Prime Minister Hismam Qandil has ordered a ministerial working group formed comprising various departments from ministries concerned with tourism, Minister of Tourism Hesham Zazou said.

The ministries included are tourism, culture, antiquities, investments, environment, interior, civil aviation, defense, communications, sports and information.

The group will seek to coordinate the work of ministries to serve tourism.

In 2012, 10.5 million tourists visited Egypt generating $ 9 bn revenue with 74 pct and 60 pct occupancy rate in Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada, while Luxor and Aswan registered a diminished 16 pct," Zazou said.

"We hope to make up for these meager numbers in the coming summer and winter seasons," he added.