ETF Chief: Nearly 15,000 Hotel Rooms Added in 2019

Chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Federation (ETF) Ahmed El Wassief said Egypt added between 10,000 and 15,000 hotel rooms in 2019 in light of the recovery of the tourism sector, expecting a similar increase in 2020.

In an interview with Reuters on Monday, Wassief stated Egypt has 220,000 hotel rooms as well 200,00 others are being under construction.

Wassief pointed out that the sector has been recovered but it is looking forward to more tourists and revenues and persification of markets.

"Tourism is the main pillar for the Egyptian economy and a source of income for millions of citizens in addition to an important source for the foreign currency. But it suffered from a relapse after the unrest witnessed by Egypt after 2011," the chairman of Wings for Tourism Investment.

Wassief noted that there is a quantum leap in the Egyptian tourist numbers in 2019 approaching 2010 numbers, according to the Central Bank of Egypt's statistics, adding: "2010 numbers aren't our goal. We can reach more than 2019 numbers."

It is worth noting that Egypt’s tourism revenues accelerated by 28% to reach $12.6 billion in 2018/2019, the highest in Egypt’s history.

"Egyptian and foreign investors, who earlier suspended their tourist activities, started in expanding in establishing hotels and projects," he further said.

Thomas Cook

Wassief told Reuters that 95% of Thomas Cook's tourists were back to their countries, adding only dozens of tourists want to continue their trips.

"We expect the entry of other tour operators to requite the collapse of Thomas Cook, especially there is a strong demand for the Egyptian market," he underlined.

He expected that the tourist market would recover within the coming three months after Thomas Cook collapse, particularly hundreds of hotels dealt with the British tour operator.

Market Diversification

In this score, Wassief, who assumed ETF since January 2019, said Egypt seeks to persify its tourist markets in all ways.

Still, the direct flights from the United Kingdom and Russia to Sharm El Sheikh, the largest Red Sea resort, had been suspended after the Russian plane bombing in 2015.

"Russia and the UK are very important tourist markets, we can't deny, but we persified in the markets .. Don't forget that all the European countries operate flights to Sharm El Sheikh and conferences, that are being held there, show that the city is safe.

He pointed out that the Kazakh and Ukrainian markets didn't exist in Sharm El Sheikh, but now the two countries top the tourist markets for the resort.