Tourism Ministry Deputy Ahmed Atteya revealed an increase hotel occupancy rates from 5 percent to 25 percent over the past two weeks.
Atteya told Al-Masry Al-Youm that he expected a higher increase and said that occupancy rates ranged between 4percent and 5 percent two weeks ago.
Atteya said tourism business in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh would not be affected by former President Hosni Mubarak living there.
Hotel occupancy rates usually range between 85 percent and 90 percent at this time of the year, according to Atteya, who said tour organizers and international media channels should promote Egypt as a tourist destination.
Lowering prices may attract tourists, added Atteya, but it should be a short-term measure employed until tourism is restored to pre-revolution levels.
Atteya also stressed the need for an obvious police presence in tourist resorts.
