“The criteria used for granting licenses to Egyptian tourist establishments have not changed in 20 years,” Tourism Ministry Undersecretary Ossama al-Ashry has said. “It's therefore time to devise new ones, particularly in light of the many violations committed by some of these establishments.” According to al-Ashry, 188 tourist establishments throughout Egypt were forced to close down this year alone due to violations, while licenses for another 104 were withdrawn for failing to meet ministry standards. “The minister will announce the new criteria soon,” al-Ashry said on Wednesday, noting that these would include more stringent regulations pertaining to safety and hygiene. “We will grade hotels based on their locations, reception areas and restaurants,” he added, explaining that hotels that met 80 percent of the new criteria would receive five-star grades, 65 percent for four stars, and 55 percent for three stars. Magdi Shalaby, head of the ministry's inspection department, for his part, said the ministry had managed to inspect all 1178 registered tourist establishments this year. “Last year, we only managed to inspect three quarters of them,” Shalaby said. Translated from the Arabic Edition.