The charter flights incentives programme of the Ministry of Tourism is currently reviewing the paperwork of three Ukrainian and German airlines, to pay their dues for December 2016.
A source at the ministry said that the review is in progress, as part of the framework aimed at encouraging airlines to fly more trips to Egyptian tourist destinations.
Ministry of Tourism has disbursed $330,000 as a first tranche to the Egyptian airports company as part of the dues of German airlines for organising tours to Egyptian destinations in November 2016.
The source explained that six government agencies, including the Tourism Ministry, are reviewing the required documents. These documents include the total statement of the flights, including charter, mixed, regular low cost trips, dates, name of airlines, flight number, capacity, detonation, and eligibility of incentives.
He pointed out that the payment of the dues of the airlines is paid to the Civil Aviation Ministry.
The Ministry of Tourism allocated a sum in US dollars for the incentives programme between 1 November 2016 and 31 October 2017 to cover all flights. The incentive value ranges from $2,000 and $6,000. The aviation incentive system includes all airports with Egyptian tourist destinations, totalling nine airports.
It was agreed to transfer the aviation incentive file from the Egyptian Tourism Federation to the Egyptian Tourism Authority, as the incentives programme is part of the promotion campaign.
Egypt was one of the first countries to adopt the incentives on charter flights to encourage them bring more tour operators and mass tourism amid the spread of all inclusive trips. This took place in 2002/2003.
The Ministry of Tourism increased the value of the stimulus to the charter in Sharm El-Sheikh to $3,000 and bring down the capacity of flights to 60% only, instead of 70%, to encourage more flights to the city.
The ministry said in a statement that the decision came in response to requests by South Sinai and Sharm El-Sheikh investors to encourage flights to Sharm El-Sheikh.
