Sherif Fathy: Tourist arrivals from France rose 17% from January to September 2026
Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy held a number of media meetings with representatives of French media outlets during his current visit to Paris to take part in IFTM Top Resa 2026, which runs from 15 to 17 September.
The minister stressed that Egypt is a safe and stable tourist destination, pointing to continued growth in tourist arrivals. He revealed that Egypt welcomed around 12.8 million tourists from January to mid-September 2026, with arrivals expected to reach around 20 million by the end of the year.
He noted that tourist arrivals from the French market rose by 17% over the same period, with growth expected to reach around 20% by the end of the year, pointing to airlines' growing interest in increasing charter flights to Egyptian destinations.
The minister highlighted Egypt's unrivaled tourism diversity, which allows visitors to combine several experiences and products in a single trip, as well as the ministry's efforts to diversify its promotional tools and use artificial intelligence and social media platforms to reach new markets and segments of travelers.
He reviewed the events Egypt is hosting, the global interest expected in the total solar eclipse in 2027, and the preparations under way to welcome visitors wishing to watch it from a number of Egyptian destinations, including Luxor and Siwa.
The tourism minister also discussed hotel investments in Egypt, particularly French ones, including the expansion of the Accor group, stressing that this reflects strong interest in the Egyptian tourism market.
He also spoke about the Grand Egyptian Museum as an important addition to Egypt's tourism product, noting that it has received around 3.5 million visitors from its opening until the end of August, and its role in increasing tourist nights and length of stay. He also pointed to the development of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir and the relaunch of Historic Cairo and the Holy Family Trail in ways that enhance the diversity of the tourism experience. He concluded by stressing that archaeological discoveries continue in Egypt, representing an ongoing addition to the country's tourism and cultural offering.
