Dr Ahmed Youssef, chief executive of the Egyptian Tourism Authority, urged UK travel agents on September 30, 2026, to broaden holiday packages beyond Egypt’s traditional resort and Nile cruise sectors. The UK market remains one of Egypt’s most stable, with 1.1 million British visitors recorded in 2025, representing a 17% increase from the previous year.
Egypt Encourages Multi-Destination Itineraries
Dr Youssef addressed Jet2’s Destination Partners Event in Leeds, emphasizing the value of combining multiple Egyptian destinations within single travel plans. He highlighted opportunities for longer stays and repeat visits linking Red Sea resorts with cultural hubs like Cairo, Luxor, and the Nile Valley, and
including the Mediterranean coast for summer trips. The Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo has recently fully opened, adding to the capital’s appeal alongside its emerging creative and culinary scenes.
The Egyptian Tourism Authority seeks to position Egypt as a destination offering diverse experiences within one journey rather than a single holiday type. Dr Youssef identified premium Nile cruises such as intimate dahabiyyas, and nature-based options including diving in Marsa Alam and exploration of the Western Desert and Siwa as attractive additions for UK travelers.
Visitor Numbers and Revenue Growth
Egypt received a record 19 million international visitors in 2025. In the first half of 2026,
arrivals totaled around nine million across all markets. Tourism revenue rose approximately 33% to reach $5.1 billion in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting accelerated recovery and market expansion.
New Flights and Hotel Developments
Jet2 plans to commence year-round flights to Egypt from six UK airports starting February 2027, enhancing air connectivity for British travelers. Dr Youssef expressed a desire for more direct flights to Luxor and Marsa Alam, facilitating easier access to the Nile region and southern Red Sea resorts. Expanding connections to regional UK airports throughout the year remain a strategic priority.
Approximately 7,600 new hotel rooms across nearly 30 properties are expected
to open in 2027. These developments will be located in key destinations including Luxor, Aswan, Sharm el-Sheikh, Marsa Alam, Cairo, and Egypt’s North Coast, increasing accommodation capacity to support rising tourism demand.
2027 Total Solar Eclipse and Tourism Opportunities
A total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027, will pass directly over Luxor, bringing nearly six minutes and 22 seconds of totality over the Nile Valley. Dr Youssef identified this event as a major draw for visitors and expects accommodations in Luxor to book out early during that period. He encouraged travel agents to view 2027 as a year with multiple new attractions spurring visits beyond traditional factors.
Marketing Strategy and Industry Advice
Dr Youssef urged UK travel agents to construct holiday itineraries that combine Egypt’s varied experiences rather than focusing only on its well-known resorts or Nile cruises. He suggested packaging multi-centre trips like a week on the Red Sea coupled with several nights in Luxor, or combining Cairo and the Nile with beach stays. This approach adds value by attracting new clients, extending stays, and encouraging returning tourists to explore different regions.
He stated, “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.” Dr Youssef also noted, “We want the trade to see Egypt not simply as a resort destination or a Nile cruise, but as a country where several very different experiences can come together in one journey.” He added that air capacity increases will be fundamental to realising these goals.
“For agents, the opportunity is to look beyond selling one established version of Egypt and instead build holidays around the different experiences that now exist across the country,” Dr Youssef said. “That gives them more ways to attract
new customers, extend itineraries and give returning customers a reason to discover another side of Egypt.” He also highlighted the benefit of direct flights into Luxor and Marsa Alam to enable British travellers to reach key regions more efficiently.
