Egypt has lengthy been a jewel of world tourism. The attract of the Pyramids, the majesty of the Nile, and the great thing about the Pink Sea make it a bucket-list vacation spot for hundreds of thousands world wide.
But, whereas Egypt’s historical past and pure wonders are timeless, its tourism sector faces a really fashionable drawback – TikTok. The platform, together with Reddit and different social media boards, is brimming with destructive opinions from journey influencers and vacationers who’re more and more viewing Egypt as a vacation spot to keep away from.
On TikTok, viral movies from journey influencers – lots of them girls – complain about harassment, scams, and disorganization. Influencers are more and more answering the query, “The place would you not return to?” with one phrase: Egypt.
These movies have reached lots of of 1000’s of individuals, quickly shaping perceptions of Egypt as a nightmare for vacationers.
From the Airport to the Pyramids, Vacationers Complain of Chaos
The complaints raised are vital. Girls usually report being harassed at historic websites just like the Pyramids, intimidated by aggressive distributors and “guides” who provide unsolicited assist, solely to demand fee afterward. Roads resulting in key websites, comparable to these in Giza, are poorly lit and harmful at night time, and guests are regularly accosted by people exterior the gates of the Pyramids and different historic websites who stress them into accepting companies they didn’t ask for.
Cairo Worldwide Airport, which serves as many vacationers’ first impression of Egypt, is one other frequent goal of criticism on social media, with some guests expressing shock on the expertise.
For instance, Terminal 1, which is utilized by finances airways, is outdated and chaotic – even when in comparison with airports in international locations with related socio-economics. There isn’t a clear steering on the place to go, leaving vacationers scrambling, confused, and losing time. Many complain about ready in line at passport management, solely to be informed they want to return to an ill-marked financial institution kiosk to get a visa. The method is cumbersome and irritating.
Furthermore, some airport terminals solely settle for money in USD or EUR for visa funds (generally with no change handed again), including one other layer of issue for vacationers who don’t have the appropriate foreign money available. The challenges don’t finish there: as vacationers go away the airport, they should wait in one other customs line for potential bag checks (one thing that’s hardly ever skilled throughout different airports globally) and are then met with a swarm of taxi and personal drivers demanding inflated costs. The complete system must be less complicated, extra clearly marked, and permit for contemporary fee strategies, comparable to bank cards.
The departure expertise is simply as nightmarish: a number of cumbersome safety checks (two bag checks within the span of 20 meters earlier than even reaching the examine in desk space), lengthy chaotic and disorganized traces, and outdated procedures (comparable to patting down moderately than utilizing fashionable types of safety know-how) make for a traumatic and complicated course of. The ultimate impression introduced to guests is one that doesn’t match Egypt’s wealthy historical past and wonder.
However this situation will not be restricted to harassment or poor infrastructure and procedures. Many guests really feel they’re being scammed at each flip – whether or not it’s being overcharged for easy duties, requested to pay for utilizing bogs at historic websites (in money, no much less), or going through aggressive haggling in bazaars and at protected vacationer websites. All of this contributes to a destructive, and generally harmful, notion of Egypt as a vacationer vacation spot.
Egypt’s Tourism Expertise Should Be Addressed
Tourism stays a significant pillar of Egypt’s financial system, contributing to round 24 p.c of the nation’s GDP. In 2023, a document breaking 14.9 million vacationers visited Egypt.
Whereas Egypt’s tourism numbers are touted as successful, they pale compared to different international locations within the area and globally. Greece, which just like Egypt is without doubt one of the world’s oldest civilizations, was visited by 32 million vacationers in 2023. Nearer to residence, Dubai alone attracted over 17 million vacationers in 2023, whereas Turkey noticed greater than 49 million, and Morocco welcomed over 14.5 million vacationers.
Whereas a few of these figures could seem related, they don’t mirror Egypt’s wealthy cultural heritage and historical past: Dubai’s fashionable Burj Khalifa attracts extra guests than the Nice Pyramid of Giza, the final remaining historical World Marvel. Egypt’s choices are various and distinctive, however with social media now being a dominant power in shaping journey decisions, these choices are merely not sufficient. Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and different related authorities should act swiftly to handle this.
Fixing the issue begins with enhancing the expertise from the second vacationers arrive. Cairo Worldwide Airport is in determined want of modernization. Higher signage, a extra clear visa course of, and an organized and welcoming arrival system are important. No customer ought to really feel like they’re being taken benefit of the second they step off the airplane, and the present chaotic departure course of should be streamlined to match world requirements. Safety checks needs to be fashionable, constant and clear, with out making vacationers really feel unsafe or confused.
