Tag Archives: Egypt

Egypt has fully vaccinated all staff working at both Red Sea and South Sinai governorates, two of the country’s tourism hotspots as hotels and resorts gear up for the safe return of holidaymakers this summer. Staff working in establishments including hotels, resorts, cafes, restaurants, bazaars, and tourism transportation in the Red Sea and South Sinai governorates have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Egypt’s Ministers of Tourism and Antiquities, Health and Population and Civil Aviation and Red Sea Governor made the announcement today in a press conference held during their visit to the Red Sea city of Hurghada to inspect the implementation of hygiene safety measures in airport, hotels and its temporary medical units installed specially to spruce up the vaccination process for the tourism sector employees. “Vaccinating our staff is just one measure we are taking to ensure tourists can return to Egypt’s crowning jewels safely, quickly, and confidently,” said Egypt’s Minister of Tourism, Dr. Khaled El-Enany. “COVID-19 cases in the Red Sea and Sinai areas are negligible. Everyone involved in Egypt’s tourism sector has worked incredibly hard to get to this point and be able to offer a safe travel experience. Nearly a year since the resumption of tourism in Egypt, we are happy to note that the tourist numbers are steadily rising and have almost doubled since January and February 2021. The number of tourists who arrived in Egypt in January was 300,000 and increased to reach 525,000 tourists in April. Now, we are opening our doors and extending a warm invitation to people from around the world who are fed up with staying at home and are desperate to travel for their summer vacation.” “The vaccination drive will …

Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RAK Airport) has commenced commercial passenger operations with ‘flyEgypt’, the North African low-cost carrier. The new schedule, which enhances Ras Al Khaimah’s connections with MENA’s most populous country, marks an acceleration in the airport’s current expansion strategy that is seeing it as the fastest-growing aviation hub in the UAE.  Commencing May 6th with the touch-down of ‘flyEgypt’s’ flight FEG501 from Cairo International Airport to RAK Airport, the thrice-weekly service offers passengers a new value fare schedule for a direct connection to the Egyptian capital. With ‘flyEgypt’ also starting twice-weekly direct flights from Suhag in Egypt to Ras Al Khaimah, the partnership further opens up the emirate to Egypt’s 100 million people. “Egypt is a strong brotherly nation for the UAE, and this is reflected in the growing, economic and cultural ties between us. Increasing connectivity between Ras Al Khaimah and Egypt at this critical time will facilitate these and other mutual activities. From a localised viewpoint, this service will support Ras Al Khaimah’s diversification strategy and further enhance RAK Airport’s strategic position as a logistics and transport hub for the region,” said H.E Eng. Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, and Board member of General Civil Aviation Authority and Ras Al Khaimah Executive Council. “The tourism sectors in both countries will benefit significantly from the new “flyEgypt” service. It provides a direct connection for Ras Al Khaimah residents to take in the wonders of the pyramids and ancient Egypt, while travellers coming the other way can experience the many delights of Ras Al Khaimah and its unique outdoor environment that is establishing …

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has appointed Claviger to promote Dubai as a destination and increase arrivals from across the GCC and Egypt. Claviger will leverage its in-market presence across the GCC and Egypt to promote Dubai as a prime destination for leisure travellers. Its dedicated sales force of market experts will highlight the exceptional Dubai calendar of events and tourism and hospitality attractions that the destination has to offer. Appointing Claviger will give DTCM access to an extensive network of travel industry professionals as it targets increased tourist numbers from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Egypt. DTCM will also call on the company’s expertise to further develop Dubai as an important brand and destination of choice for GCC and Egypt holidaymakers. KSA is one of the GCC’s highest traffic generators for Dubai, with 1.56 million [AAS1] Saudis visiting the city in 2019. As the second highest volume driver for the GCC, Oman secures fourth spot in 2019 with a sharp 24.3 per cent spike to deliver over a million visitors. While Egypt remains in the top 20, with 314,000 visitors all demonstrating potential to positively impact tourism traffic in 2020. Speaking about the representation agreement, Hoor Al Khaja, Acting Associate Vice President for International Operations at DTCM said, “Dubai remains amongst the most preferred destinations for tourists from the region. Appointing Claviger is part of Dubai Tourism’s commitment to its source markets and our ongoing strategy to attract even more visitors from GCC and Egypt to Dubai, year-on-year.”

