Onward with Egypt tourism Travel Video Television News
Onward with Egypt tourism
Jan 01, 06 | 6:01 pm

Ranked as the world’s 28th largest, Egypt’s tourism continues to gain popularity. As major growth engine of the national economy, the trade currently employs over 10 percent of the total labor force providing 2.2 million direct and indirect jobs. Through 2006, it is expected to grow further with an increasing capacity to generate more employment.

Closing figures for 2005 continue to exhibit clear signs of resilience and growth as Egypt expects to end the year with more than 5 percent growth over 2004. Within the coming years, tourism’s role will continue to grow in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) contribution, job creation for young nationals, and return on investment as the country fulfils its expectations of doubling international tourist arrivals and room nights, as well as realizing increases in investments by 2014.

The Arab republic’s unrivalled base of tourism products ranges from cultural heritage to pristine coastlines, natural, religious, sports tourism and special interest offers. Diversifying the list even further are golfing, yachting, therapeutic and incentive travel packages. This week, the International Association of Golf Tour Operators awarded Egypt the Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year Award. The yachting scene is being led by the country’s top Red Sea destination El Gouna - the pioneer in the ultra-luxury/super-yacht tourism serving a tourism triangulation together with Aqaba and Taba.

Government and private investments have flourished over the last couple of years, upgrading tourism infrastructure including, construction and refurbishment of modern airports all over Egypt. Cairo, Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, el Alamein, Borg al Arab, Marsa Allam, Luxor and Aswan now have airports built to international standards with most facilities operated by specialized international airport management. New Cairo Airport’s capacity will soar to 20 million passengers, from 10 million, before the end of 2007.

Parallel investments have been made in the nation’s transport system, utilities, telecommunications and IT networks.

In line with developing leisure tourism, vast expansions and developments have begun from the South Sinai to the Red Sea areas along the Mediterranean such as Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, Sahl Hashish and Marsa Allam, and in Luxor.

As an emerging destination for residential tourism (a well-guarded secret its Arab neighbors have long perfected since years ago), Egypt is now selling itself to nearby European countries as a snowbirds’ get-away. Europeans are flocking to the Red Sea, buying and owning a second home in a country with a warmer climate year-round.

To date, Egypt’s hotel inventory is extensive spanning thousands of hotels in all categories, from international to national hotel chains. There are 85,000 hotel rooms under construction to date, located as far southeast to the new and upcoming seaside resort destination of Marsa Allam/ Port Ghalib.
This is one vision - the BOT or build-operate-own-transfer project by Kuwaiti billionaire Nasr Kharafi – seeing growing momentum since inception.

Another large-scale integrated development project underway lies on the northwest coast of Marsa Matrouh. It still is the Med’s most pristine, virgin shores to this very day. Mega-projects in both aforementioned coastline destinations have attracted unprecedented foreign direct investments.

In an effort to oil the wheels of positive change, Egypt works hard to develop its new tourism brand capturing the diversity of the offerings. It will be communicated to all media through relevant messages to various niches and targets. For a global marketing strategy, it will utilize new technologies and online media channels to ensure interactive communication with the audience.

Foremost, Egypt will also launch a massive national communications and tourism public awareness campaign designed to generate a broader level of awareness on the importance of the industry. Tourism officials vow to highlight the direct impact on the economic welfare and prosperity of Egyptians, the role to plays in promoting the economic growth and development, support for culture and improving the quality of life. The goal will be to sensitize Egyptian nationals towards tourism, for each citizen to actively take part in creating and embracing the art of welcoming the visitor.

Currently, Egypt is also opening up to China, India and South America, while forging with expanding market share in potential markets in Central Europe, Canada and the USA.

Statistics show from January to November 2005 some 117,113 Americans traveled to Egypt booking 2,481,229 room nights. In November alone, 18,791 Americans arrived spending 230,183 nights.

Hence, Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S. Nabil Fahmy is set to broaden this approach with the US market. At the mid-December opening of the King Tutankhamun Exhibition dubbed Golden Age of the Pharaohs in Florida, Fahmy said, “What we’ve been trying to do is put the full face of Egypt before you. Bringing the exhibit to America for over a year more effectively shows what Egypt has to offer in terms of culture, history and antiquities. To build understanding between peoples is the ultimate goal of this great effort in bringing the Boy King to the United States.”

By Hazel Heyer
eTurbonews.com  ¶ 8:56 PM