Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, held media interviews with a number of major Turkish channels and news agencies on the sidelines of Egypt's participation in the EMITT international tourism exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey, during which he reviewed developments in Egypt's tourism sector and the prospects for tourism and investment cooperation between the two countries, stressing the strength of Egyptian-Turkish relations and pointing to the Turkish President's recent successful visit to Egypt.
Fathy explained that Egypt received 19 million tourists in 2025, an increase of 20% over 2024, with a target of achieving additional growth of 10% in 2026. He pointed to the large increase of 43% in the number of tourists arriving from Turkey in 2025 and expected growth to continue in 2026, amid expectations that flight bookings from the Turkish market will increase by between 20% and 25%.
The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities stressed the importance of cooperation with airlines and tour operators to support two-way tourism and sustain air connectivity, noting that Egypt was the top tourist destination for Turkish tourists in 2025, and pointing to the growth of cultural tourism, with a 30% increase in tickets to archaeological sites and museums, especially with the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which receives about 15,000 visitors a day.
The minister reviewed the strategy of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, stressing that Egypt has diverse and unique tourism products unmatched worldwide that can be combined to offer new experiences, along with relying on digital marketing tools and artificial intelligence in promotional campaigns. He stressed that the tourism season in Egypt extends throughout the year, with growing demand for luxury tourism and Nile cruises.
On investment, he pointed to the growth of Turkish investments in Egypt and the state's efforts to attract more tourism investment through incentives and facilities, especially in building hotels, stressing that there are promising opportunities in areas such as the North Coast and New Alamein City, which last summer received tourists from more than 106 nationalities, with charter flights to it increasing by 500%.
