For 1st time since 2006, Egypt updates Hospitality Criteria

CAIRO – 9 September 2019: Egypt’s Minister of Tourism Rania al-Mashat announced Monday, September 9 the New Hospitality Criteria (hotel classification criteria) for Egyptian hotels, which have not been updated since 2006.

During a press conference, held under the auspices of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, it was affirmed that the New Hospitality Criteria come in line with international hotel classification standards.

The completion of the new criteria is a joint effort of the Ministry of Tourism, the UNWTO and the Egyptian Hotel Association, which is considered a major step in increasing the competitiveness of Egypt’s tourism sector.




“In November 2018, Egypt launched the Egypt—Tourism Reform Program (E—TRP) with a vision to achieve a sustainable tourism sector through implementing structural reforms that strengthen the sector’s competitiveness and are consistent with international standards,” Mashat said.

Under the Infrastructure and Tourism Development Reform Pillar within the Egypt—Tourism Reform Program, updating the hotel classification criteria according to international standards is a major cornerstone, according to Mashat. "Today, and in collaboration with the UNWTO and Egypt’s Hotel Association, this important cornerstone has been successfully completed," the minister said.

In a recorded speech, Secretary General of the UNWTO Zurab Pololikashvili congratulated Egypt. “Once again you are showing your commitment to growing the tourism sector in a responsible and sustainable way. This new system of hotels classification will make Egypt's tourism sector even more competitive,” Pololikashvili said in his speech.

"I would also like to offer my sincere thanks to Egypt for their strong commitment to our work and values. Over the recent years, you have guided your tourism sector back from adversity in pushing new ideas and entrepreneurship. Not only are tourist arrivals to Egypt on the rise, but also under your leadership the sector is becoming more sustainable, more inclusive and an example for many other destinations to follow," Pololikashvili added.




For the first time, new types of hotels, namely Eco- friendly Lodges, Dahabeya, Heritage Hotels, Apartment Hotels and Environmental Safari Camps, have been included in the New Hospitality Criteria, according to a statement issued by the Tourism Ministry. This decision came in light of the increasing international demand on such hotels.

This is an important step that will give the Ministry of Tourism the leverage to monitor them and ensure the quality of services provided to Egypt’s tourists are in line with international standards.

The new criteria do not only evaluate and classify hotels according to their infrastructure and fixed assets, but they also take into account the quality of services, as well as environmental, health and hygiene standards.

Moreover, the UNWTO conducted an intensive training program for hotel inspectors of the Ministry of Tourism. Those trained will be in charge of assessing, evaluating and inspecting hotels according to the new criteria.

In that respect, hotel inspectors have also been trained to use “Tablets” specifically designed for inspecting of hotels based on the new criteria to ensure that the evaluation process is conducted with full transparency.