During the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, occupancy rates in hotels and resorts increased in coastal cities, especially Hurgada, Sharm El-Sheikh and the North Coast, despite recent political uncertainty and the country's poor economic situation, according to tourism officials. The rates of internal tourism were "good" before and during the month of Ramadan, and further improved during the days of Eid Al-Fitr vacation, said the general secretary of tourism buildings of the Red Sea, Hatem Mounir. Mounir said the rise of occupancy rates made up for the previous deterioration of tourism "which was caused by Sinai attacks." "Before Ramadan the occupancy rates in Hurgada, Safaga, Marsa Allam and El-Qosair, which overlook the Red Sea, increased 60%… but it boomed during Eid El-Fitr to 85%," Mounir said. Mediterranean cities also saw a high turnout of tourists, which increased occupancy rates from 70% to 90% in Alexandria, the north coast and Marsa Marouh, said the Chairman of San Giovanni hotels and former president of tourism chamber of Alexandria, Wassem Mohi El-Din. Speaking to Anadoul News Agency, the head of the local tourism sector of Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, Magdy Selim, said the Eid Al-Fitr vacation raised the average occupancy rates of the hotels and resorts of South Sinai to 34.6%. "Eid Al-Fitr is the season for Egyptian tourism, so it is normal to see occupancy rates increase" said Amr Sedky, deputy CEO of Chamber of Tourism Companies and Travel Agencies. Sedky emphasised that most Egyptians are unable to spend their Eid Al-Fitr vacation abroad due to the economic situation, and noted that high summer temperatures of Gulf countries encourage trips to coastal cities in Egypt. The officials said tourism from Gulf countries to Egypt used to be high during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday as well, but has recently decreased. Both Sedky and Mounir said this decrease was due to concerns about the political situation.
