Published on : Thursday, May 7, 2020
Tourism authorities in Egypt have decided to plan to reopen of the tourism sector after the industry shattered amid uncertainties in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Towards the end of April, the Egyptian Cabinet decided to review the possibility to allow domestic tourism while maintaining precautionary measures and studies in response to the virus outbreak.
As Egypt started to ease lockdown and travel restrictions, it has decided to allow hotels to reopen for domestic tourists. However, they would not be allowed to operate more than 25% capacity until the end of May. On Sunday, Khaled al-Anany, Antiquities and Tourism Minister, Egypt informed that a range of other health measures will be implemented to guard against new coronavirus cases.
The cabinet has also informed that in order to resume operations hotels must have a clinic with a resident doctor. They should also screen temperatures regularly and install disinfection equipment. Guests have also been asked to register online before arriving in a proper. All employees have been advised to undergo rapid coronavirus tests when entering resorts, while a particular hotel floor or small building has been ordered to be assigned as a quarantine area for positive or suspected coronavirus cases.
Tharwat Agamy, Chairman, Luxor’s Tourism Companies Chamber, appreciated the government’s decision to reopen hotels and said that it will rescue the tourism sector that has generated record-high revenues of 13 billion U.S. dollars in 2019 from completely falling apart. He also said that the decision was based on expectations for not resuming international flights or world tourism shortly because no medicine has been approved for treating the coronavirus yet.
He added that though it would take some amount of time to end the fear from the hearts of travel lovers, he is also expecting tourist arrival in Egypt from September. Hotels will be allowed to work with a maximum of 50% capacity starting June 1.
Tags: Coronavirus, Covid-19, Egypt, Egypt tourism