Tourists visit the Sphinx at the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, on Jan. 2, 2025. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday that the country received a record high of 15.7 million tourists in 2024, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian cabinet. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

CAIRO, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday that the country received a record high of 15.7 million tourists in 2024, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian cabinet.

Calling the figure "promising," Madbouly told a weekly news conference in Egypt's new administrative capital east of Cairo that "if it weren't for the events that took place in the region, the number of tourists would have reached 18 million."

Madbouly expressed his hope that Egypt will achieve the target number of 18 million tourists in 2025, "especially with the anticipated official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum during this year."

The number of tourists in Egypt significantly dropped from over 13 million in 2019 to around 3.7 million in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, then it gradually recovered to about 8 million in 2021, 11.7 million in 2022, and 14.9 million in 2023, according to official data.

The tourism sector is one of Egypt's main sources of foreign currency, along with revenues from the Suez Canal, exports, and remittances from Egyptian expatriates. ■

Tourists pose for a photo at the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, on Jan. 2, 2025. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday that the country received a record high of 15.7 million tourists in 2024, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian cabinet. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

A tourist visits the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, on Jan. 2, 2025. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday that the country received a record high of 15.7 million tourists in 2024, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian cabinet. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Tourists visit the Giza Pyramids scenic spot in Giza, Egypt, on Jan. 2, 2025. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday that the country received a record high of 15.7 million tourists in 2024, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian cabinet. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Tourists visit the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, on Jan. 2, 2025. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday that the country received a record high of 15.7 million tourists in 2024, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian cabinet. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Tourists visit the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, on Jan. 2, 2025. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday that the country received a record high of 15.7 million tourists in 2024, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian cabinet. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Tourists visit the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, on Jan. 2, 2025. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday that the country received a record high of 15.7 million tourists in 2024, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian cabinet. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Tourists visit the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, on Jan. 2, 2025. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday that the country received a record high of 15.7 million tourists in 2024, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian cabinet. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Tourists visit the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, on Jan. 2, 2025. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday that the country received a record high of 15.7 million tourists in 2024, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian cabinet. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Tourists visit the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt, on Jan. 2, 2025. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday that the country received a record high of 15.7 million tourists in 2024, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian cabinet. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)