More Americans are travelling to Egypt than at any time in history. American visits are now on pace to eclipse the record-setting year of 2000. During the first six months of 2006, there were 118,044 American visits, surpassing last year’s total by 20.1% and the record-setting 2000 number of 114,468 by 3%.

The record-setting performance was bolstered in June 2006 when there were 19,656 American visits, a 16.6% increase over the same period in 2005.

Egypt continues to fascinate Americans, as tombs, temples and towns continue to be unearthed and an estimated 60% of Egypt’s history is being left for future generations to discover. In its cover story “10 Extraordinary Escapes,” the Robb Report (July 2006) writes that “Cairo floats on monuments,” with an “embarrassment of cultural riches, with artifacts and ancient ruins at every turn.”

As stated by Mr. Ayden Nour, Consul - Director, USA & Latin American of the Egyptian Tourist Authority, “Americans continue to be fascinated by Egypt and all it reveals, from the top of the Great Pyramid of Khufu to the rich coral reefs of the Red Sea resorts like Sharm El Sheikh. Egypt has much to offer to suit almost any taste.”

To ensure that Americans see all that Egypt has to offer, Mr. Nour noted that Americans have spent 1,315,608 nights in Egypt in the first six months of 2006, which is a 14.6% increase over the same period in 2005. The average stay in Egypt in 2006 is 11 nights.
——-