By :Mohamed Attia
Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Manar inaugurated a new branch of the duty-free shops affiliated to EgyptAir Tourism Company (Karnak) and the duty-free shops in the tourist walkway in Hurghada.
The opening ceremony was attended by Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi, Assistant Minister of Aviation for International Affairs and Information Bassem Abdel Karim and President of EgyptAir Holding Company Pilot Amr Abu El-Ainin and Chairman of the Board of Directors of EgyptAir Company for Tourism and Duty Free Shops Reda Metwally.
The minister confirmed that the ministry’s strategy aims to expand at all levels and exploit all possibilities to maximise the return in the activity of free markets, which is growing significantly.
The procedures for opening an exhibition of duty-free markets in Sharm El-Sheikh are currently being completed, which is expected to open for operation next month.
Also, preparations are being made to prepare duty-free shops at Bernice Airport, which is one of the most promising airports in the Red Sea region.
Manar indicated that the new branch was designed and implemented with the latest means of display and decorations as well as providing all the exhibits that meet the desires and needs of tourists. The opening coincides with the remarkable growth in the tourism movement during this period.
The company is also developing the infrastructure, whether for warehouses and exhibitions, adding new storage spaces for a noticeable increase in the volume of activity.
Preparations are being made to implement a new computer system, as applied in global free market companies, in line with the digital transformation policy and the application of e-commerce.
On the other hand, Minister Manar toured Hurghada International Airport to follow up on the regularity of work and the movement of operations and reassurance at the level of services provided to passengers as well as to ensure the implementation of precautionary measures and airport preparations during the current winter season.
The minister inspected the travel and arrival halls and duty-free shops at the airport, the area of baggage belts and passport counters. He also reassured the application of precautionary measures in the travel and arrival halls, the thermal camera system as well as airport insurance procedures.
During the tour, the minister met with a number of travellers and listened to their views on the level of service provided to them during the various stages of travel and commended the fruitful co-operation and effective coordination between all the authorities operating at the airport as well as the full commitment to all preventive safety measures followed at the airport.
The minister urged all airport workers to exert more effort and dedication to work and provide all means of comfort and provide the best services and facilities for passengers and tourists in a manner befitting the prestige of Hurghada as it is one of the important tourist destinations preferred by many tourists from all over the world.
