Low Russian tourism flow weakens hotel Easter occupancy: El-Zayat

Tourist occupancies in Egypt’s hotels did not rise to the targeted numbers over the past three days, according to Chairman of Egyptian Federation of Chambers of Tourism, Elhamy El-Zayat.

Al-Zayat added that the decline in the flow from Russia is a major factor in this fall.

Occupancies in Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh ranged between 50% and 60%, Al-Zayat said, and expected a decline in occupancies at the end of the week after the Easter holiday.

Hotel capacity in South Sinai and the Red Sea made up to 65% of the total operating hotels’ capacity in Egypt, according to Egyptian Hotel Association.

Tourism workers hoped for hotel occupancies to increase over the spring season to more than 80%, especially in hotels of Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh.

In an interview with Daily News Egypt last Tuesday, Minister of Tourism Khaled Rami mentioned that Russian tourism retreated by 20% in the first quarter (Q1) of 2015.