Our hotels are busy:Hotel occupancy rates across Egypt climbed to 80% in 1H 2023 from 65% in the same period last year, Asharq Business reported yesterday, citing an anonymous government official.

In detail:Hotels in Hurghada were the most-booked during that period, peaking at nearly 100% occupancy in April, while occupancy rates in Cairo came in at 80-85%. The news outlet didn’t mention data from other areas of the country. Egypt was most popular with European tourists, who accounted for some 75% of the total reservations.

This isn’t a surprise: Egypt received a record 7 mn tourists during the first half of the year, according to figures released by the Tourism Ministry earlier this month. The ministry is aiming to attract as many as 15 mn tourists this year.

This is important: The sector accounts for a sizable proportion of the country’s GDP and is a key source of hard currency.

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