Egyptian immigrants and VFR tourism : an empirical study on determinants, opportunities and challenges

Abstract EN

Statistics have revealed that there are millions of Egyptian immigrants permanently residing outside of Egypt and spread all over the globe.

Those immigrants have direct and extended families and friends living in Egypt.

In addition to maintaining good relationships over the years with their families and friends in Egypt, most of these immigrants seem to have a strong emotional attachment to their homeland.

In Egypt as well as worldwide, it is evident that permanent migration and tourism are interconnected.

Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) tourism refers to travelling with the major purpose of visiting friends and/or relatives as one of the primary tourism motivators.

While VFR travel is one of the largest and most significant forms of tourism, it remains well-known but not well-studied.

This might be due to the underestimated economic significance of migration-induced VFR tourism, as well as the common misconception that VFR is a nonprofitable tourism pattern, which made it one of the least researched areas in tourism worldwide.

This is particularly true in the Egyptian context as well.

Realizing VFR’s contribution to the broader tourism market and to Egypt in particular, this paper attempts to reveal the significance of the VFR market with application on Egyptian immigrants.

The paper carries out an empirical study on Egyptian immigrants in North America, Europe and the Arabian Gulf countries.

The purpose of the study is to reveal the travel patterns, determinants, opportunities and challenges concerning VFR tourism by Egyptian immigrants.

The results of the study also provide an understanding of the importance and future potential of the VFR market to Egypt, together with the opportunities and challenges that are attached to it.