Egypt has developed a plan to boost the total number of tourists to reach 14 million annually by 2011, Egypt Minister of Tourism told national media.

The Minister, Zuhair Garana, estimated that Arab tourism represents about 18% of Egypt's total tourism in terms of both number and income.

Garana indicated that Egypt is attracting the highest share of Arab tourism. He added that the government's  aim to place Egypt amongst the top 15 attractive destinations  in the world within  the next 5 years. "The plan seeks to increase the capacity of Egyptian hotels," he said.

Egypt enjoys various fields of tourism attraction, the most important being archeological or cultural tourism - 'hur mohebas.'  This is one of the oldest types of tourism in Egypt, where the landmarks of the ancient civilizations are visible to the naked eye, an incarnation of the nations that constructed these civilizations since the dawn of history. Egypt possesses one third of the world’s known monuments.

Besides cultural and archaeological tourism, many tourist attractions have come into existence and addressed broader segments of tourists across the world, including recreational tourism, beaches tourism, religious tourism, therapeutic tourism, eco-tourism, sports tourism, golf tourism, safari tourism, desert tourism, yacht tourism, and maritime tourism, festivals tourism, cultural events and finally conferences and exhibitions tourism.

In addition to these types of tourism, 'Diving Centers Tourism' represents a tourist activity that attracts large numbers of tourists. Sharm el-Sheikh city is one of the largest diving centers in the world because of the environment and it's unique diversified nature, which leads Sharm el-sheikh to be one of the major centers for attracting domestic and international tourism. In addition to being a resort for fishing, tourism and diving, you will find the biggest diving centers equipped with the latest devices, World Travel Awards awarded Sharm el-Sheikh - the Best Global Destination For Diving in 2007.


'Time-sharing Tourism', in Egypt, has been revived. This new type of tourism grants non-Egyptians the right of ownership and usage of small units of accommodation in some new urban areas, such as 'Sidy Abdul Rahman, Hurghada, the Red Sea and Marsa Matrouh'.

Moreover, Conference Tourism in Egypt has steadily increased over the past six years, whereby the total events held in Cairo International Conference Center amounted to 665 events, including 132 international and local conferences, 235 exhibitions and 298 ceremonies and occasions. In 2008, Egypt witnessed a significant recovery of Conference Tourism, where many world conferences have been held on its territory, such as 'The Davos Economic Forum in Sharm El-Sheikh', 'The National Conference on Population' and 'The African Summit'.

Festival tourism is also one of the most important and latest types of tourist attractions.  This includes sport, recreational and artistic festivals. Egypt holds many popular festivals such as Cairo International Song Festival, International Film Festival, the Tourism and Shopping Festival, the Annual Fishing Festival for Amateurs, Alexandria International Festival for Mediterranean Songs and the Sharm el-Sheikh International Championship for Bowling.

In September 2007, Al-Alsharkeya Governorate organized the XVI International Festival for Arab Horses, which is one of the most important tourism festivals in Egypt.

The festival has organized several shows including 'Musical Horse Taming, Horseback Gymnastics, Shows Of Various Musical Horse Trot and the 'Skills Of Brandishing Weapons While Horseriding'.

In 2007, Egypt achieved second rank for '5 best tourist destinations in the Middle East for setting up conferences and festivals'.   This achievement was awarded as part of Egypt’s participation in the Gulf Incentive Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition.

Global Arab Network

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