Skip to main content

Egypt 'tourism rebound' slow to reach South Sinai

Egypt’s tourism sector has been slowly growing as people do not differentiate between South Sinai and North Sinai, where the fighting is ongoing between the Egyptian army and the Islamic State.
Tourists enjoy the water at a beach at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh city, which is hosting the Arab Summit on Saturday, in the South Sinai governorate, south of Cairo March 27, 2015. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh  - RTR4V7SB

Egypt's "tourism rebound" is in full swing, according to a fact sheet circulated by the Egyptian Embassy in Washington last week. The latest numbers show increasing arrivals and revenues, which are set to rise by 47% by the end of this financial year, and is coupled with a promise from the Ministry of Tourism to double the size of the tourist sector by fiscal year 2017-18.

Daily occupancy rates in the Red Sea resort towns of Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada reached more than 70% at the start of June, a Ministry of Tourism spokesperson told Al-Monitor. This is welcome news for an industry that has arguably been the worst hit by Egypt's recent years of instability and violence broadcast around the globe.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.