A range of tourism businesses in the Red Sea and South Sinai governorates have been granted health and safety certificates to reopen, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said on Tuesday.
The businesses include eight diving centres, six yachts, and two marine activities centres, with the certificates allowing them to start business again as Egypt reopens to coexist with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The certificates were awarded following the verification that the businesses have met all the health and safety requirements set out by the Egyptian government and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Samia Sami, Head of the Tourism Activities Sector and Internal Offices at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, said inspections of a number of diving centres, yachts and marine activities wishing to reopen have taken place in the past few days.
The inspections were carried out by the joint examination committees of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Ministry of Health, the Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS), and representatives of the concerned governorates,
Sami explained that five diving centres out of the eight that obtained the certificate were located in the Red Sea governorate, in addition to two yachts.
“As for the South Sinai governorate, three diving centres have received the certificate, in addition to four yachts,” Sami said.
She pointed out that the inspection committees are continuing their visits to other centres, and yachts that have submitted requests to reopen.
In mid-June, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the health and safety regulations and requirements for the resumption of tourism in Egypt, in both Arabic and English. The regulations will be applied across all hotel and tourist establishments, airports, Egyptian airlines, archaeological sites, museums and various tourist activities.