Cairo is uniquely positioned on the planet to function a significant journey hub, connecting individuals to Europe, Asia, and Africa way more effectively than different regional hubs comparable to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Istanbul. Nonetheless, the shortcomings of Cairo Worldwide Airport have led many vacationers and companies to favor these different hubs, even when meaning further value and journey time. Addressing these points would permit Cairo to understand its potential as a premier world gateway – attracting much more worldwide vacationers and international funding.
At historic websites, particularly on the Pyramids, it’s crucial that vacationers really feel protected and free to discover with out fixed harassment or worry of being scammed. Using seen workers or screens who can help guests and guarantee their security would go a good distance towards making a extra optimistic expertise. This situation is pervasive throughout different must-visit websites.
Khan El Khalili, as an example, is much extra charming than Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, however vacationers have complained about issue accessing the positioning, harassment, scamming, and the shortage of correct steering and signage. This has made it difficult for guests to totally benefit from the souk’s charming cafes, historic mosques, Islamic structure, and slender alleyways. More and more, tour corporations don’t embrace Khan El Khalili of their itineraries, fearful of the impression it is going to go away guests. With correct administration, Khan El Khalili might develop into a fair higher spotlight for guests – one which guests sit up for visiting a number of instances and which eclipses the likes of the Grand Bazaar.
However it isn’t nearly safety; the shortage of companies and amenities at key websites is one other important situation. Vacationers want entry to scrub bathrooms, cafes, reward outlets, and customer facilities. The Nationwide Museum of Egyptian Civilization is a superb instance of a web site with fashionable and well-maintained amenities – one thing that needs to be replicated at different key points of interest throughout the nation. Making certain that Egypt’s cultural treasures are loved in the best way they need to be, free from the stress of undesirable solicitation, intimidation or worrying in regards to the lack of primary amenities, needs to be the aim.
Transportation is one other main situation. Past the frequent reviews of harassment and scamming by public taxi drivers and drivers from rideshare companies, the situations of the automobiles themselves are sometimes unsafe. Automobiles are outdated, drivers velocity, seatbelts regularly don’t work, and general street security is missing. Enhancing the standard and security of transportation is vital to making sure vacationers can transfer comfortably and securely across the nation.
To maintain optimistic change, enhancing the connection between vacationers and native distributors and people working within the business is essential as nicely. Investing in coaching for many who work together with vacationers – whether or not they’re taxi drivers, market distributors, or guides – would foster a tradition of professionalism and respect. Making certain that these interactions are optimistic and mutually helpful, moderately than opportunistic and confrontational, might drastically enhance the general expertise of tourists. Participating native communities to embrace tourism as a optimistic financial power moderately than a fast supply of revenue is important for long-term change.
Equally essential is recognizing the ability of dialogue. A suggestions system that permits vacationers to report points in actual time or shortly following their journey will help determine patterns and resolve issues earlier than they snowball into greater complaints. This strategy would additionally present guests that their considerations are being taken significantly, fostering a way of belief between vacationers and native authorities. Encouraging open communication is vital to understanding and addressing the problems that hurt Egypt’s tourism popularity.
Additional, Egypt’s authorities officers chargeable for tourism have to expertise firsthand what on a regular basis vacationers undergo – not in rigorously orchestrated official visits, however in the identical approach common guests expertise the nation. They need to additionally research greatest practices from different international locations, notably those who have efficiently enhanced their tourism and airport choices.
Throughout many locations worldwide, vacationers can arrive with nothing however a telephone, pockets and passport, assured that their journey can be clean, protected, and satisfying. This needs to be Egypt’s aim, too.
Reclaiming Egypt’s Tourism Narrative
The chance for enchancment is big, and it’s one Egypt can not afford to disregard. Egypt is already a bucket record vacation spot, with unparalleled cultural heritage and attraction. Nonetheless, each destructive expertise shared on TikTok, Reddit or different media platforms is a misplaced alternative.
Past simply attracting first-time guests, Egypt can be dropping out on the potential for repeat tourism, which stays untapped. Egypt has a lot to supply, from world-class museums and pristine seashores to a wealthy historical past that spans from historical instances to the trendy period. With its prime location, Egypt is ideally positioned to be a vacation spot that vacationers return to many times.
The harm to Egypt’s popularity will be swift and long-lasting if accountable figures don’t act now. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has made strides in bringing extra guests to Egypt, however to maintain and develop that success, the customer expertise should develop into a precedence.
Reclaiming Egypt’s narrative on social media will take extra than simply flashy advertising and marketing campaigns and main occasions or viral movies a few canine climbing the Pyramids. It can require systemic adjustments that deal with the true issues vacationers face. If these adjustments are carried out, Egypt can take its place as some of the sought-after journey locations on the planet.
If Egypt needs to develop into one of many world’s prime vacationer locations, it should make sure that each customer leaves with reminiscences of surprise, not frustration. From revamping airports to tackling harassment at key websites, the options are inside attain – and the time to behave is now.
