German Tourism to Egypt Exceeds 500,000 in the First Half of 2017, Surpassing 2015

1.9 million European tourists arrived at the Egyptian destination in 6 months, up 73%

Italy breaks 100,000 tourists in Egypt after a period of stagnation as it regains its health

Promising positive developments from Poland, the Netherlands and Slovakia

By Akram Medhat

European tourism to Egypt recorded 309,000 arrivals last June, up 108% compared with June 2016, a leap in arrivals especially from the Egyptian destination's main markets. Europeans accounted for 58% of total inbound tourist traffic from around the world, which reached 533,000 tourists.

Tourism statistics obtained exclusively by "Travel Yalla News" revealed that the total number of tourists arriving from Europe during the first half of this year reached 1.9 million, compared with 1.1 million in the same period of 2016, up 73%. They spent 16.5 million tourist nights, an increase of 168%.

The increase is a positive indicator of the success of efforts to make up for last year's losses following the Russian plane crash in October 2015 and to return to pre-crisis rates, which stood at 3.6 million tourists from Europe in the first half of 2015.

Germany in the Lead

German tourist arrivals in Egypt last June set record rates, up 148% compared with June 2016, at 90,000 German tourists who spent 781,000 tourist nights, an increase of 200%. This points to rising demand from the German market during the summer, which is not its main season, as last month's figures surpassed June 2015, before the Russian plane crisis, which saw the arrival of about 78,000 tourists.

In the first half of 2017 as a whole, 503,000 tourists arrived from Germany, up 66% compared with the same period of 2016, spending 5.1 million tourist nights, an increase of 124%, making Germany the undisputed leader among tourism source markets for Egypt, both in Europe and worldwide. At these rates, German tourism exceeded the figure for the first half of 2015, before the crisis, which reached 460,000 tourists.

The Czech Republic Rivals Britain as Ukraine Holds Steady

Ukraine came second in Europe and third worldwide in arrivals to Egypt, registering 30,000 tourists, up 59% compared with June 2016, who spent 252,000 tourist nights, an increase of 304%.

In the first half of this year as a whole, it recorded 377,000 Ukrainian tourist arrivals, up 121%, who spent 2.7 million tourist nights, an increase of 294%, confirming its strength on the list of promising markets making up for the absence of other nationalities.

British tourism, however, remains quiet with the continued flight ban to its top destination, Sharm El-Sheikh. It came third in Europe, recording 22,000 tourist arrivals in June, up 54%, who spent 200,000 tourist nights.

The British recorded 147,000 tourist arrivals in Egypt during the first half of 2017, up 26% from the same period of 2016, spending 1.5 million tourist nights, an increase of 70%.

The Czech Republic continued its rise among Europe's top five in June, recording 22,000 Czech tourist arrivals in Egypt, up 148%, to rank fourth in Europe and sixth worldwide, competing strongly with the British market for third place. Tourist nights also rose by 533%, as they spent 158,000 nights.

In the first half of 2017 as a whole, Czech tourism to Egypt recorded 71,000 arrivals, up 148%, who spent 560,000 tourist nights, an increase of 580%, ranking 11th on the list of Egypt's tourism markets worldwide.

Italian Recovery Makes Up for Stagnation

Italian tourism maintained its relative recovery as it regains its health, ranking sixth in Europe with 19,000 tourist arrivals last June, up 107%, who spent 158,000 tourist nights, an increase of 307%.

Italians recorded 101,000 tourist arrivals in the first half of 2017, up 72%, spending one million tourist nights, an increase of 225%.

Poland Regains Its Health, and the Netherlands Is Rising

Polish tourism saw the highest rate of increase among the main European markets last June, with about 18,000 tourist arrivals, up 279% from June 2016, who spent 112,000 tourist nights.

In the first half of 2017 as a whole, Poles recorded 69,000 tourist arrivals, up 147% compared with the same period of 2016, spending 500,000 tourist nights. Although this growth has not made up for the rates of 2015, which saw 135,000 Polish tourists arrive in 6 months, it is a positive indicator that this important market is regaining its health.

The Netherlands is one of the rising and promising tourism markets, recording 63,000 tourist arrivals in the first half of 2017, up 84% compared with 2016, who spent 620,000 tourist nights, while last June saw about 7,000 tourists, an increase of 73%.

Slovakia, a Strong Promising Market

On another note, some European markets rose sharply and saw notable demand last June, most prominently promising Slovakia, with more than 7,000 tourist arrivals, up 158%, who spent 47,000 tourist nights, a record increase of 600%.

In the first half of 2017 as a whole, more than 17,000 tourists arrived from Slovakia, up 187% from the same period last year, spending 116,000 tourist nights, an increase of 643%, almost matching 2015 figures. June saw the highest demand from this market, accounting alone for about 40% of all Slovak arrivals since the beginning of this year.

Russians Work Around the Flight Suspension

Despite the continued complete suspension of Russian flights to all Egyptian airports, tourism statistics still record Russian tourist traffic, albeit weak and not comparable with the normal rates of this important market. Russian tourist arrivals totaled 5,211 last June, an increase of 31% over June 2016, while in the first half of this year as a whole the number of Russians reached 42,000 tourists, up 72% compared with the same period of 2016.

A table showing the top European tourism source markets in June 2017 compared with 2016, and the first-half total:

Read also:

3.6 Million Tourists Arrived in Egypt in the First Half of 2017, Up 52%, With June the Weakest Month