Egyptian ministries seek to increase tourism and trade revenue

CAIRO – 23 February 2017: The ministries of tourism and civil aviation are working together at the behest of the Supreme Tourism Council to take steps to increase tourism revenue.

The Ministry of Tourism is to set a price floor for hotel room rates by the end of June, Minister of Tourism Mohamed Yehia Rashed told Al-Mal.

Rashed also said his ministry is coordinating with the Civil Aviation Ministry to implement an open skies agreement that allows international airlines more access to Egyptian airspace.

Open skies agreements promote “increased travel and trade, enhancing productivity, and spurring high-quality job opportunities and economic growth” by “eliminating government interference in the commercial decisions of air carriers about routes, capacity, and pricing, freeing carriers to provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air service for consumers,” according to the U.S. State Department.

Implementing the agreement at Cairo International airport will benefit the regionally-critical airports in Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Al-Dostor reported, quoting the head of the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, Mohamed Said.

Adela Ragab, economic consultant for the minister of tourism, told Al-Masry Al-youm that the Ministry of Tourism started contacting international consultants to begin a new study about the open skies agreement in Egyptian airports at the direction of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.