Egyptian Minister of Tourism Zuhair Garrana decreed on Wednesday that transport companies will be obliged to cover hospital expenses for tourists injured in road accidents.
According to the decree, companies will be legally and criminally responsible for any road accidents that involve tourists and will also be obliged to posses insurance coverage before being allowed to legally operate. The Chamber of Tourism confirmed that all tourist transport companies have been informed of the Minister's decision.
Road accidents are the second most common cause of death in Egypt. Recent government estimates show that 18 Egyptians were killed daily in 2009 alone. The high rates of traffic accidents are due to poor road conditions and failure to follow basic traffic laws.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
