Egypt sees 28% rise in demand for cultural tourism

Egypt has reportedly seen a 28% increase in demand for products and services related to cultural tourism.

The figures were released by the Committee for the Promotion of Cultural Tourism in Luxor, and take into account the “winter tourism season” from October 1, 2021 to May 1, 2022.

The winter season also saw an increase in night-time tourism activities. As well as this, it was found that prices for cultural tourism programmes had increased by 18% compared to the 2020/2021 winter season.

Mohamed Osman, head of the committee, noted that increase in demand for cultural tourism was tied to the decline in the spread of Covid-19, as well as the easing of travel restrictions.

Osman also cited other drivers for cultural tourism including the resumption of charter flights from the Spanish market, and the renaissance of French tourists visiting Egypt. The committee head stated that November 25, 2021 was significant for culture-based tourism in Egypt, as it was the day that Luxor’s Avenue of Sphinxes was reopened. The avenue is considered to be a key tourist destination, especially with high-spending visitors.

Other drivers for cultural and archaeological tourism include the return of long Nile cruises, as well as the reopening of the Dendera Temple.

This increase in demand for cultural tourism comes in line with a generally positive trend for tourism recovery in Egypt: According to Mohamed Farag, Director for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Poland at the Egyptian Tourism Board, “visitor levels to Egypt are almost back to pre-Covid times, with European feeder markets such as Germany, UK, Italy, France and Poland showing a particularly positive trend.”