Egypt Cultural Tourism Revenues See Steep Rise In October

Revenues generated from touristic visits to museums and antiquities sites recorded LE6 million ($0.8 million) in October, the antiquities ministry stated on Sunday.

Despite the whopping 253 percent rise from September, when cultural touristic visits churned out some LE1.7 million ($0.2 million), revenues remain sharply below 2010 levels.

In October 2010, the country’s coffers received around LE111 million ($16 million) in revenues from museum and ancient site visits.

2010 was Egypt’s tourism peak, when an estimated 14.7 million tourists visited the country, generating $12.5 billion in revenue.

According to the antiquities ministry statement, the ministry has suffered from limited financial resources. However, it has remained committed to saving LE53 million ($7.6 million) per month.

At the Euromoney Conference on Monday, tourism minister Hisham Zaazou clarified that global tourism trends are now geared towards leisure travel.

Zaazou pointed out that sun-and-sea tourism represents 80 percent of Egypt’s tourism trade, while cultural tourism takes the remaining 20 percent.

Source: Ahram