Egypt extends subsidies to drive tourism

The subsidy initiative aims to reduce the price of domestic airline tickets and access to tourism sites 

In a bid to reinvigorate its struggling tourism sector, Egyptian authorities have decided to extend the current subsidy initiative for tourism businesses.

The initiative aims to reduce the price of domestic airline tickets that connect key tourism hubs in the country. Flights from Cairo to Luxor, Aswan, Sharm El Sheikh, Taba, Hurghada and Marsa Alam, and from Alexandria to Luxor and Aswan, have all been subsidised.

The Board of Directors of the Supreme Council of Antiquities has also stepped in to subsidise the price of tickets for archaeological areas and museums across the country. 

First introduced in January by the Ministries of Tourism and Antiquities and Civil Aviation, the scheme was only expected to last until February, but has since been extended several times and will now last until the end of May.

The extension comes as Egyptian authorities aim to capitalise on domestic summer travel and help fill hotel rooms, which are currently limited to 50% capacity during the pandemic.

According to Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities vice-minister Ghada Shalaby, Egypt is expected to hit $6bn in tourism revenues this year, up $2bn from 2020.