Tourism Official: 80% of Holiday Bookings Cancelled

Chairperson of the Egyptian Travel Agencies Association Hossam El Shaer said Egypt's tourism witnesses a decline in the new reservations, ranging between 70%-80% in the current season compared to the past season due to coronavirus concerns. 

In statements to AlMal Newspaper, Shaer pointed out all countries see a slowdown in holiday bookings because of the deadly virus, noting: "There are no cancellations in the current bookings." 

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETA) Ahmed Youssef said the ETA's board of directors hold meetings to discuss the repercussions of this terrifying issue, adding: "The authority's latest meeting decided to continue on its promotion activities because the current situation is temporary." 

Earlier on Saturday, President of the Egyptian Federation of Tourist Chambers (EFTC) Ahmed El-Wassief said the tourist inflow in Egypt is regular without any restrictions on the tourists’ travel and visits to the attractions and archaeological sites here.

Wassief noted the percentage of the hotel cancellations in Egypt is so weak, pointing out that the federation is always in contact with all the hotels and tour agencies to follow up the tourist inflow.

“The Tourism and Antiquities Ministry, in coordination with Health and Civil Aviation Ministries and the Egyptian Tourism Federation, follows the World Health Organization’s protective measures against the coronavirus,” he added.

It is worth noting that the Tourism and Health Ministry circulated a leaflet to all hotels and tourist facilities in Egypt about the WHO’s recommendations and protective measures against the viruses, especially the CONVID-19.