Your current location:HOME >travel >Feature: Return of Chinese tourists contributes to Egypt's tourism rebound 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 08:05:56 Source: Internet compilationEdit:travel
Mohamed A. Salama, head of the International Tourism Offices Sector at the Egyptian Tourism Promotio
Mohamed A. Salama, head of the International Tourism Offices Sector at the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, is interviewed with Xinhua in Cairo, Egypt, on April 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
by Mahmoud Fouly, Yao Bing
CAIRO, May 2 (Xinhua) -- In front of the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt's capital Cairo, several groups of Chinese tourists are taking photos and selfies, enjoying their trip to the historic site.
Abbas Sayed, a 38-year-old Egyptian tour guide of one of the tourist groups, said after the sightseeing in the capital, he would take his group to Aswan province in southern Egypt to visit the historic Abu Simbel temple complex.
Sayed said the number of Chinese tourists coming to Egypt has been surging since the beginning of this year, which not only boosts his income but also the country's tourism and other related business as well.
"The strong return of Chinese tourists to Egypt doesn't only make a difference to Chinese-speaking Egyptian tour guides but to all those working in the tourism sector in Egypt," Sayed told Xinhua.
The favorite destinations for Chinese tourists in Egypt, according to Sayed, are the capital Cairo where they could visit the pyramids and museums, the southern provinces of Luxor and Aswan where they can tour the massive ancient temples, and the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada.
"Coming from a country with an ancient civilization too, the Chinese tour the Egyptian historic sites with deep respect and reverence," Sayed said.
Chen Yixin, a tourist from southern China's Guangzhou city, said he arrived in Egypt early Monday morning and would stay for nine days.
"I've watched lots of documentaries and got really interested in Egypt's culture and scenic spots," he said, adding that "the plane he took on his way to Egypt was packed with Chinese tourists."
Tourism is one of the pillar industries of Egypt, accounting for around 12 percent of the GDP.
Official data shows the tourist number in Egypt dropped from over 13 million in 2019 to around 3.7 million in 2020 due to the pandemic. It gradually recovered to about 8 million in 2021 and further rebounded throughout 2022 to a nearing pre-pandemic level.
Ahmed Fawzy, owner and CEO of a Cairo-based tour company, said the Egyptian travel agencies accommodating Chinese tourists all reported good performance in January.
Expecting tourist spots and market alleyways to be bustled with Chinese tourists again, governments and businesses are gearing up for their arrival.
"Once we learned that the travel of Chinese tourists to Egypt will be resumed, we started our preparations and our promotion work to attract more Chinese tourists," Mohamed A. Salama, head of the International Tourism Offices Sector at the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, the promotion arm of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, told Xinhua.
Salama stressed that Egypt is working on increasing its share of China's outbound travel market, saying, "We hope that Egypt will be on top of the destinations of Chinese tourists." ■
Tourists visit the Giza Pyramids in Giza, Egypt, on May 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
Chinese tourists pose for photos with a camel as they visit the Giza Pyramids in Giza, Egypt, on April 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
An Egyptian tour guide is interviewed at the Giza Pyramids in Giza, Egypt, on May 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
Tourists visit the Giza Pyramids in Giza, Egypt, on May 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
Tourists visit the Giza Pyramids in Giza, Egypt, on May 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
Chinese tourists pose for photos as they visit the Giza Pyramids in Giza, Egypt, on April 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
NBA playoffs: Edwards leads Wolves to 982024-05-21 08:03
VOX POPULI: Use of honorifics complex at times and not always appropriate2024-05-21 07:49
VOX POPULI: Sudden death of Navalny shows dangers of the truth in Russia2024-05-21 07:19
'Barbie' makes history with $1 billion at the box office2024-05-21 06:54
French sports minister calls for sanctions after Monaco player tapes over anti2024-05-21 06:20
China is drilling some of the deepest holes in hunt for natural resources2024-05-21 06:16
ASEAN summit: Myanmar community asks Parliament to block junta representatives2024-05-21 06:11
Shortland Street: Fate of much2024-05-21 05:49
Jon Wysocki dead at 53: Staind drummer passes away2024-05-21 05:43
Hong Kong down to earth designer Niko Leung crafts ceramics from construction waste2024-05-21 05:35
Russian theater director and playwright go on trial over a play authorities say justifies terrorism2024-05-21 07:45
VOX POPULI: China always occupied a special place in Ozawa’s heart2024-05-21 07:18
VOX POPULI: ‘Domicide’ is yet another terrible addition to the lexicon of war2024-05-21 07:11
Clandestine lab found during search for 'dangerous' suspect in violent kidnapping2024-05-21 06:56
Tom Brady and Jay2024-05-21 06:52
VOX POPULI: Nikkei index soars but real economy still feels sluggish2024-05-21 06:46
Bullying rife at Buller High School, students say2024-05-21 06:29
Man almost loses leg to sepsis after cut to back of head with barber’s clippers2024-05-21 06:09
Analysis: Larson enters conversation with Verstappen as best drivers in the world2024-05-21 05:55
One dead in Northland crash2024-05-21 05:31