The Cairo City Break program is set to offer tourists an innovative, immersive experience.
BERLIN – Cairo is poised to become the quintessential destination for extended weekend getaways, thanks to the innovative City Break initiative, unveiled by H.E. Ahmed Issa, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, at ITB Berlin 2024.
Cairo City Break Program and A New Era of Luxury Tourism
At the heart of Egypt‘s strategic vision is the Cairo City Break program, designed to transform the capital into a vibrant, must-visit destination for long weekends. It promises a rich tapestry of ancient heritage, cultural depth, and contemporary energy, offering visitors a unique blend of historical and cultural sites spanning Pharaonic, Coptic, and Islamic eras. This endeavor is expected to extend the average tourist stay in Cairo from the current three to four days to an impressive 12 days.
The initiative’s early achievements include the forthcoming visitor center at the Pyramids of Giza and the newly opened towers at the Salah Al-Din Citadel, enhancing the historical immersion of these iconic sites and offering a glimpse into the city’s defense strategies in the 13th century.
Egypt at ITB Berlin.
“There is no other city that offers visitors a journey through the epochs of every great civilization, starting from 3500 B.C. Our commitment is to make Cairo a destination that invites exploration over multiple visits or an extended weekend,” stated the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, H.E. Ahmed Issa.
Furthermore, Egypt is diligently developing emerging destinations and elevating the traveler experience at archaeological sites by introducing more efficient, environmentally friendly commuting options to key locations such as Luxor. By Q4 2025/Q1 2026, a high-speed train will connect Hurghada and Luxor, streamlining travel between these iconic destinations.
A Transformative Reform and Infrastructure Development
Egypt’s tourism sector is undergoing significant deregulation, creating a conducive environment for new investments, and redefining the relationship between the government and the private sector. Coupled with strategic deregulation efforts and allocating 22% of GDP to infrastructure development over the past seven years, Egypt demonstrates a strong commitment to enhancing its global tourism stature. The goal is to double Egypt’s hotel capacity to 60,000 rooms within the next five years.
Record-Breaking Tourism Results and Main Travel Trends
2023 saw an extraordinary surge in Egypt’s tourism, with a record 14.906 million visitors, a considerable leap from 4.9 million in 2021. The previous peak year for tourism in Egypt was 2010 with 14.7 million tourists visiting the country at the time.
This upward trend is anticipated to continue into 2024, with a substantial 8% year-on-year growth in the first 50 days. The majority of visitors hail from Germany, accounting for 1.6 million tourists last year, followed by travelers from Russia, Saudi Arabia, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
