Egypt pledges tourist resorts will be exempt from energy cutback plans

Egypt’s tourist resorts will be exempt from moves to reduce energy consumption in the destination.

The Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETA) said the new measures, which include shortening opening hours of restaurants, shops and museums, would come into effect on March 28 for one month in response to the current energy crisis linked to the war against Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The country’s tourism minister said the temporary move was in response to “ongoing global developments” but pledged the measures would not be rolled out in tourist resorts including Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Luxor, Aswan, Sharm El-Sheikh.

Tourist restaurants in all destinations including Cairo will also be exempt from the new measures.

The changes include closing shops at 9pm on weekdays and 10pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and reducing street and advertising lighting as part of moves to cut back overall electricity consumption.

Minister of tourism Sherif Fathy reaffirmed the country’s commitment to providing a “safe, high-quality, and fully integrated tourism experience for all visitors”, adding the moves were temporary and regulatory in nature.