Local tourism operators are apparently planning on pushing for protections from competition from foreign operators after the government abandoned plans to set minimum prices on hotels. A number of them complained at a meeting with the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) last week that foreign companies receive benefits which they do not, going so far as to suggest that they are not charged a VAT on their sales, according to Al Borsa. They also complain that foreign operators have been undercutting them on prices. Local businesses plan to send a memo to the ECA urging it to step in. Earlier this month, outgoing ECA boss Mona El Garf said that the ECA will meet with Tourism Ministry officials to discuss antitrust strategies and policies which will implemented sector-wide.

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