At a Glance
- Egypt targets 30 million tourists annually by 2031 with a revamped national tourism strategy.
- A new Tourism Investment Unit will accelerate high-yield hospitality and cultural projects.
- The plan includes 19,000 new hotel rooms in 2025 and expanded restoration of heritage sites.
Egypt has unveiled a bold tourism development strategy aimed at attracting 30 million international visitors annually by 2031 positioning the country as a premier global destination and investment hub.
The plan, announced during a high-level government meeting led by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in the New Administrative Capital, marks a significant step toward boosting foreign direct investment (FDI) across the travel, tourism, and heritage sectors.
Tapping into global travel trends such as eco-tourism, heritage tourism, adventure travel, and cultural experiences, the roadmap is designed to unlock new opportunities across Egypt’s governorates ensuring more inclusive, nationwide tourism growth.
Egypt’s bold tourism pivot
As part of the strategy, Egypt will establish a dedicated tourism investment unit under the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The entity will oversee an “investment opportunities bank” to fast-track high-yield projects in hospitality, leisure infrastructure, and cultural tourism.
“We are aligning public and private sector initiatives to unlock capital, accelerate project execution, and expand tourism’s GDP contribution,” said Prime Minister Madbouly.
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy noted that the success of the tourism surge depends on ramping up hotel capacity.
In 2024 alone, the sector added 7,200 new rooms—55% of which were greenfield developments.
The pipeline for 2025 includes an additional 19,000 hotel rooms, as well as new investments in restaurants, cafes, and safari tourism.
From antiquities to assets
Fathy added that the government is expanding investment in Egypt’s heritage sector. The Supreme Council of Antiquities has completed an average of 36 preservation projects annually over the past five years.
Looking ahead, the 2025–2031 plan includes restoring historical sites, revamping museums, and developing public-private partnerships (PPPs) for the reuse of archaeological assets.
Egypt’s Investment and Foreign Trade Minister Hassan El-Khatib has reaffirmed tourism and antiquities as a central focus in the country’s national investment strategy, now in its third phase.
El-Khatib said Egypt’s investment map will soon include investor-ready data to drive clarity, action, and scale.
The updated framework aims to align legislation and policy with long-term capital inflows and deepen investor confidence.
The move reinforces Egypt’s push to position itself as a top global tourism hub, leveraging its rich historical assets and untapped market potential.
