292,000 European tourists came to Egypt last month, up 68%
Slovakia records the highest growth rate at 231%, emerging as the most prominent promising market
By Akram Medhat
European tourism to Egypt was relatively calm last May compared with the strong surge achieved in April, with 292,000 tourists arriving last month, up 68%. It was therefore a main reason for the slowdown in the monthly growth rate, since Europeans account for 51% of total tourist traffic from around the world to Egypt, which reached 574,000 tourists.
Tourism statistics obtained exclusively by Travel Yalla News showed that the total number of tourists arriving from Europe in the first five months of this year reached 1.6 million, compared with 953,000 in the same period of 2016, up 68%. They spent 14 million tourist nights, an increase of 158%.
The major European markets recorded a decline in arrival rates in May compared with April, led by Germany and Ukraine, while the Czech Republic climbed strongly, a number of promising markets such as Slovakia emerged, and other nationalities regained momentum, led by Italy.
As usual, Germany topped tourist arrivals in May, recording 77,000 German tourists, up 69% from the same month of 2016, who spent 829,000 tourist nights, an increase of 158%.
For the whole period from January to May 2017, German tourism recorded 414,000 arrivals, up 55%, spending 4.3 million tourist nights, an increase of 115%, putting it at the top of the source markets for tourism to Egypt.
Czech Rise, Ukrainian Slowdown
Ukraine came second in Europe and worldwide in arrivals to Egypt, recording 46,000 tourists, up 79% compared with May 2016. Ukrainian arrivals in the first five months totaled 347,000 tourists, up 129%, spending 2.5 million tourist nights, an increase of 293%.
British tourism remains subdued as the flight ban to their top destination, Sharm El-Sheikh, continues. It came third in Europe, recording 22,000 tourist arrivals in May, up 27%, who spent 239,000 tourist nights.
The British recorded 125,000 tourist arrivals to Egypt during the first five months of this year, up 21% from the same period of 2016, spending 1.3 million tourist nights, an increase of 66%.
The Czech Republic climbed into the top five in the European market in May, after 21,000 Czech tourists came to Egypt, up 173%, the highest growth rate among the main markets. It ranked fourth and exceeded the figure for May 2015, which was more stable and recorded about 16,000 tourists. Tourist nights also saw a record jump of 760%, as they spent 178,000 nights.
In total for the first five months of 2017, Czech tourism to Egypt recorded 48,000 arrivals, up 148%, spending 400,000 tourist nights, an increase of 601%.
Italian tourism maintained its relative recovery as it regains its health, ranking fifth in Europe with 18,000 tourists last May, up 87%, who spent 192,000 tourist nights, an increase of 343%.
Italians recorded 83,000 tourist arrivals from January to May 2017, up 65%, spending 860,000 tourist nights, an increase of 214%.
Polish Upswing
Poland was the most stable market and even saw an increase last May over April, unlike most other nationalities, with about 14,000 tourists arriving, up 225% from May 2016, who spent 124,000 tourist nights.
Poles totaled 51,000 tourists in the first five months of this year, up 120%, spending 387,000 tourist nights.
Slovakia Posts the Highest Growth Rate
On the other hand, some European markets rose sharply and achieved the highest growth rates last May, most notably Slovakia, one of the promising markets, which recorded 4,356 tourists, up 231%, spending 31,000 tourist nights, a record increase of 836%.
In total for the first five months, 10,000 tourists came from Slovakia, up 211%, spending 70,000 tourist nights, an increase of 674%. May thus saw the highest demand from this market, accounting on its own for about 40% of all Slovak arrivals since the start of this year.
Russians and Getting Around the Flight Suspension
Despite the continued complete suspension of Russian flights to all Egyptian airports, tourism statistics still record traffic of Russian tourists, albeit weak and not comparable to the normal rates of this important market. Russian tourists recorded 7,000 arrivals last May, up 67% from the same month of 2016, and in total for the first five months of this year the number of Russians reached 36,000 tourists, up 80% compared with the same period of 2016.
Table showing the main major European source markets for tourism in May 2017 compared with 2016:
Country | Number of tourists | Change from May 2016 |
|---|---|---|
Germany | 76,852 | 69% |
Ukraine | 46,498 | 79.3% |
Britain | 22,349 | 26.7% |
Czech Republic | 20,564 | 173% |
Italy | 17,590 | 87.5% |
Poland | 13,942 | 225% |
Israel | 10,870 | -19.4% |
France | 9,936 | 21.4% |
Austria | 8,604 | 76.7% |
Netherlands | 8,244 | 59% |
Russia | 6,983 | 67% |
Switzerland | 5,486 | 60% |
Belgium | 5,156 | 61% |
Slovakia | 4,356 | 231% |
Spain | 2,322 | 18% |
Read also:
Inbound Tourism to Egypt Relatively Calm in May Despite 33% Rise Over the Same Month of 2016
