Cairo has been named the number one travel destination in Africa by US News, followed by Cape Town with Victoria Falls coming in third.
The travel publication ranked 15 destinations, saying that ‘Africa may not always register on the average traveler’s radar, but those who visit have the chance to experience the perfect blend of ancient and modern, of wild and urban, of East and West.’
According to the Decision Support Center of the Egyptian Cabinet, the rankings are based on ‘expert opinions and personal travel experiences recorded.’
Featured in the guide are some of Cairo’s most popular travel destinations, including Coptic Cairo, also commonly known as Old City. Established in the 9th century, The Hanging Church features as one of Coptic Cairo’s most visited tourist attractions.
The oldest church in Africa, the Egyptian Coptic Church, and Islamic Cairo feature as some of Cairo’s most popular destinations too.
Of course, The Pyramids of Giza and Salah El-Din Citadel were also mentioned in the guide. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, tourism accounted for 11.9 percent of Egypt’s economy, and over 150 million travel jobs have been lost since March 2020.
In the Red Sea sector alone, experts have estimated a nine billion dollar loss since the pandemic began.
Since the reopening in July 2020, the country has reported a turnaround in tourism, but levels remain nowhere near Egypt’s average.
By Zimasa Katamzi
Picture: Unsplash
