Egyptian Tourism Showing Signs Of Recovery During 2017 First Quarter

Egypt's Tourism Department notes the increased potential of the country to outperform its lackluster 2016 tourism economy performance in the first quarter of 2017. The department noted more bookings by the last two quarters of 2016, allowing the government to achieve its goal of recovering 75 percent of its original economic tourism performance.

Gulf News cites the Egyptian Tourism department report regarding an increased number of bookings for the country during the last two quarters of 2016 bringing great potential to Egyptian tourism during the first quarter of 2017. According to Egypt's tourism department, the lifting of the country's ban from European and Asian countries allowed three prime tourist populations from China, Japan and Ukraine to improve Egyptian tourism.

Gulf News cites Premier Travel Company China International Travel Service's data indicates an increase of 58 percent of bookings to Egypt compared to bookings in 2015. Bookings from 2014 allowed the country to have 9.3 million tourists in 2015, which plunged to 5.3 million in 2016.

According to Africa News, the "Arab Spring" -- the overthrowing of long-time Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak -- had led to dire economic consequences in the country. A few years after its recovery, an ISIS-owned attack against an Egyptian flight heading to Russia killing 224 Russian tourists had prompted Russia and a few other European countries to suspend travel to Egypt, cutting off one of Egypt's biggest tourist population base.

Africa news adds that Egypt's better economic performance would be helpful for its ongoing economic crisis along with a high unemployment rate. The news website adds that Japanese Travel Agency HIS notes a "four to five time" improvement in Egyptian tourism bookings from the country.

Egyptian Tourism Ministry Spokeswoman Omaima al-Husseini said the department targets an increase of 10 million tourists by 2017. With the travel ban lift from Russia and Europe including all four Schengen countries, Egypt's tourism looks set to outshine its 2016 performance in the remaining quarters of 2017.