‘Ready to act’: Older travellers fuel boom to unexpected destination

You might think that the ongoing war in Iran has dampened travel to the Middle East, but instead, it’s just redirecting where people are heading – and older travellers are leading the charge. 

The number of tourists heading to the Middle East fell in the first quarter of this year. Meanwhile, Egypt saw a 16 per cent increase in arrivals, according to a UN Tourism report.

According to data from tour company Intrepid, this trend toward Egypt travel is being led by the older generations. 

This year, Intrepid’s Egypt trips have been most popular with the 61 to 80 age group, followed closely by travellers in their 50s, a company spokesperson told nine.com.au.

“Egypt has always sat at the top of people’s bucket lists - sometimes for decades. It’s iconic in a way that means travellers aren’t going to swap it out for somewhere easier or closer,” he said. 

“This demographic has the time and financial flexibility to commit to a trip like this, and crucially, the mindset to go. They’re not going to just pick another destination, Egypt has been on their radar for a long time, and they’re ready to act on it.”

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When the war in Iran broke out in March this year, Intrepid paused all its trips in Egypt, Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia for safety reasons, resuming Egypt itineraries on April 1 and the others soon after. 

Egypt is now Intrepid’s fourth-most-popular destination by both revenue and passengers.

Travellers are choosing organised group tours like Intrepid’s because they have such a range of experiences packed in, said Brett.

“History, culture, adventure, food - it all comes together in one well-paced itinerary. For travellers who want depth, not just volume of sites, that balance is exactly what they’re after.”

Jordan is another popular destination for these travellers, with one of Intrepid’s most popular tours combining the two countries. 

Travel to the country has become even easier, as the Australian government has downgraded its travel advice warning to a level two. 

Visitor numbers to Egypt have been increasing steadily over the last year, thanks in part to an economic push to improve tourist infrastructure and safety in the country. 

“The demand has been brewing in recent years, but the confidence is now there due to the increased stability in the region,” Mark Trim, Founder and Managing Director of Flat Beds told nine.com.au last year.

“Travellers are moving beyond the simple Pyramids tour. They’re looking for immersive experiences, whether it’s the high-end Red Sea resorts, luxury Nile river cruises or exclusive access to restored temples,” he added.

The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which some have dubbed the “best museum in the world”, has also helped increase visitor numbers. The museum is just two kilometres from the pyramids, and is a massive complex housing over 100,000 ancient artefacts covering 5,000 years of history.

Egypt is also developing a brand new, $10 billion city called New Alamein, on the north coast, set to rival Dubai and attract visitors from across the globe.