 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 27 July - 2 August 2000 Issue No. 492 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 27 July - 2 August 2000 Issue No. 492
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters
Spread the word
A NEW association, the Egyptian Cultural Heritage Organisation (ECHO), has been formed by a group of Egyptian and foreign intellectuals to raise awareness about Egypt's cultural heritage and its impact on world civilisation. ECHO will focus on training Egyptians in archaeological and conservation methods, while encouraging cultural tourist programmes and curbing looting, vandalism and illicit trade in Egyptian antiquities.Fikri Hassan, founder of the association, said that ECHO is committed to "assisting young Egyptians in preserving and managing Egypt's world heritage" and finding the most effective and least-expensive means of safeguarding threatened archaeological sites.
For more information, contact ECHO at egyptianheritage@yahoo.co.uk
Filling in the gaps
THE TOURIST Development Authority (TDA) has prepared a study on the development of the Saqqara road that extends south from Giza. A 20-kilometre section will be developed in several phases: the first starting from the intersection of the Giza pyramids road and the ring road; the second along the canal and rural area bypassing the sun temples of Abu Ghurab and Abu Sir and finally proceeding toward the Saqqara necropolis. All the flyovers will be upgraded, along with fences and villages overlooking the road."We will encourage locals to get involved in these projects, so as to ensure their maintenance in the future," said Minister of Tourism Mamdouh El-Beltagui. "We want to repeat the experiment in Old Cairo that proved to be so successful." El-Beltagui explained that projects executed by the Ministry of Tourism in Fatimid Cairo have resulted in increased tourism in the area and have provided job opportunities for Egyptians.
Alex hub
BRITISH AIRWAYS has started two weekly direct flights from London to Alexandria, flying from London on Mondays and Thursdays and from Alexandria on Tuesdays and Fridays. Inal Sabri, BA's manager in Egypt, said that the flights are expected to boost tourism in the area. "Since old times, Alexandria has enjoyed a special importance throughout the world for the richness of its cultural heritage and its distinctive location on the Mediterranean," Sabri said. The direct flights will allow same-day connections from London to most world destinations.
Summer bait
WITH the onset of the summer season, hotel chains are preparing events to lure summer holiday-makers, such as Sheraton Montazah's fashion extravaganza in Alexandria. Fashion houses from Cairo and Alexandria presented a variety of casual, soirée and beach wear, in addition to eye-wear and scarves at the three-hour show.Meanwhile, a group of German journalists from the Egyptian-German Friendship Association were hosted by the Cairo Sheraton as part of a joint tourist cooperation between Egypt and Germany.
Hotel bloom
LE MERIDIEN Hotels & Resorts have recently opened their latest luxury resort, Le Meridien Makadi Bay, on the Red Sea in a virgin spot south of Hurghada. The resort offers a health club, children's and sports facilities and several restaurants.Also coveting the Middle East market is Starwood hotels, who recently announced new expansions in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, including seven new hotels in Beirut alone.
"The new hotels will take Lebanon back to where it was 20 years ago, with one difference ... it will be even better," beamed Sami Zoghbi, Starwood President of Africa, India and the Middle East.
"We have a commitment to Lebanon and great faith in the market. The potential for tourism and business travel is boundless," he added.
Starwood will also open its first property of the luxury hotel brand Westin in Saudia Arabia. The 14-storey Westin Jeddah Hotels & Towers is expected to open in August in Jeddah and has been hailed as a historic event for the tourist industry in the kingdom. Starwood's commitments in the Gulf also include a new property in the United Arab Emirates.
