Egypt`s tourism growth is higher than the world average, Minister of Tourism Ahmed el-Maghrabi told a press conference in Cairo yesterday….
Egypt`s tourism growth is higher than the world average, Minister of Tourism Ahmed el-Maghrabi told a press conference in Cairo yesterday.
In a meeting with travel writers, Minister el-Maghrabi said that the political leadership and all governmental agencies pay very close attention to tourism, the country`s top hard currency earner.
Because of this attention, the number of tourists coming to Egypt has been increasing at a rate of 10 percent annually in recent years, he said.
The increase is also due to the Ministry`s efforts, which are transforming Egypt into a multifaceted resort destination, added the Minister, explaining that the Ministry wants to see the number of tourists visiting Egypt as 12 million by 2010 and 25 million by 2014.
In line with the leadership`s view of tourism as Egypt`s future industry, tourism has emerged as the country`s most dynamic sector and the one that earns the most hard currency.
This sector has weathered the political storms in the Middle East and the occupied territories, with foreign tourists able to differentiate between what is happening in neighboring countries and in Egypt, he added.
Unlike other tourist destinations in the region, Egypt enjoys a secure and safe environment with very hostable citizens, who know how to make their guests welcome and happy, Minister el-Maghrabi said.
He told the press conference that his Ministry and the Ministry of Health launched a swift inquiry into the claims by a group of German tourists, who said that they contracted jaundice from the food they ate while holidaying at a hotel in Hurghada last month.
Denying rumors that the hotel`s kitchen has been closed for health reasons, the Minister told the press conference that he and the hotel residents made a surprise inspection of the kitchen and the hotel`s restaurant.
The purpose of the inspection was to show guests that the hotel has very high health and hygiene standards, the Minister said, adding that the outcome of the inquiry will soon be released.
The Minister stressed that all hotel workers in Egypt are subjected to regular, comprehensive medical check-ups and that each worker carries a certificate which proves that he or she has a clean bill of health.
He also said that the Ministry of Tourism and international quality control companies are discussing a deal whereby these companies would be responsible for ensuring that Egyptian hotels give top level service to their customers.
As for progress in implementing new tourist projects nationwide, Minister el-Maghrabi said that the upgrading of Mersa Matrouh`s tourist facilities is progressing well, according to the timetable for the project.
Tourists will have easier access to Mersa Matrouh now that the city has new airports that can receive bigger aircraft, he explained.
The Minister also said that the Ministry has another project for developing North Coast summer resorts like Sedi Abdel-Rahman, which he described as the new Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada on the Mediterranean.
The Sedi Abdel-Rahman project involves upgrading the old airport and constructing new hotels, he said, adding that the hotel occupancy rates in the Red Sea resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh, Nuweiba, Mersa Alam and Taba are quite high.
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