Erkan Yıldırım evaluated Egyptian tourism and Antalya's new rival

Erkan Yıldırım, CEO of Rixos Hotels Egypt, discussed the development of Egyptian tourism, foreign investment interest, Rixos's growth targets in the country, and new destinations that could serve as an alternative to Antalya.

Development of Egyptian Tourism

Erkan Yıldırım, CEO of Rixos Hotels Egypt, made important statements regarding the Egyptian tourism sector and foreign investment interest. Stating that Egypt has attracted the interest of foreign tourism investors in recent years, Yıldırım emphasized that Rixos has been operating in the country for approximately 15 years.

2026 Growth Expectations

Expressing that the sector grew in the first six months despite difficulties, Erkan Yıldırım noted that 2026 has been challenging due to wars, geopolitical crises, airspace problems, and rising energy costs. Noting that Egyptian tourism grew by about 4 percent in the first six months of the year, Yıldırım stated that they expect a growth of around 7-10 percent for the whole year and that the country has become a resilient destination where tourism can be practiced 12 months a year.

Rixos's Investment and Room Targets

Stating that they do not export capital to Egypt, but rather carry Rixos's 25 years of experience, brand, know-how, and human resources, Yıldırım announced that they currently operate in Egypt with 11 hotels and 7,000 rooms. He announced that within 2-3 years, they will reach 15-16 hotels and 10-12 thousand rooms in Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Alamein, Alexandria, and Cairo.

Antalya's New Alternative

Referring to the 35 billion dollar investment initiative launched by the United Arab Emirates in Ras El Hekma and Qatar's Alam Al Roum project, Yıldırım stated that Egypt's northern coast is called the Maldives of Egypt with its pure white sand and turquoise sea. He stated that this region could become a strong alternative to Antalya in Mediterranean tourism in the future and that Turkey and Antalya should take Alamein very seriously.