Could managerial changes in the tourism sector trigger a reversal of fortune in the industry? Walid al-Batouti, deputy head of the Tour-leaders’ Syndicate, reasons that a well-managed Ministry of Tourism could procure a considerable income for Egypt. Egypt, he maintains, depends on quantity rather than quality tourism, and the nine million tourists who visited Egypt last year did not grant any substantial yield to Egypt because Egypt sold its tourism at the cheapest prices. He points out that one can buy a week in Egypt for 250Euros, and take the second week for one Euro.
Batouti wonders about the role of the various offices representing the authority for promoting tourism, indicating that any achievement in tourism in Egypt is the outcome of the effort of travel agencies not the State. While the Ministry of Tourism promises some 200,000 job opportunities to Egyptians for every one million tourists visiting Egypt, Mr Batouti points out that the number of tourists who recently visited Egypt went up from seven to nine million, but that job opportunities did not rise correspondingly.
Curriculum in a coma
Educational curricula are the basis of any specialised study and ensure a well-educated and well-prepared graduate on a professional level who can compete with his or her international counterparts. Tourism education is currently very far from the needs of the tourism job market. A case in point is the faculty of tourism at Helwan University, which until two years ago was teaching typewriting and analog photography.
The absence of the practical aspect and the professional incompetence of the instructors are the main reasons for the low level of tourism education in Egypt. In addition the Ministry of Education offers such low salaries to instructors that no up-to-standard instructors are appointed. Neither does the development of the curriculum meet the progress of the tourist industry.
Wa’el Aziz, professor of hotel management at Fayoum University and a member of the educational development committee of the Ministry of Education, told Watani that there is currently a huge number of tourism colleges—apart from Helwan University’s faculty of tourism and hostelry—in Egypt. The problem is that whether they are higher institutes, two-year institutes, or intermediate schools, they offer the same curriculum.
The intermediate schools, Mr Aziz said, should be responsible for graduating support tourism staff, the two-year institutes for supervisors, and the higher institutes for professionals.
The curriculum is very general; it does not offer enough specialisation in any branch, resulting in incompetent graduates. Graduates’ are very poor in foreign languages and have almost no idea of computers. Administrative jobs such as hotel representatives in airport offices and public relations, technical jobs such as doormen and concierge, and internal hotel security, maintenance and health club staff get neither education nor training.
“Some of the curricula are currently being rewritten, Mr Aziz said, but unfortunately are still isolated from the real needs of the market. This results in lots of unemployed graduates in a market in continual need of specialised and trained staff.”
Raw deal for guides
The Tourist Guides’ Syndicate has received several complaints from its members about the refusal by some tourist companies to pay them the going daily rate of LE130.
The daily rate for hire of a guide is set by the Ministry of Tourism. The syndicate’s role is to negotiate with the company on behalf of the complainant. If talks reach a stalemate the complaint is referred to the Ministry of Tourism for intervention.
One tour guide, who did not wish to be named, told Watani that the situation differed from one company to another. He said some companies paid only part of the sum while others refused to pay at all. This is despite the fact that the company adds the guide fees to the cost of a trip to the consumer. Some companies even stipulate that the guide divide the fee with the company, the guide said.
Michel William, secretary-general of the Tourist Guides’ Syndicate, says the syndicate is working towards an arrangement that will guarantee payment of the sum agreed on to the syndicate, which will then distribute it among the guides. Mr William pointed out that the tourist industry was far from dependable as a source of income. A guide might only work for an average of ten days a month, and this could be greatly affected when accidents occurred or there were terrorist threats. He stressed that guides had a right to be paid what they were owed, especially since the taxation department would not accept they had not been paid.
Tourism politics
But what plans does Egypt’s political establishment have for the tourism industry? According to the agenda of the new Misr al-Umm (Mother Egypt) Party, which is still being formalised, multinational companies would be allowed to work directly within the Egyptian market so as to preclude the need for local tour operators.
The Wafd Party, on the other hand, believes that a successful tourism industry depends on quick decision making and competent performance, which means eradicating bureaucracy. Ramzi Zaqlama, a member of the supreme committee of tourism and secretary of the Wafd, looks on tourism as an export industry which sells tourist services in return for foreign currency. Labour training in aviation, tourism and hotel and restaurant management is indispensable when it comes to providing good service for tourists, he says.
The leftist Tagammu Party asserts that an effective tourism industry requires public awareness of tourism and its value on the cultural and economic level. Adel al-Dawi, media secretary of Tagammu says that: “Tourism is not just a couple of charming sites, hotels and beaches but a means for cultures and civilisations to meet.” Tagammu believes that Egyptians should be allowed subsidised prices for tourist trips, and children should be taught at school the importance of tourism and how to welcome tourists.