Egypt’s government is eyeing to extend the average tourist stay in Cairo to 12 days, part of the tourism ministry’s efforts to reimagine the allure of Greater Cairo and bolster the country’s tourism sector.
Historical Cairo
The first experience entails exploring Pharaonic Cairo and archaeological sites, while the second involves visits to museums, palaces, and gardens. The third experience centers on exploring historic Cairo.
The Cabinet’s Official Spokesperson, Mohamed El-Homosany, highlighted the detailed discussion on proposed historical Cairo products and visit routes. The six routes discussed are Al-Muizz Street of Al-Fatimid Cairo, starting from Bab al-Futuh and extending through Al-Hussein Mosque to Bab Zuweila. Another route is Bab al-Wazir Street, beginning from Al-Azhar Park and passing through Aytamish al-Bajasi Mosque to Sultan Hassan Mosque.
Additionally, there are other routes, such as the Salah al-Din Citadel route, the Religious Complex route from Amr ibn al-As Mosque to the Jewish Temple, the Heritage Crafts route starting from Bab Zuweila to the Ahmed Ibn Tulun Mosque, and the Nile Trip route beginning at the Mohamed Ali Palace in Shubra and ending at the Farouk Corner Museum.
The meeting also covered the revitalization projects of various areas within historical Cairo and reviewed the progress of the trial operation of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Additionally, discussions centered on completing the remaining works in the museum’s components to prepare for its imminent opening soon.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly underscored the paramount importance of the tourism sector during the meeting, highlighting its inclusion in the government’s agenda. The focus is on enhancing the quality of Egyptian tourism products, stimulating investments, and attracting them to tourism projects, particularly given Egypt’s exceptional tourist attractions.
Tourism arrivals
Egypt saw a 4% year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2024, reaching 3.7 million tourists, as reported by Asharq Business, citing a government official. However, tourism flows to Sharm El-Sheikh decreased by approximately 20% year-on-year during the same quarter. In 2023, the number of tourists visiting Egypt reached a record level of 14.906 million people.
Egypt heavily relies on the tourism sector as a vital source of US dollar revenues.
