Egypt is a complex nation made more complicated by its geography. A transcontinental country, the land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula encompasses the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia. Egypt is a Mediterranean country with many neighbors. It borders the Gaza Strip and Israel in the northeast, the Gulf of Aqaba to the east, the Red Sea to the east and south, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west. Apart from the Nile Valley, most of this is a desert land that encompasses some of both the Sahara and Libyan deserts, with a few scattered oases. Egypt became one of the world's first nation states in the 10th millennium BCE. This cradle of civilization saw the origins of writing, agriculture, formalized religion and central government. Iconic monuments such as the Giza Necropolis and its Great Sphinx as well the ruins of Memphis, Thebes, Karnak, and the Valley of the Kings reflect its awesome legacy. Egypt was also an early center of Christianity, but the country became Islamic in the 7th century and remains a predominantly Muslim country, but with a significant Christian minority. And through it all – through the land and the history meanders the splendid Nile River, with its banks of tall red dunes dotted with palm trees and patches of greenery. Journey into this country of contrasts from the antiquities of the pyramids to the cities’ lively streets and soaring skyscrapers.
Adding a Green Tourism Unit in 2013, with a specific focus on ensuring that tourism development is more focused on protection of the environment and conservation of natural resources, the Ministry of Tourism also launched a Green Star Hotel program that encourages hospitality owners to train staff to be more aware of environmentally-friendly practices, such as reductions in the use of water and energy. With the large numbers of tourists that visit Egypt's Pyramids each year, ensuring that the rich cultural and natural heritage that attracts visitors is protected is vitally important to Egypt’s long-term development, which is guided by a sustainable development plan that was launched in 2015, called Egypt Vision 2030.
The destination recognizes sustainability as being important and have embarked on establishing sustainable tourism practices.
Egypt is not just ancient monuments to its past. From the layers of history, a modern Egypt has emerged, and it is changing, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. Tourism is one of the most important sectors in Egypt's economy. More than 12.8 million tourists visited Egypt in 2008, providing revenues of nearly $11 billion. The tourism sector employs about 12% of Egypt's workforce. If you look closely, you will glimpse seeds of change such as slow-growing movement toward gender equality and opportunity. That includes the tourism sector where Big Five is giving more employment opportunities to women and women-owned business.
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