World

Egypt says it is increasing security procedures at tourist destinations

Associated Press
Published | Updated

In this Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014 photo, Egyptian Minister of Tourism Hisham Zaazoua talks to journalists at the U.N. World Tourism Organization conference in Cairo. Egypt plans to increase the number of security cameras at hotels and popular tourist destinations as part of a series of new security measures aimed at buoying the flagging tourism sector following three years of political turmoil, the country's tourism minister said. (AP Photo/Samuel McNeil) (The Associated Press)

In this Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014 photo, Minister of Tourism Hisham Zaazoua, center, sits amongst representatives from the U.N. and the Arab League at a tourism safety and security conference in Cairo, Egypt. Zaazoua announced a series of new security procedures in an attempt to buoy the flagging tourism sector following three years of political turmoil. According to the Tourism Ministry, only 9.5 million visitors came to Egypt in 2013, compared to more than 14 million in 2010. (AP Photo/Samuel McNeil) (The Associated Press)

In this Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014 photo, Egyptian Minister of Tourism Hisham Zaazoua talks to journalists at the U.N. World Tourism Organization conference in Cairo. Egypt plans to increase the number of security cameras at hotels and popular tourist destinations as part of a series of new security measures aimed at buoying the flagging tourism sector following three years of political turmoil, the country's tourism minister said. (AP Photo/Samuel McNeil) (The Associated Press)

Egypt's tourism minister on Thursday said the country is boosting security procedures at tourist destinations in an attempt to buoy the flagging tourism sector following three years of political turmoil.

Hisham Zaazoua outlined the new measures in an interview with the Associated Press late Sunday. He said they include increasing the number of security cameras at hotels and tourist destinations and obliging tourism industry workers to submit to mandatory background checks.

Speaking at an international conference on tourism safety on Sunday, he also said Egypt is bolstering airport security and implementing a comprehensive system for monitoring heath standards in hotels.

According to the Tourism Ministry, only 9.5 million visitors came to Egypt in 2013, compared with over 14 million in 2010.