Egypt Witnessed a Rise in Tourism Revenues

[Winged Isis]

Inside Egypt’s tourism sector

By: Egypt Today staff Tue, Apr. 9, 2019

CAIRO – 9 April 2019: Egypt witnessed a rise in tourism revenues during the first half of fiscal year 2018/2019, compared to the same period of 2017/2018, according the Central Bank of Egypt’s (CBE) recent data.

CBE announced that Egypt's revenues from tourism during the first half of the current fiscal year increased 36.4 percent compared to the same period last year.

The surplus in the travel balance increased to about $5.4 billion, compared to about $3.8 billion, according to the data.

Regarding travel receipts, CBE noted that they reached about $6.8 billion during the first half of the current fiscal year, compared to $4.9 billion in the same period of the prior year.

Meanwhile, World Travel &Tourism Council (WTTC) stated earlier that tourists spent LE 218.1 billion (12.2 billion) in Egypt during 2018. It also expected the number of tourists to increase to 11.7 million during the current year.

The travel and tourism sector's contribution to the Egyptian gross domestic product (GDP) hit 11.9 percent of the total economy during 2018, according to WTTC.

The report elaborated that this contribution amounted to LE 528.7 billion ($29.6 billion), adding that the travel and tourism sector grew 16.5 percent during 2018.

In August, a government official told Reuters that Egypt’s tourism revenues jumped 77 percent in the first half of 2018 to amount to $4.8 billion, compared to the same period of the previous year.


http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/3/681 ... ism-sector

[carrie]

Don't think this is any surprise who live here, you must have noticed when you were last here Winged Isis, the increased number of tourists here.
When Yildez came over we both saw how busy some of the sites were. Edfu was horrendous, Apparently the cruise boats all arrive Tuesday morning and the place was heaving. Fortunately we were in no hurry so that we could wait till they had all left. I have got so used to walking round the tombs temples etc and never seeing anyone else, it came as something of a shock to share the places with hoards being sheparded around by there umbrella weilding tour guides.

[Winged Isis]

It wasn't so busy as that when we were in Cairo, Alex and El Alamein, but the numbers were good, better than I hoped for. I was especially pleased by the number of Egyptians.

[carrie]

I suppose it all depends on what you have experienced in the past I have been to Hatchepsut and no one else has been there. The last time I went lots of tourists not so many as there used to be before the revolution but more than for many a year. AND the damned caleche convoys have returned.Why do they go through the Egyptian souk with tourists on board with faces like wet weeks. Looking down on everyone and you can see their minds working "oh how horrible".
Off topic but they have made a great improvement to the souk getting rid of all the pot holes and tarmacked it all. You can actually walk along there in comfort now.

[A-Four]

AND the damned caleche convoys have returned.Why do they go through the Egyptian souk with tourists on board with faces like wet weeks.

For many years now I have been writing on this site that the days of free tourism in Luxor has come to an end, why is it that still people do not believe me.

It became official policy direct from Cairo that Luxor centre would no longer be an official stopping off point. Tourist would be ESCORTED directly from their hotels, usually being the likes of Sonesta St George, on to horse drawn carriages direct to an 'official' store north of the souk. No carriage that was part of this 'procession' through the souk was allowed to stop anywhere in it,.............this has been the official practice for some 35 years. Some 15 years ago, the souk was re-modelled, and no such transport was allowed, sad this has now changed,.......and the old saying lives on,.......such tourists see everything, when in truth, actually they see f*** all. ( An old saying of my grandfather, that was as truth then,.......as it is today.)

[carrie]

You are talking about the tourist souk, I am not.

[A-Four]

Well what are you talking about ?

[Winged Isis]

@carrie I have indeed noticed each visit tourist numbers rising around Luxor and elsewhere since the second revolution, alhamdilulah. This February/March was our first time staying in Cairo/Alex in 10 years, so a marked difference noticed there.

Early on in my visits to Luxor I was once taken unknowingly through the Egyptian (non-tourist) souk by caleche. I was appalled that they'd attempt such a ridiculous, dangerous and disruptive thing. But of course, once we were in we had to proceed as it's impossible to go back. So I got down and walked out as I couldn't stand looking at the expressions on the faces of the locals, and I didn't blame them for their reactions. It was bad enough with just one caleche, but I've seen convoys too, and get out quick when they come in.
I have always made sure any friends or clients visiting walk through. If I was a local, I would be totally annoyed and resentful.

[carrie]

I am talking about the Egyptian souk not the tourist souk. I would have thought it was obvious when I mentioned the caleche going through it. As you say when they renovated the tourist souk they stopped the caleche from going through there not that they could anyway it is so narrow and before you contradict me and say it's not too narrow, since you haven't been here for some time you wont know how much the stall owners have encroached onto the pathway.

[jcoote]

Just a bit of an aside. Could anyone please give me idiot proof directions of how to get to the locals souk on foot, either from The Nile Palace Hotel, or McDonald's, whichever is the simplest.

[Winged Isis]

As you face Maccas, go left and cross the road at the corner. You can't miss it, it has a high wooden decorative archway.

[DJKeefy]

As you face Maccas, go left and cross the road at the corner. You can't miss it, it has a high wooden decorative archway.

I thought that was the tourist souk?

[carrie]

It is the tourist souk. Walk through the tourist souk right to the end, there you will find a main road, straight across the road is the Egyptian local souk entrance.
Another way, walk from Mac Donalds along the main road, stand with your back to Mac Donalds and turn right, keep going you will pass the Catholic school and be parallel to the avenue of the sphinx. You will get to a intersection with the Emilio Hotel facing you turn right walk about 100 yards and on your left is a garden with coffee shop. At the side of that garden is the Egyptian Souk.

[jcoote]

Many thanks for the directions, we'll give it another try. Last time we went to find it I think it was a bit too obvious we didn't know what we were doing, and attracted too much unwanted attention with locals trying to attach themselves to us, so we abandoned it.

[carrie]

Secret is look confident even if you don't feel it. Don't carry a guide book round with you either a dead give away. Have fun

[John Landon]

You will find in Luxor that it is a very good Assertiveness training ground.

I always used to walk with purpose and focus, I never go any hassle while I was on my own.

7 years well spent... 8-)

[Winged Isis]

As you face Maccas, go left and cross the road at the corner. You can't miss it, it has a high wooden decorative archway.

I thought that was the tourist souk?

Oops! Mis-read "locals" as local, probably because there was no apostrophe.

[jcoote]

Secret is look confident even if you don't feel it. Don't carry a guide book round with you either a dead give away. Have fun

Our first visit to Luxor was a disaster with regards to going out and about on our own, but we do a lot better now. Even the taxi drivers that have got to know us take one look and say "I know, walk like an Egyptian!".

[Who2]

You forget most of us here are classed as tourists,
and the amount of money that passes through our hands are included in those billions!....
And that is a lot of money.........

[A-Four]

When we are working from such a low base line, even a 50% rise from such a level sounds good, but in truth,.......it ain't really good at all.

With regards to the new tourists in Luxor, they will be told that prices are cheaper on the boats or in Asswan,........when quite honestly, we who know, know this to be true. A little similar to those who came over for the day trip from Hurgarda, the only thing they ever bought was a 1 LE scarf on arriving on the WB.