1M BRITS CHOSE EGYPT HOLIDAYS IN 2011

More than a million British holidaymakers headed to Egypt for their holidays in 2011, despite the political protests taking place in the country.

The Egypt Tourism Authority said that the visitor figures for 2011 made the UK the country’s second largest source market for tourism, after Russia. Germany was Egypt third largest source of visitors last year.

The figures released by the tourism body showed that Brits stay in the country for average of just over 11 days. The estimate given for visitor numbers in 2012 shows that the country is expecting further increases, as airline and travel operators increase their capacity to the destination. Although some civil unrest continues in some parts of the country, it is considered very safe for visitors, especially in the popular resorts and coastal areas.

Egypt offers visitors a wealth of attractions, from stunning beach resorts and the weather to match, to a huge variety of historical treasures. Sharm el Sheikh provides scuba diving enthusiasts with the perfect base for exploring the aquatic riches of the Red Sea as well as all the other water sports activities available in the region. Cairo is the perfect base for travellers more interested in seeing historical marvels such as the Sphinx, the iconic Pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian Museum.

http://blog.cheapholidays.com/1m-brits-enjoyed-egypt-holidays-2011/

British tourists flocking to Egypt: Report

www.egypt.travel

London: While those from many western countries stay away, British tourists are reportedly flocking to Egypt despite the resurgence of civil unrest in which at least 14 protesters were shot dead by police in Cairo. 

Flights are still almost full as British holidaymakers take advantage of cheaper deals in Red Sea resorts such as Sharm el Sheikh in the wake of the civil unrest in places like Cairo, the 'Sunday Express' quoted tourism chiefs as saying. 

Egyptian authorities have announced incentives for charter operators in a bid to thwart the tourism crisis that has followed January's revolution, jeopardising an industry worth 11 per cent of the country's output. 

The Foreign Office has not warned against travel to Egypt but urges Britons to avoid Cairo where tension is mounting. 

"The situation is volatile and changing rapidly. There is a high risk of indiscriminate attacks on public places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers," a Foreign Office spokesman was quoted as saying. 

Yet resort destinations such as Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada, 300 miles away, are unaffected. 

Neil Garner, of the Monarch Travel Group, said: "Our figures for November show that Britons are still flocking to the Red Sea, though Europeans and Russians seem to be staying away. Flights to Sharm have been 97 per cent full." 

Khaled Rami, director of the Egyptian Tourist Office for the UK and Ireland, said most of the country was safe, adding: "If you look at Tahrir Square you would think all of Egypt is burning, but only in the way that anybody outside of the UK who saw footage of the August riots would think all the UK was burning."

http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/british-tourists-flocking-to-egypt-report_744110.html