Inspection committees from the Central Department of Tourism Companies sent to all governorates to detect unlicensed entities
Legal action taken against violators in cooperation with the Tourism and Antiquities Police
The Tax Authority notified of the names and premises of all seized entities
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities urges all visitors and tourists to rely only on programs organized by licensed travel companies
As part of the results of the work of the committee formed by decision of Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy to deal with unlicensed persons and entities in tourism activity, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, through the Unit for Combating Illegal Entities at the Central Department of Tourism Companies, has seized and closed 2,063 unlicensed entities across the country's governorates that were organizing and selling trips and tour programs, as well as Hajj and Umrah programs, without obtaining the necessary licenses from the ministry.
This is part of the ministry's regulatory and supervisory role and in implementation of the minister's directives to organize work and tighten monitoring and oversight of various tourism activities, ensuring the quality of services offered to Egyptian and foreign visitors, protecting the rights of licensed travel companies and supporting the national economy.
Samia Samy, Assistant Minister for Travel Company Affairs, explained that the Unit for Combating Illegal Entities at the Central Department of Tourism Companies has stepped up its inspection campaigns across the governorates in the recent period, through expanded committees including the central department's inspectors in cooperation with the Tourism and Antiquities Police, to detect illegal entities carrying out tourism activities that fall within the scope of travel companies' work. She added that the work of these entities violates the provisions of the Law Regulating Tourism Companies and its executive regulations and their amendments, as well as the laws establishing the Egyptian Umrah Portal, regulating Hajj and establishing the Unified Egyptian Hajj Portal.
She said the necessary legal measures have been taken to stop the activity of these violating entities, helping to protect the tourism industry and maintain the quality of services offered to tourists and visitors.
Committee members from the central department's inspectors drew up legal seizure reports against the owners and operators of these violating entities and registered them at the competent police stations for referral to the Public Prosecution, as well as obtaining administrative closure decisions for their premises in coordination with the Tourism and Antiquities Police.
The Tax Authority at the Ministry of Finance was also notified of the names and premises of all the unlicensed entities seized, paving the way for the necessary tax and legal measures against the owners of these violating activities.
In a related context, the committees seized a number of illegal entities whose premises had previously been subject to administrative closure decisions but which had broken the seals placed on them and resumed their activity without legal basis. The necessary reports were immediately drawn up against those responsible and legal action taken against them.
The Unit for Combating Illegal Entities is set to continue its efforts in the coming period by carrying out periodic inspection rounds of premises previously closed administratively across the governorates, to ensure compliance with administrative closure decisions and that seals have not been broken, and to take the necessary legal action against any violations detected.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities urges all Egyptian and foreign visitors and tourists not to deal with unlicensed entities or be drawn in by the tour programs they promote or organize, and to rely only on programs organized by travel companies licensed by the ministry, to protect their rights and ensure they receive safe tourism services that comply with the regulations, as well as protecting the rights of Egyptian travel companies.
The ministry also stresses that it can be contacted to verify the license of any company and the credibility of the programs it organizes before contracting, through the ministry's hotline (19654), the phone number dedicated to reporting illegal entities (01550008630), or the email of the Central Department of Tourism Companies ([email protected]).
The committee is chaired by the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities and its members include a number of the ministry's leaders, representatives of the Egyptian Tourism Federation representing the private tourism sector, and representatives of the relevant ministries and authorities.
The committee is responsible for taking the necessary measures to stop unlicensed persons and entities in tourism and antiquities, setting mechanisms for carrying out joint inspection campaigns, proposing awareness plans and programs, and studying any legislative or legal amendments that would help achieve the committee's goals.
