‘Egypt Is Calling': A social media trend sparks a new wave of global wanderlust - Tourism

Al-Ahram Weekly

3 days ago

From airport gates to iconic destinations across Egypt, a social media trend—'#EgyptIsCalling'— draws travellers worldwide.
The trend ranked 4th worldwide on Twitter in the past hours.
The phrase 'Egypt is calling' has become the signal flare of a full-blown travel trend, now dominating TikTok and Instagram feeds worldwide.
It began in late April 2025, when international travellers posted joyful clips from departure lounges—dancing with passports in hand or filming rain-speckled airplane windows—tagging them with '#EgyptIsCalling.'
Since then, the phrase has appeared in thousands of videos, becoming a recognizable tag among young travellers sharing their journeys across Egypt.
Similar 'calling' trends are bubbling up worldwide, with hashtags such as 'Vietnam is calling,' 'Spain is calling,' and 'Japan is calling' showing up across TikTok and Instagram.
'#EgyptIsCalling' climbs to number 4 on Twitter's global trending list, signaling the trend's worldwide momentum.
From boarding gates to bucket lists
These videos often feature travellers filming themselves mid-transit, just before boarding or upon arrival in Egypt, with upbeat music in the background.
The outcome is a stream of short, vibrant clips that feel like open invitations—intimate, visually striking, and made to be shared.
Once the travellers touch down, the content shifts to sweeping desert dunes, dives into Red Sea coral reefs, and dramatic shots of the Giza Pyramids. The clips also capture the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), spice-filled Cairo markets, and starlit desert safaris.
Viral, organic & borderless
Unlike conventional tourism campaigns that governments launch or employ celebrities, this movement grew from the ground up. 'EgyptIsCalling' has no official sponsor and is not a brand.
Instead, it is powered by spontaneous traveller enthusiasm and the algorithmic magic of TikTok.
What sets this trend apart is how the videos capture the traveller's anticipation and excitement before showcasing where they are going.
A familiar echo
Lebanese celebrity chef Abir El Saghir joins the 'Habibi, come to Egypt' trend, sharing it with her 29.6 million TikTok followers.
Before '#EgyptIsCalling,' a similar viral phrase—'Habibi, come to Egypt'—made waves on TikTok and Instagram.
The trend gained traction primarily in 2023. It featured upbeat clips of travellers and celebrities exploring Egypt's landmarks, often set to catchy audio and humorous voiceovers.
Like its successor, 'Habibi, come to Egypt' blended wanderlust with viral energy, pushing Egypt further into the digital spotlight.
What's on camera?
Tourists answer the call — TikTok users join the viral '#EgyptIsCalling' trend.
The trend isn't just a sightseeing checklist—it is a digital reflection of how travellers are experiencing Egypt through their lenses.
The trend reveals a wide range of visually striking clips—from pyramid reveals at the Giza Plateau and golden-hour Nile River cruises near Luxor and Aswan, to vibrant scenes in Cairo's Khan El-Khalili bazaar, underwater shots off Sharm El-Sheikh and Dahab, and starlit desert camps in places like Siwa.
For Gen Z and millennial travelers, Egypt is a place that speaks to them, literally and virally.
So, if you hear 'Egypt is calling' on your feed, don't ignore it. The pyramids might just be dialing you next.
Tourism surge
Egypt's tourism stats tell the same story: the world is coming.
In the first quarter of 2025, arrivals hit 3.9 million, a massive 25 percent jump year-on-year.
Meanwhile, 15.7 million tourists visited Egypt in 2024. The number, unprecedented in the history of Egyptian tourism, marks a 6 percent increase over the previous year.
The government aims to draw 30 million tourists by 2030, backed by expanded airport, hotel, and airline infrastructure.
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