AN inspection committee, chaired by Luxor Governor Samir Farag, decided on Sunday to close down 13 Nile floating hotels and prevent them from sailing for not meeting safety, hygiene, and labour measures set by the Ministries of Interior, Health, Environment, Tourism, and Manpower. The 13 hotels , which carry tourists on cruises from Aswan to Luxor, were ordered closed because they lacked fire equipment, licences and food permits, Farag said. He added that the committee members had impounded several vessels and found that the owners did not meet the safety or health requirements set by the Government. "Inspections of 13 floating hotels revealed that they do not have safety measures or valid licenses to operate in the Nile," said Governor Farag. Many of these vessels offer elaborate services including food, which proved to be of low quality and unhealthy, he said, adding that Luxor's tourist image was at stake because of the low standard services offered by these hotels.
