The situation concerns Egypt’s popular resorts, which attract thousands of tourists from around the world every year. The country’s authorities have introduced temporary measures that could significantly affect holidays in the coming weeks.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced the introduction of a curfew for businesses: starting March 28, all shops, cafes, restaurants, and shopping malls must close at 9pm. These restrictions are expected to remain in place for at least one month.
On Thursdays and Fridays, closing time will be extended slightly to 10pm. Meanwhile, pharmacies and supermarkets will continue operating as usual, which somewhat eases the situation for both locals and tourists.
It is still unclear to what extent these measures will affect hotels and resorts in popular destinations such as Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, and Luxor. However, most hotels have backup generators, meaning electricity, air conditioning, and water supply should remain uninterrupted.
Nevertheless, tourists are advised to plan their meals, shopping, and activities in advance, as the usual rhythm of holiday life will change. This will be especially noticeable for those used to nightlife and late outings.
The reason behind these measures is an ongoing energy crisis, worsened by geopolitical tensions in the region. Disruptions in gas supplies and rising prices have forced the government to act quickly.
According to the Prime Minister, the country’s natural gas import bill has nearly tripled in just one month — rising from $560 million to over $1.6 billion. This situation is putting significant pressure on the economy.
Authorities are also considering additional steps, including reducing street lighting, limiting the working hours of government institutions, and even shifting some employees to remote work.
The government emphasizes that these measures are necessary to avoid further price increases and stabilize the energy situation. But for tourists, it means one thing: holidays here may no longer be the same…