GCC tourists to Egypt will spend $2.36 billion in 2020, an increase of 11 per cent over 2019, with visitors from Saudi Arabia driving this growth, according to new data published ahead of Arabian Travel Market 2020, which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from April 19-22, 2020. Visitors from Saudi Arabia to Egypt made 1,410 trips in 2019 with a forecast of 1.8 million tourists by 2024, a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5 per cent. In terms of tourism expenditure, Saudi Arabian visitors spent $633 million in 2019 which is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11 per cent through to 2024, reaching $1.13 billion, according to Colliers International research commissioned by the organiser of ATM, Reed Travel Exhibitions. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said, “Total tourism receipts in Egypt which stood at $16.4 billion in 2019, will achieve an average 13 per cent CAGR over the next five years to reach $29.7 billion. And Egypt also has a significant outbound market for the GCC. 1.84 million visitors arrived in 2019 and this is estimated to increase to 2.64 million by 2024.” “Over the last 12 months, Egypt’s tourism industry has witnessed remarkable growth, with arrivals up by 57.5 per cent from 11.3 million in 2018 to 17.8 million in 2019. Growth has been fuelled by the cheaper Egyptian Pound and government incentives for charter airlines operating international flights. Underscoring those impressive numbers, we witnessed a 23 per cent increase in the number of visitors interested in doing business with Egypt, up to almost 4,000,” added Curtis.

Marriott International announces signing an agreement to open a St. Regis in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt. In the second quarter of this year, the St. Regis Almasa is expected to occupy an existing luxury hotel at the entrance of the up-and-coming city that is slated to become the administrative and financial hub of Egypt. The owner of Almasa Royal Palace plans an extensive and phased renovation of the existing building. Almasa Royal Palace, which the owner has operated for the past year, is located adjacent to a 42,000-square-foot convention center that hosts official government conventions and events, as well as official foreign presidents’ visits. The hotel consists of 270 rooms, 90 suites, 60 apartments and 14 villas. Other facilities include outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a gym, spa, club house and 20 food and beverage outlets. When it opens, The St. Regis Almasa is expected to encompass the hallmarks of the brand such as its rich traditions and rituals, and signature St. Regis Butler Service.  Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International, said, “This signing further enhances the St. Regis brand portfolio in Middle East and Africa and underscores the tremendous momentum that our luxury brands have in the region.” Speaking on the occasion, Colonel Waleed Samy Salama, CEO, National Authority for Management & Investment commented, “The St. Regis Almasa will be positioned as the luxury hospitality hub in the New Administrative Capital and with the largest state-of-the-art convention center in Egypt, the hotel will be the ideal host to the country’s largest events, conferences and summits. We are confident that this deal signing will play a vital role in the development of tourism …

Etihad Airways will operate its popular seasonal routes from Abu Dhabi to Alexandria, Egypt, and Salalah, Oman, between June 25 to September 15, 2020. Due to the success of the routes in 2019, the period of operation has been extended by three weeks and a new fifth weekly service introduced on both routes on Fridays, complementing existing departures on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Both flights will be operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft. With the addition of these seasonal destinations, the airline will operate a total of 33 flights per week to Egypt, 28 flights to Cairo and five to Alexandria. The airline will operate a total of 26 flights per week to Oman with 21 weekly flights to Muscat and five to Salalah. The historical city of Alexandria, the second-largest in Egypt, is known for its rich history and beautiful Mediterranean coastline. Salalah, known for its natural beauty and culture, is popular during summer months for its unique khareef, or green season. Flight EY 660 will depart from Abu Dhabi at 13:55 pm and arrive in Alexandria at 15:40 pm, the flight will operate five days a week (Tuesday, Thurday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Flights EY 661 will depart Alexandria at 16:35 pm Abu Dhabi at 22:25 pm, the flight will operate five days a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday).

