JEDDAH: Amid efforts to attract more Saudi and Gulf tourists, Egyptian authorities have decided not to charge higher than domestic tourists for various services, said the country's tourism minister, Zuhair Jarana, who is currently on a three-day visit to the Kingdom.
"Saudi and Gulf tourists will be charged the same rates as the local people for services at hotels and other places," Jarana told Arab News after a meeting with the representatives of travel and tourism operators at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday.
The minister, who considered Egypt as the most preferred tourist destination of Saudis, put the number of Saudis visited Egypt last year at 402,000. He promised to review the current system of demanding a minimum charge for various tourist services from non-Egyptian visitors.
"Chartered flights will offer promotional charges to four tourist destinations in the country. Most of the tourists prefer to stay in Cairo or Alexandria. Conducted tours will be organized to Aswan, Mursi Alam and northern coastal areas with less than half the normal price," the minister added.
"Not less than 15 tourist projects in hospitality and other tourist service sectors will be launched in a few months. These projects, suited for Saudi investors, aim to provide an ideal tourist environment for Gulf travelers, both individuals and families," he said.
"Despite the global economic crisis, the number of Saudi tourists rose by 2.6 percent in January and February compared to the same period last year and by 4 percent in March compared to the previous month," the minister said.
