German Tourism Ranks First in Egypt With 836,000 Tourists by End of September 2017

3.2 million European tourists visited the Egyptian destination in 9 months, up 83%

Italian tourist numbers double... and France regains its position from before the 2016 slump year

Promising positive developments from Poland and the Netherlands... and Swiss and Slovak gains

By Akram Medhat

European tourism in Egypt achieved notable progress in the first 9 months of 2017 amid the tourism sector's recovery from the slump it has suffered since the Russian plane crash crisis of October 2015, as the number of European tourists rose 83% to 3.2 million, compared with about 1.7 million in the same period of 2016. The European market represents 54% of total inbound tourist traffic from around the world, which reached 5.9 million tourists.

Tourist nights spent by Europeans in Egypt reached about 30 million from January to September 2017, a jump of 206% compared with the number of nights in the same period of 2016.

A European Recovery in September

Tourism statistics obtained exclusively by Travel Yalla News revealed that the number of tourists arriving from Europe last September reached 408,000, compared with 212,000 in the same month of 2016, up 92%, spending 4.5 million tourist nights, an increase of 295%.

Germany at the Top... and Ukrainian Leaps

German tourism reached about 836,000 tourists in the first 9 months of 2017, up 91% compared with the same period last year, leading inbound tourism to Egypt unrivaled. Germans spent 8.7 million tourist nights, an increase of 157%, and Germany thus exceeded the numbers for the same period of 2015, before the Russian plane crisis, which recorded 737,000 tourists.

Last September, the number of German tourists reached about 115,000, up 140%, spending 1.3 million tourist nights, an increase of 218%, pointing to the expected leaps in the top market for the Egyptian tourist destination.

Ukraine came second in Europe and third worldwide in arrivals to Egypt, recording 490,000 tourists from January to last September, up 116% from the same period in 2016, spending 3.6 million tourist nights, an increase of 306%, achieving overall leaps in numbers and nights and confirming its strength on the list of promising markets that compensate for the absence of other nationalities.

The number of Ukrainian tourists last September reached about 46,000, up 126%, spending 349,000 tourist nights, an increase of 470%.

British tourism remains relatively quiet as the flight ban to their top destination, Sharm El-Sheikh, continues. It came third in Europe and fourth worldwide, recording the arrival of 226,000 tourists in 9 months, up 31%, who spent 2.5 million tourist nights, an increase of 88%.

The British recorded the arrival of 24,000 tourists to Egypt last September, up 47% from the same month in 2016, while tourist nights increased 152%, as they spent 379,000 nights.

A Strong Italian Return

Italian tourism rose into Europe's top five and ranks sixth worldwide as it regains its health, achieving the arrival of 186,000 tourists from January to September 2017, up 101%, who spent 2.2 million tourist nights, an increase of 309%.

Italians recorded the arrival of 22,000 tourists last September, up 129% from September 2016, spending 443,000 tourist nights, an increase of 456%.

Major Markets Regain Their Health

Polish tourism in Egypt improved significantly in the first 9 months of 2017, with the arrival of 129,000 tourists, up 166% compared with the same period in 2016, who spent 1.1 million tourist nights, an increase of 341%.

Although this progress has not made up for the 2015 rates, which saw the arrival of 182,000 Polish tourists in the same period, it is a positive indicator that this important market is regaining its health, especially since Poles exceeded the number of nights they spent in 2015, which was 907,000 tourist nights.

France succeeded in regaining its pre-crisis position, as French tourism to Egypt in the past 9 months recorded about 108,000 tourists, up 45% from the same period in 2016, who spent 1.2 million tourist nights, an increase of 181%, exceeding the pre-slump 2015 figure of 104,000 French tourists.

The Netherlands has become one of the rising tourism markets, recording the arrival of 107,000 Dutch tourists in 2017 through the end of September, up 87% compared with 2016, who spent 1.2 million tourist nights, an increase of 264%.

Promising Markets on the Rise

On the other hand, some European markets saw a big rise and notable demand, most prominently Switzerland, Slovakia and Denmark, in the first nine months of 2017.

Switzerland topped the list with the arrival of 48,000 Swiss tourists to Egypt in 9 months, up 61% from the same period in 2016, who spent 500,000 tourist nights, an increase of 311%.

Slovakia followed, recording 45,000 tourists in Egypt in the past nine months, up 122%, who spent 379,000 tourist nights, an increase of 570%.

Danish tourism to Egypt achieved the arrival of 35,000 tourists, up 51%, who spent 345,000 tourist nights, an increase of 313%, leading the Scandinavian market in tourist traffic through the end of last September.

The Russians Keep Circumventing the Flight Suspension

Despite the continued complete suspension of Russian flights to all Egyptian airports, tourism statistics still record arrivals of Russian tourists, albeit weak and not comparable with the normal rates of this important market, as Russian tourists recorded the arrival of 60,000 tourists over the first nine months of 2017, up 70% from the same period in 2016. Last September, the number of Russians reached 7,230 tourists, an increase of 70% from the same month in 2016.

A table showing the main European source markets for tourism to Egypt from January to September 2017, compared with 2016:

Read also:

Exclusive: Tourism in Egypt Attracted 5.9 Million Tourists by End of September 2017, Up 53%

Egypt's Tourism Revenues Reach $5.2 Billion in 9 Months, Overcoming the Crisis