Egypt eyes tourism revenue up to $9 billion this year as revival begins – minister

Egypt is targeting tourism revenue ranging between $6 billion and $9 billion in 2021 as an influx of Eastern European and Gulf vacationers revive a key sector severely hit by the pandemic, its tourism minister said on Wednesday.

With the number of visitors growing to about 500,000 a month, Egypt is hoping for a total of more than 6 million tourists this year, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled El-Enany said on the sidelines of a tourism conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Bloomberg reported.

According to El-Enany, more than 60 percent of current arrivals are from Eastern Europe or the former Soviet Union; while 20 percent are from Gulf countries. He also said that all tourism workers will be vaccinated to ensure safety.

Earlier in January, El-Enany told Al-Arabiya TV channel that tourism revenue fell to about $4 billion in 2020 from $13 billion the year before due to the pandemic.

Authorities expect to inaugurate the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza — a major tourist attraction — this year, but that may be delayed to 2022, the minister added.