Egypt After 2025: Navigating a Critical Inflection Point    Spot Gold, futures slips on Thursday, July 17th    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt expresses condolences to Iraq over fire tragedy    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's Environment Minister attends AMCEN conference in Nairobi    At London 'Egypt Day', Finance Minister outlines pro-investment policies    Sukari Gold Mine showcases successful public–private partnership: Minister of Petroleum    Egypt's FRA chief vows to reform business environment to boost investor confidence    Egyptian, Belarusian officials discuss drug registration, market access    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda    Pakistan names Qatari royal as brand ambassador after 'Killer Mountain' climb    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    Sri Lanka's expat remittances up in June '25    EU–US trade talks enter 'decisive phase', German politician says    Egypt's Health Min. discusses drug localisation with Sandoz    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Tourism ministry plans programme for discounted summer flights for Egyptians
Published in Daily News Egypt on 28 - 05 - 2014

The Ministry of Tourism is planning to launch a programme for domestic flights at discounted prices for Egyptians during the summer months to the coastal areas on the shore of the Red Sea, according Minister of Tourism Hisham Zaazou.
The tourism ministry is working to raise occupancy rates for hotels in different areas, especially in Hurghada in the East, Sharm El-Sheikh in the Northeast, and Luxor and Aswan in the South of the country.
"We will work to support the programme with approximately EGP 5m in order to increasetraffic in tourist cities," said the minister, who expects the popularity of Red Sea cities and Sharm El-Sheikh to increase.
"Occupancy in Red Sea hotels ranges from 55-60% with 30-35% occupancy in South Sinai," said Hany El-Shaer, Deputy Head of the Hotels Chamber in Egypt. He said that tourism should not limit implementation of the domestic flight programme to EgyptAir and Karnak, which are owned by the state.
Al-Shaer feels that involving the private sector in the programme's implementation will contribute to its success and improve the quality of service provided to Egyptians.
"We hope to increase the number of Egyptians visiting coastal areas in the Red Sea and South Sinai in order to increase occupancy and compensate for a lack of traffic due to ongoing warnings from European countries urging their citizens against travel to the Sinai Peninsula."
Fifteen European countries issued travel warnings to their citizens after a bus bombing in mid-February occurred by the Taba port near the border with Israel.
According to the National Accounts Division of the Ministry of Tourism, tourism income to Egypt has decreased during the first quarter of this year to $1.3bn, a 43% decrease from the same period in 2013.
He added: "The price for domestic programmes for Egyptians is low and strives to attract large numbers to spend their breaks at resorts."
The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics said that recreation accounts for less than 0.2% of Egyptian families' income on a monthly basis.
El-Shaer said: "The state is required to support the sector, which suffers losses in excess of $4bn annually."
He added that increasing taxes levied on the tourism sector despite the current situation is "unreasonable".
"The number of Egyptians visiting Marsa Alam is extremely low due to the high cost of airline tickets—over EGP 1,800—which is in stark contrast to the price of lodging," said Tarek Shalaby, Vice President of the Tourism Investors' Association in Marsa Alam. He added that the issue is not a high price of lodging for Egyptians, as one night ranges between EGP 250-400, including all meals.
The tourism ministry within Marsa Alam did not answer our requests for comment regarding the domestic programme that has been launched there.


Clic here to read the story from its source.