As Egypt’s popularity grows, tour operators are cashing in on the Red Sea’s year-round sun and value for money. Matthew Hampton reports
Sales to Egypt’s Red Sea coast have soared this season, prompting the trade to increase capacity – Avro has added a Gatwick flight to Sharm el-Sheikh for winter 08/09 after demand from the dynamic packaging market.
Egypt’s revival is thanks to a combination of reliable year-round sun, a manageable flight time and its position outside the eurozone. But operators agree rising standards are also driving Egypt’s success.
Hayes and Jarvis product manager Robert Sanday wasn’t surprised by the renewed interest in the Red Sea as “bedstock has improved dramatically in the past few years”.
Classic Collection deputy managing director Matt Rice said: “Government investment and several international hotel chains have helped bring a selection of luxury product.”
Following this, Classic has launched its first dedicated year-round brochure. Established destinations such as Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada are joined by Marsa Alam, El Gouna, Dahab and Taba Heights. The new resort of Port Ghalib, plus Cairo, Luxor and a selection of Nile cruises also feature.
Cadogan Holidays’ new brochure introduces Soma Bay and El Sokhna and focuses on four-star properties and above. “Sharm el-Sheikh is an established brand, but we see Hurghada and Soma Bay for more discerning clients,” said head of product Doug Mathieson.
Mathieson tipped El Sokhna for success because of its proximity to Cairo. “Twin-centres weren’t an option before, as getting from Cairo to the coast involved an internal flight or a long drive. But El Sokhna is just 50 minutes from Giza.”
Whichever resorts drive business this winter, one thing is certain: it’s not just all pyramid selling.
Hotels
Hotel openings and refurbishments have taken place, mostly around Hurghada, Soma Bay and Marsa Alam. Sahl Hasheesh is a new development 10 miles from Hurghada airport.
There are six new hotels and plans for a cinema complex and beachside promenade. Gamsha Bay, north of Hurghada, is on the drawing board and developers promise a $16 billion resort with five-star hotels, a marina, golf course, shopping mall and residential units.
New openings by international chains include the Mövenpick El Sokhna Resort and Le Méridien Dahab, but the resort of Port Ghalib is the most eagerly anticipated.
Built by Sun International and managed by InterContinental, the four-property complex in Marsa Alam has 1,200 rooms, six restaurants and a 1,500-delegate convention centre. There are plans for a further 19 hotels, a golf course and marina.
By day
Diving put the Red Sea on the map. The waters are so rich with coral and tropical fish that Jacques Cousteau called it a corridor of dreams.
The Egyptian government has worked hard to protect the reefs – particularly at the Ras Mohammed National Marine Park, 15 miles south of Sharm.
Dive boats depart from Naama Bay and you can book a dive package through a specialist such as Goldenjoy or excursions through the Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons.
Good dive sites are accessible from Hurghada and Marsa Alam. Hurghada is known for surfing and kitesurfing – El Gouna, to the south, is home to the world’s largest kitesurfing school.
Back on dry land, golf is increasing in popularity; there are new courses at Taba Heights and the Madinat Makadi Golf Resort near Hurghada.
By night
Traditional Egyptian entertainment tends to be more rewarding than visiting the area’s nightclubs.
Get a taste of the Bedouin culture with dinner in the desert, a popular excursion that most resorts offer in some variation. The format is usually a short camel ride to a Bedouin camp, a traditional meal and possibly some storytelling or dancing. The best bit is being able to savour the silence and the view of the stars.
Sunset safaris are another way to enjoy the desert. They combine a camel tour to a Bedouin camp with mint tea, shisha pipes and time to watch the sun go down.
Sample product
Classic Collection offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Sahara Sun Oasis in Port Ghalib in October from £812 per person, including return flights, visa and private transfers (0800 008 7299).
Cadogan Holidays offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the five-star Oberoi Sahi Hasheesh in Hurghada in September from £988 per person, including flights and transfers (0845 615 4390).
