Back, after being told 'they're missed': Gulf tourists to Egypt increase 91%

 The number Arab tourists visiting Egypt grew significantly during August 2014 with a 91.6 percent overall increase in visitors in comparison to August 2013. There were 195,257 tourists who visited Egypt from Arab countries last August compared to 101,925 in the same period last year.

The Ministry of Tourism and the Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETA) have focused on attracting Arab and GCC tourists to Egypt through the Wahashtouna campaign that was launched earlier this year. As a result, there has been a continuous rise in the total number of tourists to Egypt each month – 5,162,970 tourists visited the country in the first seven months of the year, including 617,993 tourists in January, 597,809 tourists in February, 731,849 tourists in March, 835,358 tourists in April, 745,301 tourists in May, 765,490 tourists in June, 869,530 tourists in July, and 979,744 in August.

There were 51,753 Saudis who visited Egypt in August - an increase of 254.3 percent compared with August 2013. In addition, the latest statistics revealed an increase in the number of Saudi tourists by 43.6 percent during the first eight months of 2014 (from January to August) compared to the same period in 2013 - 214,536 Saudi tourists visited the country compared to 149,429 tourists during the same period in 2013.

There were 5,704 Emirati tourists who spent time in Egypt in August, indicating a 280.5 percent growth on the same figure for August 2013. 2014 has seen a 57.9 percent year-on-year increase in Emirati tourists during the first eight months (January to August). 19,968 Emiratis have visited Egypt so far this year compared to 12,646 during the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the number of Kuwaitis visiting Egypt also increased considerably, with 14,714 tourists reflecting a190.6 percent increase compared to August 2013. There was an increase of 33.7 percent Kuwaiti tourists during the first eight months of 2014 (from January to August) compared to the same period of 2013, where the tourist numbers grew to 73,591 from 55,024. 

Political stability and security in Egypt - particularly across its tourist destinations – has ensured confidence among tourists from across the world. 97 percent of the total number of the incoming tourists to Egypt visited Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Cairo. South Sinai and the Red Sea which include Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada had the largest share – 76 percent - of incoming tourism to Egypt between the start of the year until August, with the Red Sea Governorate gaining the largest proportion of - 42 percent, while South Sinai Governorate attracting 34 percent. Cairo also continued to retain its share of tourists - 21 percent of the total number of incoming tourists to Egypt.