During the tour, the minister and the governor inspected the final preparations for the new Hotac Arakan Hotel, which is scheduled to open in the coming period. The hotel is being developed in partnership between the Holding Company for Tourism and Hotels and Arakan Hotels & Resorts, with a total investment of approximately EGP 125 million. It comprises a basement, ground floor, mezzanine, and four upper floors, and includes 60 guest rooms. The facility is classified as a three-star hotel.
The tour also included a visit to the Steigenberger El Lessan Hotel and its private beach in Ras El Bar. Located at the meeting point of the Nile River and the Mediterranean Sea, the hotel enjoys a unique location and is affiliated with the Holding Company for Tourism and Hotels. Opened in December 2019, it is the first five-star hotel in the heart of the Delta and features 153 rooms and suites distributed across a basement, ground floor, and five upper floors. The property includes a wide range of facilities such as conference and event halls, restaurants, cafés, a private beach, and a swimming pool. The minister praised the hotel's high standards and the quality of services provided to guests and visitors.
Shimi also reviewed the construction site of a new extension to El Lessan Hotel, which is expected to add 62 rooms and suites to the hotel's capacity in response to rising demand for high-end accommodation in Ras El Bar. The project is expected to be completed and inaugurated by 2027. The visit was also attended by Mr. Amr Attia, Managing Director of the Holding Company for Tourism and Hotels.
He emphasized that El Lessan Hotel represents a successful example of investing in one of Egypt’s most unique tourism sites, making it a distinguished and world-class destination. He noted that the government is seeking to maximize the investment value of this strategic property through the development of the new extension, which will expand capacity and respond to increased demand. He added that the hotel stands as a model of effective partnership with international hotel management companies and is considered a key asset aligned with Egypt’s vision to modernize its tourism infrastructure and stimulate both domestic and foreign investment.
According
to the minister, these projects fall within the Ministry of Public Business
Sector’s broader strategy to develop and upgrade hotel and tourism assets,
enhance financial returns, and expand capacity, especially in promising
destinations such as Ras El Bar. He reaffirmed that the government views the
tourism and hospitality sector as one of the key drivers of the national
economy and a source of job creation. He further noted that efforts are ongoing
to optimize the utilization of public hotel assets, implement development plans
in cooperation with leading investors and global operators, and establish new
hotels across the Delta region.
El-Shehaby stated that boosting the tourism sector, particularly in Ras El Bar, is a top priority, given the city’s distinctive tourism potential. He explained that the governorate is committed to expanding hotel capacity at various levels and maximizing the use of available assets to support this key sector, especially amid growing demand from both domestic and international tourists. He pointed out that El Lessan Hotel currently records occupancy rates of up to 100% during the summer season, prompting the need to expand the facility through the construction of a new annex.