Rixos Egypt CEO outlines ambitious expansion plans, targeting 20 hotels and 15,000 rooms within three years, while highlighting the importance of security, peace and regional cooperation in tourism
Egypt is positioning itself as one of the region’s most promising tourism investment destinations, supported by ambitious hotel expansion plans, growing aviation capacity and increasing opportunities for international partnerships, particularly with Türkiye.
Speaking during the “Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean: New Tourism Investments, New Markets and Regional Cooperation” session at the International Antalya Tourism Fair (ATF26 Türkiye), Erkan Yildirim, CEO of Rixos Egypt, outlined the group’s current operations in Egypt and its ambitious plans for expansion over the coming three years.
Yildirim revealed that Rixos Egypt currently operates 12 hotels with a total capacity of approximately 8,000 rooms. The group aims to expand its portfolio to around 20 hotels and 15,000 rooms within the next three years, reflecting its confidence in Egypt’s tourism potential and the long-term growth prospects of the hospitality sector.
Türkiye and Egypt: Complementary Tourism Destinations
Yildirim emphasized that Türkiye and Egypt should not be viewed as competing tourism destinations, but rather as complementary markets capable of creating significant opportunities through cooperation and joint tourism strategies.
He noted that strengthening connectivity, developing new tourism products and expanding cooperation between the two countries could contribute to attracting more international visitors and enhancing the competitiveness of the Eastern Mediterranean as a global tourism region.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of increasing air connectivity between Türkiye and Egypt, with a target of reaching 100 weekly flights between the two countries, supporting greater tourist flows and facilitating travel between the two destinations.
Air Cairo Plans Major Fleet Expansion
During the same session, Hussein Sherif Fahmi, Chairman and CEO of Air Cairo, outlined the airline’s ambitious fleet expansion strategy.
Fahmi stated that Air Cairo currently operates a fleet of 42 aircraft, with plans to increase this number to 80 aircraft by 2029 and 134 aircraft by 2034.
The expansion is expected to strengthen the airline’s operational capacity, support the development of new routes and contribute to Egypt’s broader tourism growth strategy.
The session, moderated by Dr. Yousrey El-Sharkawi, also addressed North Africa’s growing tourism potential, new airport investments, medical tourism opportunities and prospects for deeper regional cooperation.
Security and Peace: The Foundations of Sustainable Tourism
In a separate discussion on the sidelines of the International MICE & Wedding Forum (IMWF) in Didim, Erkan Yildirim addressed the impact of global crises, regional conflicts and geopolitical tensions on the international tourism industry.
Under the theme of the challenges facing global tourism, Yildirim stressed that security and peace remain fundamental pillars of a sustainable tourism industry, noting that political stability and a safe environment are essential for maintaining traveller confidence, encouraging investment and ensuring the long-term growth of tourism destinations.
His remarks highlighted the importance of international cooperation and stability at a time when the tourism industry continues to navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical and economic environment.
With its expanding hotel portfolio, growing aviation infrastructure and stronger regional partnerships, Egypt is seeking to consolidate its position as a leading tourism destination in the Middle East and North Africa, while cooperation with Türkiye offers additional opportunities to strengthen the region’s appeal in international markets.
