Al-Ahram Weekly | Travel

		Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 3 - 9 May 2001 Issue No.532
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Current issue \| Previous issue \| Site map

Golf in Egypt
A LITTLE known fact: Egypt is now a golfing destination that competes with the world's best. Its courses meet international standards. It enjoys good weather. And it offers a variety of tourist attractions.
Perhaps the only thing lacking is good promotion, something which Tourism Minister Mamdouh El-Beltagui recognises.
"We still do not know how to market Egypt as a golf destination, how to reach different golf federations and how to deal with them," the minister admits. At a recent conference with Peter Walton, chief executive of the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), an effort was made to remedy the situation. The conference was held to discuss ways for Egypt and the Association together to market Egypt to golf enthusiasts and holiday-makers.
The conference included travel agents specialising in golf from Germany, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy and South Africa, as well as chief editors of major international Golf magazines. The delegates toured different courses in Cairo, the Red Sea area, Sinai and Luxor.
Walton explained that golf is now a worldwide game and that the number of golfers is growing yearly. "Each year, eight million golfers from Europe organise their holidays around golf," he said. He added that Egypt is in the middle of four key markets. "It could attract golf holiday-makers from Europe, Japan, Korea and South Africa," he said.
Golf tourism is growing three times faster than leisure tourism, according to the World Tourism Organisation (WTO). Walton is sure that golf is a safe investment. "Even kids are attracted to golf. They will be the caddies of the future," he said.
According to Walton, four things make a golf resort good. "First is a quality product, ranging from courses and club houses to course facilities. These Egypt has. The second is a good climate. Egypt has the best in the area. Third is accessibility. Egypt enjoys a good location at the heart of three continents and is accessible from Europe. Last is value for money. This, too, I think you have," Walton concluded.
In an attempt to market this product abroad, the Ministry of Tourism has issued a brochure on golfing in Egypt which lists all the golf courses and their facilities. The brochure is in seven languages and has been distributed among major travel agents and tour operators.
New Valley focus
IN AN attempt to promote the oases of the Western Desert worldwide, the New Valley governorate held its first tourist promotional festival between 4 and 6 April. The festival aimed to market the New Valley as one of Egypt's newest and most attractive tourist destinations. Tourism investors, foreign correspondents and Egyptian journalists were present. Minister of Tourism Mamdouh El-Beltagui, in his inauguration speech, called for "businessmen to get acquainted with the potential of this promising governorate and hopefully invest in different tourism projects."
Tourism officials believe that the New Valley has many advantages that may encourage investors: access to the Nile Valley, a growing settled area, with development potential and numerous historical attractions. Historic sites from the paleolithic era rub shoulders with others from pre-Dynastic, Pharaonic, Graeco-Roman, Coptic and Islamic times. The New Valley deserts could also help nature and environmental tourism, safaris and health cures.
Recently the ministry of tourism has provided investors with a number of emollients in the New Valley. These include cheap land and tax breaks. The infrastructure is improving, too: a new airport is planned for Dakhla Oasis which will complement existing bus, train and taxi services.
compiled by Rehab Saad

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