Abstract

This chapter looks at the evolution and the importance of the tourism industry in Egypt since the 19th century until the present day. It identifies and explains periods of expansion and recession, the different tourism institutions that developed over time, and the role of the government in the development of this industry. A discussion about the alignment of the existence of such an industry in Egypt compared with the existence of the global industry of tourism is included. In this chapter, the importance of the tourism industry to Egypt in different periods and its different phases is clarified. Moreover, it refers to the different types of tourism that existed when this industry first developed compared to the types of tourism that exist now. It addresses the most popular type of tourism in Egypt over time especially with the continuous existence of new types of tourism in the country. A travel agency that started its operations in Egypt in 1869 and is still operating in the current time is introduced as an example of when and how travel agencies developed in Egypt and the role they played over the years. The chapter draws on various sources, such as archives and statistics from international and local specialised organisations in the field of tourism.