//Skip to content
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Egypt’s Tourism Ministry Authorizes Resorts to Ban or Allow Burkini

August 7, 2017
Tunisian women, one (R) wearing a “burkini”, a full-body swimsuit designed for Muslim women, swim on August 16, 2016 at Ghar El Melh beach near Bizerte, north-east of the capital Tunis. / AFP PHOTO / FETHI BELAID

Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism has turned back on its decision that allows women into pools and beaches with Burkini authorizing resorts to ban or allow Burkini. Even in a country where the vast majority of women are veiled like Egypt, the validity of wearing a Burkini on beaches and pools in resorts goes under extensive discussions. Head of the Chamber of Red Sea Hotel Facilities Ali al-Halawany stated that the cancellation of the decision in the first place is a step that shouldn’t have been taken. He clarified that hotels should decide whether to allow Burkini or ban it based on the tourism season and the type of tourists they receive, the privately-owned Al-Masry A-Youm reported. He continued that the tourism sector is a sensitive spot and any decision should be thoroughly studied before issuance. Multiple officials agreed to this and said that the first decision wasn’t well studied. The first decision was distributed by Egyptian Hotel Association, an affiliate of the ministry, saying that the Ministry of Tourism has recently received several complaints from Egyptian guests who were not allowed to use the pool for wearing Burkini. Based on the complaints,…


Hi guest,

You've read all of your free articles.
Subscribe now to support independent journalism and to enjoy:


Unlimited access to all our articles

Exclusive events and offers

First access to new premium newsletters

Ability to comment on articles

Full user profile