Egypt pushes for 50 million tourists, calls for massive hotel‑room expansion

Tourism officials led by Hossam Al‑Schaer, head of the Union of Tourism Chambers, said Egypt’s stability under President Abdel Fattah al‑Sisi is the main driver of a tourism surge. Occupancy rates in resorts such as Hurghada and Sharm El‑Sheikh regularly exceed 75%, and the sector is aiming to increase inbound arrivals by 5‑7% this year.

Al‑Schaer argued that the country can accommodate up to 50 million visitors a year—not the 30 million currently targeted—provided hotel capacity is expanded. Egypt now has about 220,000 rooms; the North Coast alone would need 80,000 rooms to serve roughly 10 million tourists. He called for faster issuance of temporary licenses for apartment‑hotels, more land at affordable prices, and liberalised electronic‑visa fees to match regional competitors.

A 50 billion‑Egypt‑pound support programme launched by the Central Bank of Egypt together with the Ministry of Finance is intended to finance new hotel projects, but disbursement has been delayed pending new eligibility criteria. The initiative’s application window closed on 30 April, with a possible extension for loan withdrawals until 30 June and project licences required by the end of 2027.