CAIRO, April 6 (MENA) - Hotels affiliated to Egypt Holding Company for Tourism and Hotels (HOTAC) - one of the companies of the Ministry of Public Business Sector - and its subsidiaries recorded high occupancy rates during the Eid El-Fitr holiday in various governorates and tourist cities, reflecting increased demand for Egyptian destinations, whether from citizens or Arab and foreign tourists.

In a statement Sunday, the Ministry of Public Business Sector said, the hotels in Cairo achieved high occupancy rates, including the “Nile Ritz Carlton” hotel - affiliated with the Misr Hotels Company, which is located in Tahrir Square with a distinct view overlooking the Nile River - as it recorded an occupancy rate reaching 96%, while the “Cleopatra” and “Cosmopolitan” hotels, affiliated with the “Egoth” company, in the downtown area reached about 100%.

The occupancy rate at the Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel in the Haram area - owned by the Touristic Development Company - reached 89%.

In Damietta, the occupancy rate at the Steigenberger El-Lissan Hotel, affiliated with the Holding Company for Tourism and Hotels in Ras El-Bar, reached 93%. Hotels in South Sinai also achieved outstanding rates, as occupancy reached 100% at the Safir Dahab Hotel, part of Misr Hotels Company and 94% at the Retac Dahab Hotel, affiliated with EGOTH, a subsidiary of HOTAC.

In Upper Egypt, the Steigenberger Achti Hotel in Luxor - affiliated with the Arab Company for Hotels and Tourism Investment (ACHTI) - recorded an occupancy rate of 92%, while the rate at the Port Said Hotel, affiliated with the Misr Tourism Company, reached 85%.

Minister of the Public Business Sector engineer Mohamed Shimi voiced pride over all positive indicators, stressing that the Ministry pays great attention to developing its tourism assets, as they are one of the vital tributaries of the national economy.

The ministry is implementing a comprehensive plan to modernize hotels' infrastructure, expand establishment of hotels and raise the efficiency of existing ones and revive historic utilities, through new investments and strategic partnerships, with the aim of enhancing hotel capacity and accommodating the increasing demand, especially with the increasing global interest the Egyptian tourist destination is witnessing, said the minister.

He also said that improving the quality of services and programs provided to guests and raising efficiency and skills of human resources, is key for development strategy as it contributes to enhancing the level of competitiveness, increasing occupancy rates and meeting visitors' satisfaction.

The minister further said his ministry is pressing ahead with efforts meant to strengthen pivotal role of the Holding Company for Tourism and Hotels and its subsidiaries and exploit all promising opportunities to support and enhance ranking of Egyptian tourism on the global map. (MENA)

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