Egypt’s tourism industry is set for a significant expansion, as the country targets visitor growth as a key economic driver for the country.
Aside from its beautiful coastal destinations, and welcoming climate, the country also offers visitors some unique attractions including the Pyramids. Indeed, the name of the government’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities illustrates just how important the heritage and ancient history of the region is, when considering the Egyptian tourism offering.
Opportunity on the North Coast
On Egypt’s North Coast there remains massive opportunity, according to Hossam El Share, a member of the board of the Egyptian Tourism Federation. With a moderate climate and picturesque scenery, the region has the opportunity to attract its share of tourism from around the Mediterranean basin, an area that is reckoned to attract more than 500 million visitors per year.
According to El Shaer, Egypt’s share of this business could be as many as 10 million tourists a year. That would require the creation of up to 60,000 hotel rooms, against a current inventory of just 3,000 in the North Coast region.
Additional strategic planning and infrastructure will also be needed, upgrading airports in the region such as at Alamein, while a planned new airport in Ras El Hikma will also need to come on line. City planning input is also required, to ensure that coastal land is given over to hotel development, rather than simply left for local residential projects. This approach, taken in Sharm El Sheikh, has helped that destination create a successful tourism offer.
Among new developments in the region is the Palma Bay Rotana Resort, which opened in July 2024 in New Alamein. For leading hotel operator Rotana, the for star project is its second property in Egypt. The 176 room property is designed to be family friendly, with its own private beach on the Mediterranean coast.
International brands sign up
French hotel group Accor is also playing its part, and in mid 2024 signed to launch a Novotel hotel in the region. The 240 room property, Novotel Sidi Abd El Rahman, will be developed by Egypt’s Q Real Estate Development Company and will open in 2027. Blending leisure and business demand, the hotel will feature a ballroom suitable for weddings and celebrations as well as corporate meetings and events.
Already strongly committed to growth in Egypt, Accor currently operates 64 hotels in the country. On the North Coast, Accor recently added the signing of a Swissôtel Hotel and residences in Ras El Hekma.
Also in Ras El Hekma, developer SODIC is planning a major development to include a Nobu Hotel and Residences. This is one of two projects in Egypt that see SODIC and Nobu working together, the other being a hotel and residences project in West Cairo. SODIC, which is backed by Abu Dhabi companies Aldar and ADQ, is currently developing four hotels in Egypt.
