German Tourism to Egypt Exceeds 100,000 in April, Italian Tourism Recovers and Austrian Posts the Highest Growth

404,000 European tourists came to the Egyptian destination last month, up 98%

The Dutch rise strongly, while British demand is relatively calm

By Akram Medhat

European tourism to Egypt last April almost doubled, rising 98% with 405,000 tourists arriving, compared with 205,000 in April 2016. They represent 57% of total tourist traffic from around the world to the Egyptian destination, which reached 716,000 tourists.

Tourism statistics obtained exclusively by “Travel Yalla News” revealed that the total number of tourists arriving from Europe in the first four months of this year reached 1.3 million, compared with 779,000 in the same period of 2016, up 68%, spending 11 million tourist nights, an increase of 147%.

Increases were seen across all the major European markets, and a number of markets began to regain their recovery, led by Italy, the Netherlands and France.

Germany topped tourist arrivals in April, achieving the highest monthly turnout and crossing the 100,000 mark for the first time in six years, with 110,000 German tourists arriving, up 106% from April 2016, spending 1.1 million tourist nights, an increase of 160%.

In total for the first four months of this year, German tourism recorded 337,000 arrivals, up 52%, spending 3.5 million tourist nights, an increase of 106%, putting it at the top of the source markets for tourism to Egypt.

Italian Recovery and British Calm

Ukraine ranks second in Europe and worldwide in arrivals to Egypt, recording 74,000 tourists in April, up 143% compared with the same month in 2016, spending 530,000 tourist nights, an increase of 337%.

In total for the first four months, Ukrainian arrivals reached 300,000 tourists, up 139%, spending 2 million tourist nights, an increase of 293%.

On the other hand, there is relative calm in British tourism to Egypt, which came third in Europe and fourth worldwide, recording 28,000 tourists in April, up 31% from April 2016, spending 325,000 tourist nights.

Britons recorded 102,000 arrivals in Egypt during the first four months of this year, up 20% from the same period in 2016, despite the continued suspension of direct flights to Sharm El-Sheikh, spending 1.1 million tourist nights, an increase of 63%.

Italian tourism saw a notable recovery, returning to the ranks of the major markets that have begun to regain their health. It ranks fourth in Europe and sixth worldwide, with 24,000 tourists arriving last April, up 140%, spending 252,000 tourist nights, a leap of 413%.

Italians recorded 65,000 arrivals in total for the first four months of 2017, up 60%, spending 668,000 tourist nights, an increase of 190%.

Austria Records the Highest Growth and a Notable French Rise

Separately, some European markets saw a strong rise last April, led by the Netherlands, which recorded 14,000 tourists, up 80% from April 2016, ranking sixth on the list of European tourist markets.

The Dutch recorded 48,000 arrivals in total for the first four months of 2017, up 90%, spending 426,000 tourist nights, an increase of 204%.

French tourism saw a notable rise in arrivals, recording 14,000 tourists, up 27%, spending 145,000 tourist nights, an increase of 145%. In total for the first four months of this year, the number of French tourists reached 43,000, up 25%.

Polish tourism reached about 12,000 tourists in April, up 162%, spending 71,000 tourist nights, an increase of 209%.

Austria achieved the highest growth rate in arrivals from European markets to Egypt in April, recording 11,000 Austrian tourists, up 209%, spending 106,000 tourist nights, an increase of 385%. Austrian numbers jumped by more than half compared with last March, which saw about 7,000 tourists.

Israel was the only market to record a decline in traffic from Europe, at 15%, with 19,000 tourists arriving last April. In total for the first four months of 2017, Israelis recorded 43,000 tourists, down 12% from the same period in 2016.

The Russians and Getting Around the Flight Suspension

Despite the continued complete suspension of Russian flights to all Egyptian airports, tourism statistics record traffic of Russian tourists, albeit weak and not comparable to the normal rates for this important market. Russian tourists recorded 9,000 arrivals last April, up 78% from April 2016, and in total for the first four months of this year the number of Russians reached 29,000 tourists, an increase of 84% compared with the same period of 2016.

A table showing the top major European source markets for tourism in April 2017 compared with 2016: