Be Shaken, Not Stirred With Hotels in Sharm

When most of us think of Sharm el Sheikh we picture white sandy beaches, and diving clubs, taking holidaymakers underwater with the coral reefs of the Red Sea. However, on dry land there are plenty of great bars and hotels in Sharm which can provide you with cocktails to die for, so get your glad rags on and prepare yourself for some fabulous themed cocktails.

Once you emerge from your hotels in Sharm el Sheikh, the first stop should be Soho Square. The hippest spot in the area for nightlife, you can take your pick of great bars and restaurants, clubs and boutiques. There is plenty here to do by day, and even has an ice rink if you’re in the mood for some skating. But it’s the evenings when it really comes alive, and you could spend the whole night just in this area if you wanted to.

The Mandarin is one of the chicest bars in the area. Offering Asian ambiance at its best, this is a very stylish spot to stop for a drink. The interior lighting changes throughout the evening to keep the mood fresh, and speaking of fresh, the food here is delicious. Try some tasty Asian appetisers while you decide which cocktail to try… although The Mandarin is famous for its incredible Mai Tais.

You might want to leave your summer clothing at your Sharm el Sheikh hotels if you plan on heading to the resort’s coolest of bars, the Ice Bar. Similar to its sister bars which can be found in many big cities, the temperature in the bar is set at -5C – cold weather clothing is available on request if required!

Inside, the whole interior is actually made of ice, from the chairs and tables, to the walls and bar. You won’t need any drinks on the rocks as even the glasses are made of ice. The only thing that’s not frozen is the alcohol, so try a shot of something strong to warm you up from the inside out. It’s an invigorating experience.

Claire Collins is a writer who loves to travel. She recently came back from a trip to Egypt where she stayed in some fantastic Sharm el Sheikh hotels.

http://eva-news.com/travel/travel/be-shaken-not-stirred-with-hotels-in-sharm/23867114/

Soarin' in Luxor

DAVE FULLER, QMI Agency

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/26/soarin-in-luxor

LUXOR, Egypt -- If, in my next life I'm allowed only one hot-air balloon ride -- assuming Egypt's pharaohs were correct about this after-life business -- make it this one.

Another 4 a.m. wake-up call? No problem. Just get us to the balloon on time. I witnessed several spectacular sunrises over the Nile during our visit but only one while soaring 500 metres above Egypt's Valley of the Tombs in a six-passenger, hydrogen fed, hot-air balloon.

Sure, it set me back $100 or so, but the adventure included: Mini-bus from hotel/cruise ship to Nile River crossing; small ferry boat ride (with coffee and Hostess Twinkie) to the Egyptian west bank; another mini-bus ride to the balloon compound; one quick lesson on the do's and don'ts of ballooning. And then one extraordinary thrill: A breath-stealing, 45-minute flight over 4,000-year-old temples, tombs and monuments carved into the limestone hills of the Sahara desert by those filthy rich pharaohs.

Ours is one of nine hot-air balloons lifting off this early morning. A sign, says our pilot/captain Tarek Mohamed Khilil, that tourism has rebounded following the spring ouster of Egypt's president, Hosni Mubarek.

Khilil has been piloting balloons for eight years and is clearly a master of the soft landing -- though it's the wind, he says, that determines the aircraft's direction.

On this day, the wind seems determined to push us into the side of a tourist police station as we brace for landing. But, with one quick thrust of the craft's hydrogen-induced flame, we glide over police headquarters and settle down a few feet away from the highway, where a standby-crew gathers up our now deflated balloon.

Back on our tour bus, we head to the Valley of the Kings, where King Tut, Ramses I-through-VI and about 55 other mummified Pharaohs were buried in their gold-encrusted coffins, along with their thrones, jewels, perfumes and other earthly possessions in preparation for an after-life which, who knows, might include one out-of-this world balloon ride.

Ancient Egypt well worth seeing 1 But country struggling to lure tourists back after revolution

DAVE FULLER, QMI Agency
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/26/ancient-egypt-well-worth-seeing

CAIRO - So, there I was, standing on the other side of the metal detector at Cairo airport, waiting for my backpack to be released from the X-ray machine when it vanished.

The more I searched, the more I was convinced it had been stolen. I even had a suspect -- the porter loading luggage onto the conveyor belt behind me.

"Impossible!" our GM Tours chaperone, Mohammed, bellowed at me. Then I recalled the words of Fadi Thomas, general manager of our tour boat (the Ra 2) during a four-day sail down the Nile River.

"In Upper Egypt, so many people make their living from tourism, they won't let anything happen to a tourist. It would be like attacking themselves," Thomas said. "Most Egyptian people are kind and generous and consider you to be their guest in their country. They feel it's their duty to make you happy."

Okay, but this is Cairo -- 20 million-plus people squished between the Nile and the Egyptian desert -- even if everyone I met here, including those seven folks I'd asked directions of during a solo walk from the Cairo Marriott to the Ramses shopping centre, Tahrir Square and Egyptian Museum were helpful.

While I fretted, Mohammed climbed inside the X-ray machine, where he discovered my missing backpack, wedged between the conveyor belt and the side wall. I should have known.

Moral of the story? If you're hesitant taking that once in a lifetime trip to Egypt, don't be. Eight months after the overthrow of former president Hosni Mubarek, life in Egypt -- jewel of the Nile and spell-binding North Africa -- is pretty much back to normal. There have been two deadly confrontations between protesters and the army since, but both incidents were localized and none involved visitors to the country.

Egypt is quite likely the safest country in the Middle East and Africa. Tourism also is the country's second-most important industry (next to the Suez canal).

Five million visitors arrived in Egypt in 2010, many lured by the irresistible Red Sea resort towns of Sharm El Sheikh and Hugearta. Others, like myself, came to see the great pyramids of Giza, the temples of Luxor, Valley of the Kings, the Nile, eclectic Aswan, the Sahara desert and so much else this diverse country has to offer. While tourism suffered during the first six months following the revolution, numbers are edging up again slowly.

"Egypt is strong," our river guide, Mahmoud Awad, explained. "and tourism will recover, just like it did after the first Gulf War and 9/11. The advantage of coming now is there aren't as many lineups."

Egypt is the cradle of civilization -- so ancient that centuries before the Greeks invented Zeus, Apollo and Aphrodite, the Pharaohs already had erected gold temples to their gods: Amun (creator), Ra (Sun god) and Isis (goddess of motherhood, magic and fertility).

And, while there are Roman catacombs in Alexandria and Greek ruins in Cairo, the ancient world of the Pharaohs exists only in Egypt.

After eight, adventure-packed days in Egypt this September, here's what impressed me the most:

1. EGYPTIAN MUSEUM: If museum-strolling were a sport, a visit to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo would equate with scoring a seat to the World Cup soccer final. Nearly 200,000 visitors flocked to the Art Gallery of Ontario a few years ago to view 100 artifacts belonging to the Egyptian Pharaohs. Imagine, then, the drawing power of this overwhelming collection. Built in 1902, this two-storey, 42-room museum contains 120,000 ancient artifacts, including the mummies of 27 pharaohs, their gold thrones, coffins, jewels, art -- you name it -- plus the massive King Tut collection. While plans are afoot to relocate the museum near the great pyramids of Giza, the move is not imminent.

 

2. NILE RIVER CRUISE: About 85 million people live in Egypt, most of them in cities and towns hugging the Nile. It has been this way forever, so a river cruise is easily the best and most relaxing way to see historical Egypt. Just don't expect five-star amenities. We sailed on the Ra 2, a typical flatboat with 75 cabins, a small deck-top swimming pool, one restaurant (buffet) and three bars, with not much in the way of entertainment. But when you're sailing down the river of the Pharaohs, Cleopatra, Alexander the Great and Napoleon -- nursing an Egyptian Stella (beer) -- what's not to like?

 

3. VALLEY OF THE KINGS -- TOMBS: There were at least 63 Pharaohs buried here, in private, multi-roomed tombs, complete with elaborate story-telling murals and hieroglyphic script dating back to 1,700 BC. While grave-robbers emptied the first 62, Tut's tomb -- buried underneath King Ramses VI -- wasn't discovered until 1922 and remained untouched and over-flowing with priceless gold, jewelry and other antiquities, most of it now on display at the Egyptian Museum.

