e-Finance’s e-commerce and tourism platform e-Aswaaq has set up the online portals to buy entry tickets for the Giza Pyramids, as well as several electronic gates at the entrance of the plateau, according to a statement picked up by Al Borsa. This comes almost three months after e-Aswaaq kicked off the rollout of its booking and ticketing portal at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, which was followed by the National Museum of Civilization, Hurghada Museum and Sharm El Sheikh Museum. The company is looking to finish upgrading ticketing systems and complete the rollout of the portal for 30 archeological sites by the end of 2022, according to the statement.

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Egypt’s tourism recovery has largely shrugged off Omicron, with travel to tourism hotspots remaining unaffected by recently introduced travel restrictions, Al Borsa reports, citing unnamed government sources. Average occupancy rate at hotels across the Red Sea — in Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada — are expected to reach 70-75% by the end of 2021, while Sinai hotels could end the year with an average occupancy rate of 55-60%, the sources said. Tourism has been slowly recovering from the 2020 setback due to covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions for the past year, aided by the loosening of restrictions allowing hotels to operate at full capacity and the return of direct flights from Russia to Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada.