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The increase comes as the number of tourists rose in 2024 to reach 16.3 million, placing the country 35th worldwide, compared to 14.9 million in 2023.

Egypt attracted a record-breaking 7.069 million tourists in the first half of 2024, slightly increasing from the 7.062 million visitors during the same period in 2023.

Egypt's National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism 2030 seeks to draw 30 million tourists each year by 2028.

Tourism contributed $19.9 billion to Egypt’s economy, positioning the country 31st globally out of 185 nations. This marked a 25.7 percent increase in direct GDP contributions from tourism compared to 2019.

The country invested $6 billion in tourism infrastructure development, ranking Egypt 29th globally in tourism investment.

In July, the Egyptian cabinet endorsed a new initiative worth EGP 50 billion, financed by the Ministry of Finance, to bolster the country's tourism industry amid ongoing global and regional challenges.

The number of direct workers in Egypt’s tourism sector reached 1.6 million, representing a 17.9 percent growth compared to 2019 and placing Egypt 13th in global tourism employment rankings.

The total employment in the sector reached 2.7 million, with Egypt ranking 21st globally in this category.

Domestic tourism also saw substantial spending, with Egyptians spending $11.1 billion on local travel, while foreign tourists contributed $16.3 billion to the economy. Egypt ranks 44th in domestic and 33rd in foreign tourism spending globally.

Regarding spending patterns, business tourism accounted for $3.1 billion, while leisure tourism saw significantly higher expenditure, totalling $24.3 billion. This underscores the country’s appeal as a destination for recreation and relaxation.

Leisure tourism comprises approximately 92.5 percent of total tourism spending, reflecting the dominant role of recreational travel in Egypt's tourism industry.

In November, the Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETA) projected that Egypt's tourism revenues would grow by seven to eight percent by the end of 2024.