By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    German ambassador to Cairo calls for more privatisation of public companies
    German ambassador to Cairo calls for more privatisation of public companies
    June 7, 2023
    $513m increase in Egypt’s foreign-exchange reserves to $26.686bn in May 2023
    $513m increase in Egypt’s foreign-exchange reserves to $26.686bn in May 2023
    June 7, 2023
    Qatar Investment Authority wants to fully acquire Telecom Egypt’s stake in Vodafone Egypt via subsidiary: Sources
    Qatar Investment Authority wants to fully acquire Telecom Egypt’s stake in Vodafone Egypt via subsidiary: Sources
    June 7, 2023
    7th annual Capital Markets Summit to be launched on 20 June
    7th annual Capital Markets Summit to be launched on 20 June
    June 7, 2023
    CBE receives 21 offers worth $644.1m to cover dollar-denominated T-bill issuance
    CBE receives 21 offers worth $644.1m to cover dollar-denominated T-bill issuance
    June 7, 2023
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Egypt’s Al-Sisi starts African tour to Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique
    Egypt’s Al-Sisi starts African tour to Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique
    June 7, 2023
    Egypt, Serbia hold round of consultations to discuss strengthening bilateral relations
    Egypt, Serbia hold round of consultations to discuss strengthening bilateral relations
    June 7, 2023
    All civilians in Sudan are in danger: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
    All civilians in Sudan are in danger: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
    June 7, 2023
    Arab League calls on Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities, oblige Israel to end occupation
    Arab League calls on Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities, oblige Israel to end occupation
    June 5, 2023
    Institute of Diplomatic Studies holds training course for diplomats from South Sudan
    Institute of Diplomatic Studies holds training course for diplomats from South Sudan
    June 5, 2023
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    EFG Finance to launch unified platform gathering all its financing services: Alaa Al-Afifi
    EFG Finance to launch unified platform gathering all its financing services: Alaa Al-Afifi
    May 31, 2023
    I changed my artistic path to create ‘state of wonder’: Tarek Lotfi
    I changed my artistic path to create ‘state of wonder’: Tarek Lotfi
    May 25, 2023
    I adore Ramadan drama, ‘Telt Al-Talata’ series achieved great success: Ghada Abdel Razek
    I adore Ramadan drama, ‘Telt Al-Talata’ series achieved great success: Ghada Abdel Razek
    May 8, 2023
    We aim to establish Egypt as nearshore centre for Software AG for MET region: Rami Kichli
    We aim to establish Egypt as nearshore centre for Software AG for MET region: Rami Kichli
    April 29, 2023
    Egypt-Spain relations witness remarkable development in recent years: Spanish ambassador in Cairo
    Egypt-Spain relations witness remarkable development in recent years: Spanish ambassador in Cairo
    April 18, 2023
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Reading: Municipal councils’ licences behind widespread use of donkey meat in restaurants: Al-Kerdany
Share
Notification
Latest News
Chimpanzees' communication development echoes human infants
Chimpanzees’ communication development echoes human infants
Science
Does multimorbidity impact chronic disease treatment?
Does multimorbidity impact chronic disease treatment?
Science
German ambassador to Cairo calls for more privatisation of public companies
German ambassador to Cairo calls for more privatisation of public companies
Business
$513m increase in Egypt’s foreign-exchange reserves to $26.686bn in May 2023
$513m increase in Egypt’s foreign-exchange reserves to $26.686bn in May 2023
Business
Egypt’s Al-Sisi starts African tour to Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique
Egypt’s Al-Sisi starts African tour to Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique
Egypt Politics
Aa
Aa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Business > Municipal councils’ licences behind widespread use of donkey meat in restaurants: Al-Kerdany
BusinessInterviews

Municipal councils’ licences behind widespread use of donkey meat in restaurants: Al-Kerdany

Abdel Razek Al-Shuwekhi
Last updated: 2015/06/17 at 11:26 PM
By Abdel Razek Al-Shuwekhi 7 Min Read
Share
Wagdy Al-Kerdany, former head of the Chamber of Tourist Facilities (Photo handout to DNE )
SHARE
Wagdy Al-Kerdany, former head of the Chamber of Tourist Facilities (Photo handout to DNE )
Wagdy Al-Kerdany, former head of the Chamber of Tourist Facilities
(Photo handout to DNE )

Wagdy Al-Kerdany, former head of the Chamber of Tourist Facilities, estimated the state has lost approximately EGP 4bn in taxes due to the lack of supervision on restaurants.

In an interview with Daily News Egypt, Al-Kerdany said the municipal authorities’ giving licences to restaurants without the Ministry of Tourism’s control or supervision is responsible for the recent finding that donkey meat is widely used.

