Occupancy rates at Egypt’s Red Sea Governorate hotels and tourist resorts reached 50 percent of total capacity, the maximum set by the Egyptian government for tourism in order to help curb the spread of coronavirus.
More than 100,000 guests stayed at Red Sea Governorate hotels and resorts during the Eid al-Adha holiday, according to employees in the governorate’s tourism sector.
Domestic tourism contributed to reviving hotel occupancy rates that had previously fallen due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, tourism expert Maged al-Qady pointed out.
Several holidaymakers extended their bookings at Red Sea Governorate hotels and resorts until the end of summer vacation, amid decreasing rates coronavirus infection, Qady added.
Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism is planning to increase occupancy rates to 75 percent, following hotels’ commitment to the Ministry of Health guidelines to combat the coronavirus.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism announced the resumption of tourism on May 4, with tourist sites and hotels operating at 25 percent capacity. The maximum operational capacity was increased to 50 percent on June 1.
Tourism experts have estimated that Egypt’s tourism sector lost one billion US dollars per month due to the pandemic.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
