Tourism Minister Hisham Zaazou said airport security procedures in Egypt are being reviewed during the current period to ensure the highest level of security.
The tourism sector was struck hard by the recent Russian plane crash incident. However, the government is working to contain the crisis, according to the minister.
Zaazou said in a statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism: “Communications are continuous with Russian and British authorities to overcome the current crisis, and are expected to yield positive results to move on from the crisis management stage to promoting Egyptian tourism stage.”
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has received two bids, one from a British company and another from a US company, to review airport security procedures. A decision is expected during the next few days, according to an official at the ministry.
He said the Ministry of Tourism held talks on several levels to ensure the rapid resumption of trips from Russia or the UK before Christmas celebrations this year.
Russian tourism represents about 35% of total incoming tourism to Egypt, while British tourism represents about 11%, according to the official.
Zaazou expected that the current year will witness a decline of $1.3bn in Egypt’s tourism income at the end the year, in comparison to last year’s revenues that amounted to $7.3bn.
The minister said the sector aims to train its human resources and improve the quality of tourism products during the current period to be able to receive tourists after overcoming this crisis.
The tourism sector can recover from the crisis and resume the gains it made over the last 20 years, according to the tourism minister. He added that “the sector is receiving support from state apparatuses at the moment in order to quickly overcome the crisis”.
Zaazou believes it is necessary to create investment projects, such as cinemas and cafes, in tourist areas to encourage tourists to visit Egypt again and extend their stay.
Sustainable tourism is the future, he said, pointing to the fact that the ministry is establishing a “green tourism” project in this regard.
The Ministry of Tourism offered support of about EGP 5m for the development of Nile Corniche in the downtown area of Cairo, from the 6th of October Bridge to the Qasr Al-Nil Bridge, a distance of 600 metres.
