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Egypt aims to expand mutual tourist flows with Türkiye by strengthening flight connections and joint promotion, with officials targeting double-digit growth in visitor numbers and higher tourism revenue, the Egyptian minister said on Monday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Eastern Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Exhibition (EMITT) 2026, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy said authorities are working to increase travel in both directions between Egypt and Türkiye, adding that current visitor volumes remain below potential.
According to the minister, Egypt recorded 21% tourism growth in 2025, reaching 19 million visitors. From Türkiye, visitor flows to Egypt rose by 43%, while 220,924 Egyptian visitors traveled to Türkiye, down 4.4% year over year.
Fathy said Egypt expects at least 10% overall tourism growth in 2026 and projects at least a 25% rise in arrivals from Türkiye. He added that Turkish visitor numbers have not yet reached desired levels, even though interest and awareness among Turkish tour operators have increased.
Fathy asserted that stronger air connectivity would lift both tourist arrivals and tourism income, adding, "I want to see more Turkish people and Turkish tourists coming to Egypt and more Egyptians traveling to and visiting Türkiye." He described balanced, two-way travel as necessary for a sustainable tourism model supported by airline operations and route networks.
The minister stressed that limited airline seat capacity between Egypt and Türkiye is restricting faster growth and that both governments and private sector actors need to coordinate.
Fathy estimated a planned 20% to 25% increase in seat capacity but said this would not be enough on its own. “We need to add more flights and increase capacity on existing routes,” he said, calling for joint action by Egyptian and Turkish airlines and sustained expansion over the next five years.
He added that feedback from Turkish tourists and tour operators has been largely positive, supporting expectations that demand will continue to rise if connectivity and promotion improve.
Fathy called on Turkish investors to take a larger role in Egypt’s tourism sector, saying the government already provides incentives for hotel and tourism-related projects and is open to offering additional support for projects that match national development plans. "We already offer incentives not only for Turkish investors but for all investors interested in building hotels or investing in tourism-related businesses," he said, adding that further incentives can be discussed for projects that align with growth targets and delivery timelines.
Tourism investment has increased by about 60% across 2025 and 2026, with priority given to upper-segment hotels and new room capacity. Fathy said international hotel chains are encouraged to operate in Egypt and noted that Turkish brands active in hotel management are gaining visibility in the market.
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