Egypt’s tourism booms 25% in Q1 as Cairo gears up for Arab Summit
Egypt’s tourist arrivals jumped 25 per cent in the first quarter of 2025 year-on-year, prompting calls for more hotel investment and stronger banking sector support ahead of a regional tourism summit in Cairo this November.
Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy said on Thursday that the strong growth in visitor numbers was also reflected in a 40 per cent rise in hotel occupancy, signaling a robust recovery for one of Egypt’s most vital economic sectors.
Key Tourism Conference on Agenda
Cairo will host the Conference on the Role of Arab Banks in Advancing Arab Tourism from November 15 to 17, in partnership with the Arab Tourism Organisation and the Union of Arab Banks. The event aims to spotlight the role of Arab financial institutions in supporting tourism infrastructure and financing projects across the region.
“The surge in arrivals demands greater hotel capacity,” Minister Fathy said, emphasising the need to leverage the summit as a platform for unlocking investment flows and forging partnerships between banks and tourism developers.
Egypt has ramped up efforts to attract foreign investment and position itself as a regional tourism and logistics hub. The upcoming official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum — billed as one of the world’s largest archaeological museums — is expected to further boost visitor interest.
Arab Tourism Organisation President Bandar bin Fahd Al Fahid praised Egypt’s infrastructure upgrades and expressed confidence that the Cairo summit would catalyse new investment partnerships and long-term development.
The event will include panel discussions and investment-focused workshops designed to match capital with opportunities in Egypt and other Arab destinations.
Tourism is a key pillar of Egypt’s economy, serving as a major source of foreign currency. The government has prioritised reforms to simplify investor procedures and incentivise private sector engagement in the hospitality and cultural sectors.
Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English