Egypt is expecting to generate between $6 billion and $7 billion in terms of tourism revenues this year as direct flights between the Arab republic and Russia are set to resume “soon”.
Deputy tourism minister Ghada Shalaby in a statement to the media early this week said the country envisions to attract this around 60 per cent of the number of visitors who visited the Arab country in 2019.
In 2019, 13.1 million people visited Egypt, generating a total revenue estimated at $13.03 billion. 2020 figures were much lower as the number of visitors stood at 3.5 million due to the pandemic. To reach the $7 billion target, Egypt is counting on Russian holidaymakers. Shalaby indicated that more than one million Russian tourists are expected this year.
Both Egypt and Russia, Cairo said early this week, have agreed to resume all flights between the two countries. Russia has suspended flights to Egypt’s resort destinations Sharm al-Sheikh and Hurghada after a Russian passenger jet was brought down in October 2015, in the Sinai, with 224 people onboard.
The Islamic state group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Egypt targets $7b in tourism revenues as flight connections with Russia are set to resume
