Aid Pledged For Egypt’s Empty Hotels

As a result of Egypt’s current tourism recession, Hatem Mounir, Secretary General of the Chamber of Tourism for the Red Sea, has said that the emergency fund of the Manpower Ministry would give financial assistance to all hotels that have been affected by the country’s drop in visitors, particularly those in the Red Sea.

Although the Red Sea resorts and southern Sinai have largely been unaffected by Egypt’s political instability, five hotels were shut down in Hurghada and four others in Marsa Alam and Safaga last Tuesday. The Red Sea is widely known to be one of the best vacation destinations around the world, with 248 hotels. But 86 of them have now shut down completely because of the lack of tourists.

With ongoing clashes in Egypt this summer, safety has been a concern for potential tourists, with travelers thinking twice before visiting. Occupancy levels at the hotels that are still open have plunged to 24 percent, which is insane. We all know that Egypt’s tourism industry has hit rock bottom in the past two years, but 86 hotel closures? Now that’s a bit too much don’t you think?