Egypt's tourism sector fastest-growing in North Africa

CAIRO – 25 March 2019: "Egypt's tourism sector’s rate of growth has rapidly increased, recording 16.5 percent, which exceeds the international average rate," Rania al-Mashat, minister of tourism stated.

Egypt's tourism sector is the fastest-growing in North Africa. The sector's growth rate hit 16.5 percent, which is quadruple the international average rate (3.9 percent), according to The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)

Mashat aims to employ at least one citizen in each family in tourism to end unemployment.

WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara hailed Egypt’s quick recovery in tourism and highlighted the sector’s significance in economic growth and job creation.

Tourism in Egypt is responsible for providing 2.5 million jobs, equivalent to 9.5 percent of the total number of jobs in Egypt, as per to WTTC.

Tourism contributed 11.9 percent of Egypt’s GDP last year, and the sector’s contribution to the GDP is expected to further increase in 2019.

The WTTC further hailed the role played by the Egyptian Tourism Ministry in making tourism a priority sector and lauded its strategy to increase citizen awareness regarding the importance of the tourism sector.

WTTC published a report pointing out that the Egyptian government’s efforts to improve security helped increase tourism by 16.5 percent, the best since 2010.

It added that efforts in the security sector helped attract tourists and big tourism companies to Egypt’s famous tourist destinations such as Sharm El-Sheikh.

The WTTC represents the international private sector for tourism and travel; it has been conducting research for more than 25 years.