Browsing: Egypt resuming tourism

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects Egypt’s tourism revenues losses to exceed 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020 due to COVID-19 crisis.

A report by the IMF titled “EXTERNAL SECTOR REPORT: Global Imbalances and the COVID-19 Crisis” noted that a recent study (UN World Tourism Organization 2020) included a scenario involving a gradual lifting of travel restrictions starting in September. The scenario implies tourism receipts 73 per cent below their 2019 levels, with a direct impact on tourism trade balances ranging from –6 per cent of GDP to 2 per cent of GDP.

“During the first four months of 2020 international tourism arrivals were about 50 per cent lower than over the same period in 2019, with deeper declines for related indicators, such as international flight arrivals and hotel reservations,” IMF stated.

It also noted that the projected direct impact on tourism trade balances in 2020 …

Egypt will resume flights from July 1^st, the civil aviation minister said yesterday in a joint press conference with the ministers of tourism and information.

The decision is “an important step for the aviation sector to be accompanied with the sanitization operations for all the country’s airports and aeroplanes,” said Mohamed Manar, Civil Aviation Minister.

The minister also added that air traffic will operate regularly in the country then gradually with other states.

As a precautionary measure to curb the spread of the COVID-19, Egypt had suspended international flights since March 19 as well as shutting down shut down restaurants, hotels and cafes.

Mr Manar noted that the suspension period was used to enhance the infrastructure of airports national wide.

“All planes have been comprehensively sterilized and only dry meals and canned beverages will be offered,” Manar said.

Mr Manar also added that the distribution of any publications …