Is Egypt potentially emerging from the dip caused by the Middle East conflict?
After several months in the red, bookings are rising again according to the latest figures from the EDV-Orchestra barometer.
In August 2026, the number of bookings for Egypt increases by 21.1% compared to August 2025. An acceleration after a +4.8% in July, while the destination still posted significant declines in spring: -5.5% in June, -34.2% in May, -42.6% in April and -66.8% in March.
The year had started well. Order intake showed gains of +50.3% and +17.7% respectively in January and February 2026, still according to the barometer.
The destination’s visitor numbers were also in positive territory.
After reaching the record threshold of 19 million in 2025, international arrivals rose a further 4% from January to the end of May 2026 (vs the same period in 2025), according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The number of French tourists posted an even stronger rise. Already up 31% for the entire 2025, they also recorded an increase of 22% between January and the end of May 2026 (vs the same period in 2025).
After several months in the red, bookings are rising again according to the latest figures from the EDV-Orchestra barometer.
In August 2026, the number of bookings for Egypt increases by 21.1% compared to August 2025. An acceleration after a +4.8% in July, while the destination still posted significant declines in spring: -5.5% in June, -34.2% in May, -42.6% in April and -66.8% in March.
The year had started well. Order intake showed gains of +50.3% and +17.7% respectively in January and February 2026, still according to the barometer.
The destination’s visitor numbers were also in positive territory.
After reaching the record threshold of 19 million in 2025, international arrivals rose a further 4% from January to the end of May 2026 (vs the same period in 2025), according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The number of French tourists posted an even stronger rise. Already up 31% for the entire 2025, they also recorded an increase of 22% between January and the end of May 2026 (vs the same period in 2025).
An end-of-year with last-minute sales?
Data that does not reflect the spring booking standstill, as trips were already booked.
« Sales are anticipated a bit more than for other destinations. They were therefore already secured and there were no cancellations. April thus proceeded normally, departures were full. Groups for March, April, May and June, which are key periods for this activity, were arranged without any issue », explains Bruno Abenin, Commercial Director of Travel Evasion.
« Egypt has never been directly involved in the conflict » recalls Gonzague de Gélis, president of the Kuoni France Group. « We did not cancel any departures; it was bookings that were halted. It stopped completely in March, April, May and June; then bookings slowly picked up in June, we were at -50% versus June 2025. After that, things picked up in July, with an acceleration in August », he sums up.
Gonzague de Gélis mentions a 60% rise in August bookings compared to last year, a year that was already considered good.
For these bookings made in August, the tour operator notes strong momentum for upcoming departures: +40% for 2027 departures and +100% for 2026 last-minute departures. « It is the destination that is showing the strongest growth in August » he adds.
« Sales are anticipated a bit more than for other destinations. They were therefore already secured and there were no cancellations. April thus proceeded normally, departures were full. Groups for March, April, May and June, which are key periods for this activity, were arranged without any issue », explains Bruno Abenin, Commercial Director of Travel Evasion.
« Egypt has never been directly involved in the conflict » recalls Gonzague de Gélis, president of the Kuoni France Group. « We did not cancel any departures; it was bookings that were halted. It stopped completely in March, April, May and June; then bookings slowly picked up in June, we were at -50% versus June 2025. After that, things picked up in July, with an acceleration in August », he sums up.
Gonzague de Gélis mentions a 60% rise in August bookings compared to last year, a year that was already considered good.
For these bookings made in August, the tour operator notes strong momentum for upcoming departures: +40% for 2027 departures and +100% for 2026 last-minute departures. « It is the destination that is showing the strongest growth in August » he adds.
A rebound, but professionals remain cautious
At Mondial Tourisme, Selatt Erdogan also confirms the restart, but puts it in perspective: « Yes, there is a rebound, it is indeed there, but we remain below our objectives. »
The tour operator believes in the destination and therefore expands his lineup with a new seven-night combo named “Treasures of the Nile to the Pyramids of Cairo“.
The product couples a Cairo discovery with a Nile cruise, in a shorter format than the nine-night combo “Pyramids to the Red Sea“.
At Travel Evasion, Bruno Abenin remains cautious too. For him, the year is “good,” though it could have been “excellent” after the successive impacts of March, April, May and June.
