Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has announced that it has taken measures to close nine tourism establishments that have violated the government’s hygiene and safety regulations.
The closures come as part of the ministry’s supervisory role and its continuous monitoring of hotels and tourism establishments across the country, including restaurants and cafeterias.
The monitoring is to ensure the establishments implement the precautionary measures put in place by the Egyptian Cabinet and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The ministry’s Department for Supervision of Hotels and Tourism Establishments and Activities dispatched secret committees to inspect a number of establishments.
Abdel Fattah Al-Assi, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for the Supervision of Hotel Establishments and Tourism Activities, said that these committees found nine establishments violating the set hygiene and safety measures, as well as operating regulations.
This included operating with capacities exceeding those set, in addition to providing shisha, which is harmful to the health and safety of customers, especially in light of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Al-Assi added that this affects the reputation of Egypt’s tourism sector. He said that according to the laws regulating tourism establishments, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities will issue decrees to close them down.
He added that these committees will continue to inspect establishments on a continual basis, even during the holidays. The Ministry takes all the necessary legal actions against those who violate the set hygiene and safety regulations implemented by the government.
