The increasing number of unlicensed tourist shops and bazaars has led to a growth of shops in random locations, said Mohamed al-Kattan, the head of the chamber of tourist commodities and shops. Kattan added that the chamber focuses only on the licensed bazaars. Kattan said bazaar owners should bear the responsibility of their bazaar's problems because they do not follow an official authority that can resolve their problems. Commenting on a strike organized by bazaar owners in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh against hotels to demand decreasing prices, Khattan said, “We will discuss the problem with the hotel chamber in South Sinai to reduce prices of accommodation in the hotels or exempt bazaar owners from paying rent due to the current tourist crisis." Out of more than 2,500 bazaars in South Sinai Governorate, only 365 are licensed, said Khattan, meaning that most of the strike's participants are not registered with the chamber. He blamed competition between the bazaar owners for the current rent crisis.
