Egypt has raised its tourism target for 2025 to nearly 19 million visitors, following a 20% increase in arrivals, with the US emerging as one of its fastest-growing source markets.

The country welcomed 15 million tourists in the first nine months of the year, a 21% rise compared to the same period in 2024, putting it on track to surpass its earlier target of 18 million visitors.

Tourism remains a vital source of foreign currency for Egypt, which hosted a record 15.78 million travelers last year and now aims to attract 30 million visitors by 2028 through expanded capacity and improved visitor experiences.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy stated that Egypt is on track to end the year with approximately 20% growth in arrivals, bringing the total to around 19 million. He added that US arrivals have increased by about 20%, reaching nearly 520,000 tourists, supported by expanded air connectivity and new direct routes from several American cities.

During a recent visit to the United States, Fathy met with major travel and media organizations to strengthen Egypt’s presence in this high-growth market. The meetings took place on the sidelines of his participation in the US Tour Operators Association’s annual conference in Maryland from December 2 to 6, according to the ministry.

He highlighted efforts to promote Egypt’s diverse tourism offerings, including cultural and adventure travel, beach destinations, and extended Nile cruises.

While US visitors continue to be drawn to Egypt’s ancient heritage, Fathy noted that they now enjoy a wider range of experiences, including Red Sea diving, climbs of Mount St. Catherine, desert exploration, and long dahabiya cruises from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan. He added that sustainability is a growing priority, with 46.5% of hotels now applying sustainability standards and expanding the use of renewable energy.

The Grand Egyptian Museum was a key focus of the discussions. Fathy said the museum, which houses the full collection of King Tutankhamun for the first time, is receiving more than 12,000 visitors daily and has helped boost hotel occupancy in Cairo.

He also noted ongoing upgrades at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir and strong tourism momentum along the North Coast, where charter flights rose by 520% last year. Plans under review include an underwater antiquities museum and the development of new diving sites.

Fathy said global tour operators are showing growing interest in multi-destination itineraries linking Egypt with Mediterranean countries such as Greece and Italy, particularly for travelers from the US, Japan, and China.

He added that early bookings are already underway for the 2027 total solar eclipse, with Luxor expected to be among the world’s prime viewing locations.