Egypt seeks to raise tourism standards

Egyptian Minister of Tourism Zoheir Garranah has announced the ministry's latest endeavor in its efforts to raise quality standards in the tourism sector and to create opportunities for the benefit of Egypt's hospitality industry professionals.

Recent years have seen a massive drive by Egypt's tourism industry to improve the services that are offered to the millions of tourists who visit its lands each year.

Despite high numbers of tourists, many complain of poor service, pushy traders and poor standards, and visitor return rates to Egypt are low. According to a 2006 report by the Egyptian Tourism Ministry, the number of tourists returning to Egypt-an important indicator of tourist satisfaction-is a dismally low 20%. Spain, by comparison, has a return rate of 90%.

Under an agreement the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism, The Egyptian Tourism Federation (ETF) and Cornell University School of Hotel Administration (CU-SHA) will work in close alliance to deliver educational programmes through a combination of online courses and Cornell faculty-led in-country courses, aimed at furthering the development of Egyptian industry professionals and improving excellence within the Egyptian tourism industry.

A total of five comprehensive programs will be offered by Cornell; with an inaugural Senior Executives Programme planned for December 2007. This exclusive program is targeted at an select group of forty general managers of full-service three to five-star hotels, and focuses on strategic hospitality management and financial management.

The Ministry of Tourism has committed to finance 40% of the participant's costs Egyptian nationals, and to negotiate student loans for broadening the participation base for the online learning courses.

Minister Garranah witnessed the signing of a Letter of Agreement by Chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Federation, Ahmed EL-Nahas, and Thomas Kline, Director of Executive Education of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.

All in-country programs offered by Cornell will take place in the acclaimed Red Sea resort of El Gouna.