Egypt’s tourism sector has witnessed the establishment of 16 new hotels despite the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, according to an end-of-year report by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The new establishments mean the addition of 2,613 hotel rooms in South Sinai, Marsa Alam, the North Coast, and Matrouh, the report added.
It also mentioned that the planning vision for the development of the Siwa region, in Egypt’s western most desert region, was prepared during 2020.
The Ministry revealed that it participated in the review of the planning vision for Saint Catherine City presented by the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities. As part of the vision, it has been proposed that the settlement will be included as a new tourism product ready for promotion.
Moreover, the report added that the plan to develop Historic Cairo, and its implementation mechanisms, was carried out in 2020, with the participation of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority.
“During 2020, the technical reviews and approvals of 492 tourism and service projects in the development areas under the jurisdiction of the Tourism Development Authority have been studied and conducted in the Gulf ofAqaba, the Red Sea, Ras Sidr and Ain Sokhna,” the report said.
In addition, the Board of Directors at the Tourism Fund has also approved the transfer of EGP41m to the Ministry of Local Development. The finance will be used to complete the development works that are being carried out on the Path of the Holy Family, and to coordinate and supervise the development work of five main points as part of the path.
“During 2020, the implementation of the first phase of the 8km-long internal road network at the Nakhila Tourist Center in the Ras Sedr sector has been completed,” the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities noted