11.7 million tourists visited Egypt during 2022: Minister

CAIRO – 15 March 2023: 11.7 million tourists visited Egypt during 2022, according to tourism minister Ahmed Issa Taha, noting that it is expected that Egypt will see an increase in foreign tourist arrivals by 28 percent.

During meeting with Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli, Taha gave an overview of his ministry's strategy during the current period to launch promotion campaigns to further increase foreign tourists arrivals.

The minister also reviewed the available investment opportunities in Egypt to increase the hotels capacity.

Coordination is under way with the justice minister to issue a legislation that ensures the tourists' protection, added the minister.

Madbouli also chaired a meeting on Wednesday to follow up the progress made in the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) project, as well as the urban development efforts in the areas surrounding it.

Madbouli initiated the meeting by citing presidential directives to ensure the museum is fully integrated and harmonized with surrounding areas through an effective network of roads and axes leading to it, to turn the area into one of the world's most attractive tourist destinations.

The meeting took up the project's implementation and operational status, especially the progress of supplying the museum with necessary utilities and services, Cabinet Spokesman Nader Saad said.

He revealed that the main building is now 100 per cent complete, along with the great hall in the 1st and 2nd floors, a HoloLens hall, the “Great Staircase” that focuses on portraying the kings and gods of the Ancient Egyptian era, the hanging obelisk area, the children museum, security and service buildings, as well as parking lots that accommodate up to 1,400 cars.

Meanwhile, preparations for museum display scenarios at main halls, including the museum of King Khufu solar ships, are still in progress, the spokesman pointed out.