Egypt received about 19 million international visitors in 2025, with arrivals reaching roughly 9 million across all markets in the first half of 2026. Tourism revenue rose about one-third to $5.1 billion in the first quarter of 2026. The UK remained a steady source market with 1.1 million British visitors last year, marking a 17% increase over 2024 figures.
Egypt’s Tourism Authority Urges UK Agents to Broaden Promotion
Dr Ahmed Youssef, chief executive of the Egyptian Tourism Authority, addressed UK travel agents at Jet2’s Destination Partners Event in Leeds on September 30. He urged agents to expand their sales focus beyond Egypt’s traditional resorts and Nile cruises to promote
the country’s diverse offerings. Youssef emphasized targeting longer stays, repeat visits, and multi-centre itineraries that combine cultural and leisure destinations.
“Our ambition for the UK is about value as much as volume: longer stays, more repeat visits, and more British travellers combining the Red Sea with Cairo, Luxor or the Nile, or adding the Mediterranean coast for a summer itinerary,” Youssef said. He called on the trade to view Egypt as a destination where multiple distinct experiences coexist within one holiday.
Diversified Destinations Beyond the Usual
The Egyptian Tourism Authority promotes a range of destinations to complement Egypt’s established hotspots. These include Cairo—with the fully
opened Grand Egyptian Museum and a growing creative and culinary scene—and premium Nile Valley products such as small luxury dahabiyyas. Additional attractions highlighted include diving and nature experiences in Marsa Alam, Siwa, and Egypt’s Western Desert, along with expanding tourism on the Mediterranean coast.
Youssef said agents can increase the appeal of Egypt by constructing itineraries that link different regions, giving customers fresh experiences beyond the conventional options. He added that a combined week on the Red Sea with three nights in Luxor or a Nile and Cairo cultural itinerary followed by beach time is an easy package to market.
Expanded Air Connectivity and New Hotel Developments
The Egyptian Tourism Authority considers increased UK air capacity essential for tourism growth. Jet2 will launch year-round flights to Egypt from six UK airports starting February, likely in 2027. Youssef expressed a desire for more direct UK flights to Luxor and Marsa Alam to enable British travelers to access the Nile Valley and the southern Red Sea more easily. He also wants more year-round connections from UK regional airports.
The hotel sector will expand with approximately 7,600 new rooms across about 30 properties planned for openings in 2027. These developments will be spread across Luxor, Aswan, Sharm el-Sheikh, Marsa Alam,
Cairo, and Egypt’s North Coast, supporting the strategy of offering diverse holiday options.
Impact of the 2027 Total Solar Eclipse
An anticipated visitor draw is the total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027, which will pass directly over Luxor, providing over six minutes of totality across the Nile Valley. Dr Youssef indicated this event as a unique selling point for travel agents to promote early bookings in Luxor during that period.
“For agents, the opportunity is to start thinking about 2027 not simply as another year for Egypt, but as a year in which several new reasons to visit come together,” Youssef said. He expects Luxor to
reach full occupancy early for the eclipse week, underscoring the event’s significance for inbound tourism from the UK and other markets.