The Higher Organising Committee of IWAS World Games Sharjah 2019 confirmed that 1,462 participants from 50 countries are set to compete in the world’s largest wheelchair and amputee sports championship in Sharjah from February 10-16. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member Ruler of Sharjah, the IWAS World Games has returned to the emirate for the second time after its successful debut in the city in 2011. The eighth edition of the world championship brings together seven games including archery, athletics, badminton, swimming, shooting, table tennis and wheelchair fencing. New details of the upcoming biennial sports championship were revealed at a press conference held recently at Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa. Global athletes landing in Sharjah over the next few days are set to represent 50 competing nations confirmed by the Higher Organising Committee which include the UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Algeria, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, India, Sweden, Ukraine, Thailand, Turkey, Brazil, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, Kenya, Russia, China, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Italy, South Africa, South Korea, Poland, Pakistan, Norway, Kenya, Latvia, Macau, Azerbaijan, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Serbia, France, Georgia, the UK, the US, Hong Kong, Greece, Czech Republic, Austria, Belarus and Comoros.

IHG has signed a management agreement with Arab International Tourism Investment Company to debut the voco™ brand in Egypt, with the development of voco Giza Pyramids. Part of a mixed-use development, including a high-end mall, the 17,000 sqm hotel is scheduled to open in 2022. Debuting in the Middle East in December 2018, the voco™ brand combines the informality and charm of an individual hotel, with the quality and reassurance of a global and respected brand. To cater to both business and leisure travellers, the 230-room voco Giza Pyramids will be situated in the prime locale of Pyramids Gardens in Giza, besides the Grand Egyptian Museum and the main entrance of the Pyramids. A 15-minute drive from the newly opened Sphinx International Airport, the hotel is conveniently located 30-minutes from the city centre, with easy access to the ring road connection to the New Administrative Capital, that is expected to become the new administrative and financial capital of Egypt. The new-build hotel will offer features that include an outdoor pool, a health club and spa, as well as 861 sqm of meeting space. There will also be multiple dining options available for guests to enjoy, from the pool bar to the hotel’s speciality restaurant. Commenting on the partnership, Ibrahim El Adawy, Managing Director, Arab International Tourism Investment Company, said, “We are proud to partner with a global player such as IHG®, to introduce their latest upscale offering to the Egyptian market. We are confident the brand’s freshness, combined with the world-class experience of IHG and the fantastic location, will make voco™ Giza Pyramids a popular choice amongst business and leisure travellers alike.” Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East & …

VFS Global has signed a contract with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic for providing visa services in 10 countries worldwide. As per this new contract, VFS Global will now provide visa services for Slovakia in China, India, Kazakhstan, Palestine, Belarus, Russia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Egypt through 38 visa application centres. The rollout of all these new operations is expected to be completed by December 2018. Under the new contract, VFS Global will accept both short and long-term visa applications on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. Chris Dix, Head – Business Development, VFS Global, said, “We are excited about our new partnership with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. The countries where we will be operating are markets where VFS Global has worked for several years and whose travellers are familiar with our services and expertise. We are also pleased to have the opportunity to serve our new clients in new locations, and bring applicants in these locations the same benefits and high-quality service that we have been offering our customers worldwide for the last 17 years.”

Oman Air is reviewing its route network with a view to further expanding its destinations in Africa. The airline already flies to Cairo in Egypt, Nairobi in Kenya, Zanzibar, Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania and on July 1st the airline launched its four times weekly service to Casablanca in Morocco. With the established Sudan diaspora in Oman, Khartoum is a strong favourite to be amongst the new additions to Oman Air’s African network in 2019. Last year Oman Air launched its four times weekly service to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya and one of its most dynamic cities with a vibrant cultural life, fabulous places to eat and exciting locations to visit. The seven times weekly service to the popular archipelago of Zanzibar has been a longstanding favourite with holidaymakers with its vibrant atmosphere and culture. Oman Air also flies seven times a week to Dar Es Salaam the largest city and economic capital of Tanzania, and East Africa’s second busiest port. The most recent addition of Casablanca in Morocco demonstrates Oman Air’s commitment to expanding the network and its focus on the African market. The keen interest already shown in the route is a positive sign for its future success. As with the majority of new routes, Oman Air is appealing to both business and tourism traffic and aims to strengthen the bilateral relations with all destinations in its growing network.