In Photos: Economic, Regional Instability Pose Challenges for Egypt’s Tourism Industry

Domestic sightseers tour the ancient city of Luxor by horse carriage, following last year’s record-breaking traffic from abroad, which Egypt’s tourism ministry says surpassed the 2010 peak of 14.7 million arrivals, in Luxor, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2024.

Inbound tourism is a foreign currency lifeline for Egypt, especially amid severe economic troubles that predate the war in Gaza and consequent 50% loss of vital Suez Canal revenues, at Abu Simbel Temple complex, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2024.

Tourists from Taiwan pose for a group selfie inside the ancient Abu Simbel complex, a longtime UNESCO World Heritage site with two towering rock-carved temples, near the banks of the River Nile, Abu Simbel, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2024.

At the heart of the recent Sun Festival is the biannual phenomenon where the rising sun illuminates the statues of the larger temple’s inner sanctuary, including the face of its maker, King Ramses II, in Abu Simbel, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2024.

Ahmed Masoud, the chief antiquities inspector of Abu Simbel, says, “The majority of foreign travelers are visiting from East Asia, while the smallest group is from Europe. We do have a group from France today.” Masoud is pictured at Abu Simbel, Egypt, Feb. 22, 2024.

Egyptian tourism workers report emptier sites, but with more individual travelers and vloggers from East Asia, adding that they believe Americans and Europeans may be reluctant to visit as the war in neighboring Gaza rages on, in Luxor, Egypt, Feb. 24, 2024.

Sailors say in busier times, these traditional boats, or feluccas, would be gliding around the Nile for a sunset ride at this time of year, in Luxor, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2024.

Mohamed Hajaj, a felucca sailor, says, “Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, I’ve noticed how our business has been coming from more local tourists than international ones.” Hajaj is pictured in Luxor, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2024.

A celebration is held for the birthday of the 12th-century Sufi Sheikh Yusuf Abu'l-Hajjaj, with local visitors and religious leaders gathering outside Luxor Temple, which holds a mosque in his name, in Luxor, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2024.

Mahmoud Hawary, founder of Humans of Upper Egypt art camp, says, “After the start of the Gaza war and a decline in tourists, I began planting vegetables in my camp as a symbol of securing food and appreciating nature.” Hawary is pictured in Luxor, Egypt, Feb. 25, 2024.