| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 24/04/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 69 |
| Copyright: Other |
Investment helps diving Mecca to secure some mass-market appeal
Red sea
The Red Sea region, once just a string of hotels on the Sinai peninsular used by scuba divers, is becoming a popular winter sun choice among non-divers and families.As part of its strategy to promote tourism in the region, the Egyptian government is investing heavily in the road network and air access in both the Sinai and the east coast. The airports are being expanded at Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada and a new airport at Marsa Alam, currently a 3hr30min drive south of Hurghada, is being built. Big name hotel groups including Sheraton, Hyatt, Le Meridien and Hilton continue to expand their portfolios in the region.
Regal Holidays, which dealt almost exclusively with adult scuba divers five years ago, now takes bookings from families.
Managing director Andy Telford said: “The two main resorts of Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada have worked hard to put in the infrastructure to cope with more clients who do not want to spend their whole holiday under water. There is more of a resort feel to both places with a range of water sports suitable for beginners.”
In response, Regal is introducing several child friendly facilities including a nanny service at the Hilton Resort in Hurghada, which it plans to extend to other hotels and diving options such as Supplied Air Snorkelling for Youth, a diving system from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors where kids can dive on the surface of the water using breathing apparatus.
Telford added, “We are getting more non-divers travelling in the summer rather than winter, using the Red Sea as an alternative to Greece or Turkey because it is such good value and it is not as hot as people think. You can stay at the Hilton in Hurghada for £399 in July.”
The launch of Thomas Cook Holidays’ 20-page, dedicated Red Sea brochure is a further indication that the region is gaining mass-market appeal.
Product manager Tom Samuel said: “The problem we had was that we are a scheduled airline. Clients had to go into Cairo and spend a night there. But we wanted to push it as a destination in its own right so we have started using charter flights.”
The Thomas Cook programme covers 14 hotels in five resorts, with a lead-in price of £369 at the Sonesta club in Sharm El Sheik for seven nights bed and breakfast from May 1 to July 14. The operator has teamed up with dive specialist Goldenjoy Holidays to supply dive packages. Examples include a one-day dive package for £25 and £145 for six days. The five-day Padi Open Water course for beginners costs £170.