Guidelines
By
Rehab Saad
Airlines and airports
Cairo-Marsa Alam schedule
EGYPTAIR recently introduced two weekly regular flights from Cairo to Marsa Alam.
"EgyptAir's scheduled flight service to Marsa Alam International airport is a key element in opening the area to wider access by international tourists and source markets, as well as providing easy and appealing access to the area by the domestic tourism market," said James Pringle, chief executive for the M A Kharafi Group's developments in the Marsa Alam area.
A one-week round trip ticket would cost LE1,488 for foreigners, while a two-week round trip ticket is priced at LE2,041. As for Egyptians, a round trip ticket costs LE465. Flights are scheduled for Thursday and Friday nights. EgyptAir is expected to schedule more flights in the near future.
A new private airline
AIR CAIRO (00+ (202) 267 4525/98), a new private airline, commenced operation last month with an Airbus 321 -- rented from EgyptAir. According to Air Cairo Chairman Kamal Zaki, the company will kick off a marketing campaign in Europe, especially in Germany and Italy. The new company will offer direct service to Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada, Luxor and Aswan.
EgyptAir holds 40 per cent of the new company's shares, while Cairo Central Bank, the National Bank, and an individual investor, Ibrahim Kamel, each have 20 per cent.
More flights to the Red Sea
MISR TRAVEL and EgyptAir have recently signed a joint protocol to operate four weekly trips from Moscow to Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh (two trips for each destination) starting 26 October, in addition to the regular weekly flights. It is expected that the number of Russian tourists would increase to 680 travellers per week.
Travel news
Ancient Egypt encyclopaedia
AN ILLUSTRATED encyclopedia entitled "Ancient Egypt and Papyrus" was published recently by the French publishing house Pygmalion. The 320-page encyclopedia contains information on the daily life of ancient Egyptians, with a special section dedicated to social life, addressing topics such as marriage and divorce.
The author of the encyclopedia gathered information mainly from papyrus scripts, which ancient Egyptians used to record aspects of their lives.
Electric taf-taf in Deir Al-Bahari
AN ELECTRIC taf-taf (open-sided bus) is scheduled to operate in Deir Al-Bahari, on the west bank of the Nile in Luxor, to transport travellers to the ancient sites. Tourist buses will not be allowed to go beyond a certain point -- at which visitors would then board the taf-taf.
An official source stressed that studies have shown that exhaust fumes from tourist buses increase pollution rates dramatically at some ancient sites, which harms the antiquities and threatens ancient statues and buildings. A special LE1 taf-taf ticket will be sold with the area entry ticket.
New platforms at Sharm El-Sheikh
THE GENERAL Authority of the Red Sea Ports has established two new platforms at the port of Sharm El-Sheikh to service more sea cruisers and yachts. The platforms are equipped with the most sophisticated equipment to receive medium and small sized boats. The date of actual operation of the two platforms has not yet been settled. According to officials, the platforms were added in an attempt to support tourist movement between Egypt and neighbouring Arab countries.
Hotels & Nile cruisers
Endless Weekends
STARWOOD Hotels & Resorts in Africa and the Middle East are offering special "endless weekend" deals including The Luxury Collection, Westin, Sheraton and Four Points. The deal offers added-value benefits with extended stays up to four nights. Packages include a double room with breakfast for two, free stays for children up to 17- years-old if they share a room with their parents, 50 per cent discount on the second family room; children up to 12 years eat free from the kid's menu and late check-out until 10pm. In Egypt, for example, Sheraton Miramar in Al- Gouna offers rooms from $55, whereas Sheraton Royal Gardens in Cairo starts from $78. These rates are valid for Thursday, Friday or Saturday, with a four nights maximum stay.
The deal is valid through the end of April 2004.
Conrad promotions
CONRAD Hotels is launching an on-line reservations promotion. Room bookings made online for visits through to the end of December 2003 at any Conrad hotel will be eligible for triple air miles, with over 55 airlines to choose from.
Go to www.conradhotels.com for rates and booking information. No advance payment is required and there is no cancellation fee with 24 hours notice.
The triple airline miles are awarded once the hotel stay is completed. For a list of airlines participating in this offer, visit www.hiltonhhonors.com
More Four Seasons in Egypt
FOUR Seasons Hotels and Resorts officials announced recently that its second hotel in Cairo would open by the end of 2004. The new 374-room Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza will overlook the Nile in the heart of Garden City. It is expected to boast one of the city's largest ballrooms, a number of restaurants and an exclusive nightclub.
The company opened its first property in Egypt and the Middle East, the 269-room Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence, a little over three years ago and further underlined its confidence in Egypt when Four Seasons Resort Sharm El-Sheikh opened in 2002.
Four Seasons is also planning to open in Alexandria. The 120-room hotel, within a multi-component project under construction on the site of the former San Stefano Hotel along the Corniche, will offer spectacular views over the Mediterranean.
Events
Karting challenge
SHARM El-Sheikh will host an international karting championship -- the "Rotax Max Challenge" -- from 16 to 24 January.
Around 9,000 participants representing 40 countries will take part in the competition, but only 80 will be admitted to the finals rounds in Egypt. The event will be serviced by 250 members of the Technical Committee of the International Karting Federation and 100 from the Organising Committee. It is expected that the event will attract between 600 and 800 foreign spectators.
There was fierce competition between Egypt, Dubai, Malaysia and the US to host the championship.
Equestrian championship
EGYPT will host the International Equestrian Championship in January 2004. Twenty-one countries are expected to take part with 30 foreign participants, including ten Arabs. Event sponsors will organise trips for participants to tourist destinations in Egypt. The event is sponsored by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and EgyptAir.
