Egypt received 15 million tourists during the first nine months of this year, marking a 21% year-on-year increase and bringing the country close to its annual target of 18 million visitors.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, told Asharq Bloomberg that tourist arrivals reached 8.7 million in the first half of the year, then rose to 12.8 million by the end of August, and reached around 15 million by the end of September.

He indicated that Egypt is well on track to achieve its year-end target, receiving between 17.5 and 18 million tourists.

Tourism remains one of Egypt’s most vital sources of foreign currency. The country welcomed 15.78 million tourists in 2024, the highest number ever recorded.

The minister did not elaborate on tourism revenues for the first nine months of 2025, but Central Bank data shows that tourism revenues rose by 9% in 2024 to reach $15.3 billion.

Fathy noted that with the full opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum at the beginning of November, the number of visitors is expected to triple from the current 5,000–6,000 daily visitors.

Located just one mile from the Giza Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum—nearly two decades in the making—is expected to give a major boost to Egypt’s tourism sector, according to Bloomberg.

The landmark site spans 120 acres, and while several galleries have already opened, the museum is projected to attract around 5 million visitors annually.

 It will feature approximately 100,000 artifacts, including treasures from the tomb of King Tutankhamun, making it the largest archaeological museum in the world.