How do you see the condition of tourist restaurants four years after the 25 January Revolution?

The tourism sector, as a whole, paid, and still pays, the price of the political turbulence over the past four years. Tourist restaurants are among the Egyptian tourist products and are, along with the rest of the sector, the most affected. As the political turbulence over the past period negatively affected foreigners’ flow to Egypt, Egyptians’ desire to go out for walks or meals, whether lunch or dinner, has also been affected. But things have changes over the past year, security is much improved. But you have to differentiate between licenced restaurants that are under the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism, and those under the municipals, the difference between the two cases is grand. The former type is under strict supervision from several entities, the most important of which is the Ministry of Tourism, as well as supervision by the ministries of Health and Agriculture. The other type is under the supervision of municipal councils, which is a reason for the poor performance and quality of food offered by them.

What about prices in the recent period?

This is a very important issue, as prices of food items have increased by over 20% in the last period, and still tourist restaurants did not raise prices since this January, contrary to the high prices of other restaurants that don’t pay sales taxes.

How could the situation be better for restaurants without licences from the Ministry of Tourism?

Of course the situation is better for those restaurants without licenses from the Ministry of Tourism; as there is no supervision, and additionally, they do not pay the 10% sales tax, so the state loses EGP 4bn in taxes per year. It is unreasonable that global restaurant chains are in Egypt and under the supervision of municipal councils, and not the Ministry of Tourism. These chains put some of their shops under the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism, and the rest under the supervision of Municipal councils, this is tax evasion. This way, the competition is in favour of the unlicenced restaurants, as they keep the sales tax to themselves, in addition to raising their prices a lot over the past period.

Then why does the state waste this money from its treasury every year, is there someone against that?

Certainly, there are people against the submission of these chains and big shops to the supervision to the Ministry of Tourism, mainly the municipal councils who benefit the most from these restaurants’ submission to them. We heard recently in the media that famous restaurants offered donkey meat to their customers. Tourist restaurants cannot afford to risk their reputation by offering spoiled meat or donkey meat.

How can a place with a reputation of over 60 years risk its reputation by selling donkey meat! There are more than 10 entities supervising us. Since the time of former Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, I have asked for these restaurants’ submission, however, all my attempts have failed. At the end, issued decisions are mere ink on paper, and no one brings them into force. There are more than 16,000 restaurants outside the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism, against 1,200 restaurants subjected to all sorts of strict supervision.

What do you think is the solution for this crisis?

The worst part of this crisis is Egypt’s tourism reputation, especially in the eyes of the Arab tourists, who are the tourists with the highest spending in tourism restaurants. How would they see the situation especially after Daily News Egypt confirmed the presence of donkey meat in Egyptian restaurants? This impacts all restaurants, including tourist ones. The issue is serious and it negatively affects Egypt’s tourism reputation. To solve this issue, there should be one entity to inspect restaurants with regards to health aspects, and then Tourism Ministry should supervise these restaurants. The country’s reputation should be protected against this phenomenon of negligence and fraud. The government now has a strong desire to change and improve the situation, as tourism is an important source of the national income.  The Chamber’s members met Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb, where they presented a group of their demands (some of their requests), including the quality’s improvement of this industry (tourism industry).

 

How do you see the turnout during this month with the start of Ramadan?

During the first week of Ramadan, turnout rates are very low, because customers prefer to have iftar with their families. Turnout increases over the second week. I expect that turnout will be estimated at 65% to 70%, instead of 55%, which was last year’s turnout.

 

You Might Also Like

German ambassador to Cairo calls for more privatisation of public companies

$513m increase in Egypt’s foreign-exchange reserves to $26.686bn in May 2023

Qatar Investment Authority wants to fully acquire Telecom Egypt’s stake in Vodafone Egypt via subsidiary: Sources

7th annual Capital Markets Summit to be launched on 20 June

CBE receives 21 offers worth $644.1m to cover dollar-denominated T-bill issuance

TAGGED: Daily News Egypt, DNE, restaurant, tourism
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Previous Article Previously disappeared photojournalist to be investigated 28 June
Next Article Standard Chic: A day in the garage
1 Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad image
Ad image

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest News

Chimpanzees' communication development echoes human infants
Chimpanzees’ communication development echoes human infants
Science
Does multimorbidity impact chronic disease treatment?
Does multimorbidity impact chronic disease treatment?
Science
German ambassador to Cairo calls for more privatisation of public companies
German ambassador to Cairo calls for more privatisation of public companies
Business
$513m increase in Egypt’s foreign-exchange reserves to $26.686bn in May 2023
$513m increase in Egypt’s foreign-exchange reserves to $26.686bn in May 2023
Business
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?