Looking at the current fiscal year ending in late September, the specialist estimates that Egypt activity should still grow by 14 to 16%. « We are riding the very strong activity we saw in Autumn 2025. July-August, which are not big sales months, are tracking the same as last year. The summer was driven by last-minute sales with still available capacities.
But we must be cautious with the figures: if we go from 2 to 4 bookings that is a 100% increase, and yet it remains small… Major deals will start next week, with our main distribution partners, » he details.
He is counting on the upcoming holidays: « We are betting on putting quite a few seats back on sale for the All Saints’ holidays. Typically, at this time, order books are full.
Here, we have specifically restocked: we have added air capacity on the two All Saints departures, notably for the Nile cruise. We are betting on selling it now, last minute. »
As for Cyrille Fradin, president of the Karavel-FRAM-Promovacances group, he, too, remains prudent. While he acknowledges the improvement in July and August, he notes it came after a period when sales were almost at a standstill. « We started from such a low base », he recalls.
The tour operator believes in the destination and therefore expands his lineup with a new seven-night combo named “Treasures of the Nile to the Pyramids of Cairo“.
The product couples a Cairo discovery with a Nile cruise, in a shorter format than the nine-night combo “Pyramids to the Red Sea“.
At Travel Evasion, Bruno Abenin remains cautious too. For him, the year is “good,” though it could have been “excellent” after the successive impacts of March, April, May and June.
Looking at the current fiscal year ending in late September, the specialist estimates that Egypt activity should still grow by 14 to 16%. « We are riding the very strong activity we saw in Autumn 2025. July-August, which are not big sales months, are tracking the same as last year. The summer was driven by last-minute sales with still available capacities.
But we must be cautious with the figures: if we go from 2 to 4 bookings that is a 100% increase, and yet it remains small… Major deals will start next week, with our main distribution partners, » he details.
He is counting on the upcoming holidays: « We are betting on putting quite a few seats back on sale for the All Saints’ holidays. Typically, at this time, order books are full.
Here, we have specifically restocked: we have added air capacity on the two All Saints departures, notably for the Nile cruise. We are betting on selling it now, last minute. »
As for Cyrille Fradin, president of the Karavel-FRAM-Promovacances group, he, too, remains prudent. While he acknowledges the improvement in July and August, he notes it came after a period when sales were almost at a standstill. « We started from such a low base », he recalls.
The Grand Egyptian Museum of Cairo, an extra showcase for the destination
Recalling the strong sensitivity of Egyptian sales to the evolution of the geopolitical context, he adds: « Egypt actually lives at the pace of Iran ».
According to him, every new alert concerning the Iran-U.S. conflict or the Strait of Hormuz can immediately have commercial consequences for the destination, even if Egypt is not directly touched.
The true resilience indicator will be Egypt’s ability to sustain its momentum over time, he believes.
« Where I think we can really pause to say there is resilience is when, after these few shocks, we truly see it materialize and endure over time. At that moment, we could start talking about a recovery, but right now it seems a little early… »
Nevertheless, Egypt has an asset that few destinations can claim: an exceptional historical and cultural heritage, now complemented by the Grand Egyptian Museum of Cairo.
Open since November 2025, this new site provides an additional selling point for professionals, enriching an offering already anchored by the pyramids, temples, Nile cruises and Red Sea beach stays. A factor that reinforces Egypt’s status as a destination apart.
According to him, every new alert concerning the Iran-U.S. conflict or the Strait of Hormuz can immediately have commercial consequences for the destination, even if Egypt is not directly touched.
The true resilience indicator will be Egypt’s ability to sustain its momentum over time, he believes.
« Where I think we can really pause to say there is resilience is when, after these few shocks, we truly see it materialize and endure over time. At that moment, we could start talking about a recovery, but right now it seems a little early… »
Nevertheless, Egypt has an asset that few destinations can claim: an exceptional historical and cultural heritage, now complemented by the Grand Egyptian Museum of Cairo.
Open since November 2025, this new site provides an additional selling point for professionals, enriching an offering already anchored by the pyramids, temples, Nile cruises and Red Sea beach stays. A factor that reinforces Egypt’s status as a destination apart.
Published by Céline Eymery Editor-in-Chief – TourMaG.com See all articles by Céline Eymery
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