 26th Dynasty, a stone stela depicting Horus, and a bronze sistrum decorated with Hathor heads from the Late Period.
These discoveries highlight Egypt’s enduring archaeological richness, offering new attractions for cultural tourism and supporting the country’s broader strategy to strengthen its tourism sector.e