 

4. ASWAN, HIGH DAM, PHILAE TEMPLE: Located near the Tropic of Cancer, this city of 300,000 is home to the Aswan Dam, an incredible feat of engineering that re-routed the Nile, but flooded Nubian villages and several historic temples, including Philae. Philae was reconstructed block by block while new homes were purchased for the Nubians, many of whom make their living designing exotic, camel-bone jewelry.

 

5. KARNAK AND LUXOR TEMPLES: Karnak Temple is the largest in the world, as each successive Pharaoh felt obliged to add his own rooms. Karnak was featured in the James Bond classic, The Spy Who Loved Me, and is just down the road from the equally bewitching Temple of Luxor.

6. COPTIC CAIRO DISTRICT: Here, on the banks of the Nile, is where the baby Moses was discovered by the Pharaoh's daughter; and where Joseph, Mary and Jesus hid out for three-and-a-half years. Cairo, itself, is an acquired taste, but enchanting when lit up at night.

7. THE GREAT PYRAMIDS/SPHINX OF GIZA: Amazing! The pyramids and sphinx are Egypt's most recognizable symbols and can't be missed.

Egypt Vacation Packages – See The Ancient Temples The Way The Pharaohs Did

By Adriana Noton • 25/10/11 

The most popular of Nile cruises are those that last three to five days and take you from the city of Aswan to Luxor. So, when you are looking at Egypt vacation packages make sure there is a Nile cruise included.

Historically, a boat trip along the Nile was the only way to get to the temples and tombs located along the northern part of the river. It is still one of the most popular ways to see this ancient historic land. The most popular of Nile cruises are those that last three to five days and take you from the city of Aswan to Luxor. So, when you are looking at Egypt vacation packages make sure there is a Nile cruise included.

There are many specialized forms of tourism nowadays and Egypt vacations are part of that. Besides being a worldwide destination for archaeological, historical and cultural tour packages there is also what is known as therapeutic tourism. Egypt tours boast a wide variety of beautiful and healing geographical places, such as hot springs.

Proven scientific research suggests that clay found in many of the hot springs, have therapeutic benefits and have been known to cure bone abnormalities, skin problems, kidney and lung diseases including other problems. It is said too, that the water of the Red Sea a chemical composition that helps to cure forms of psoriasis.

Even Socrates recommended this area for its climatic therapeutic properties. There is evidence of this in many of his writings, dating from the Greek era. Socrates, scribed the now renowned papers called “Egypt and Climatic Therapy”. He suggested citizens travel to this beautiful land and enjoy its air, their sands and their waters. Many did and since then, countless numbers have experienced and enjoyed relief and renewed health from visiting this most ancient of lands.

Many of the Nile cruises employ staff members who are known as Egyptologists. They can be an invaluable resource for you to absorb as much of the culture as you possibly can for the time you are there. To prepare yourself further, it is advisable to bring a map of the country and the Nile in particular. A perfect companion would be a pocket-sized book of archaeological and historical Egyptian facts, color illustrations, and archival photographs.

Once you have booked your trip, you need to show your original passport, 2 extra passport photos, a copy of the round trip tickets and an itinerary. Your passport will be stamped with a registration mark and you are on your way. You will need to register again upon arrive but, the assistants at the airport or cruise ship will help you with that.

Here are some health related items you’ll want to consider bringing with you; high level sunblock and good sunglasses, iodine tablets and water filters to purify water just in case clean water is not available. A hand sanitizer or antibacterial wipes, as there will be fewer places to wash up when you are not on the ship. You’ll want to bring mosquito repellent and/or long sleeved shirts and pants to protect yourself from sun and bugs and a hat.

Before leaving, you may need to get some vaccinations, your health-care provider trained in travel medicine will known exactly what you need in terms of required shots, anti-malaria drugs and any other medication that you will need to protect yourself aboard. There is a lot to think about when looking into Egypt vacation packages but, it is well worth the extra effort so you get the most out of your trip.

http://www.traveleverywhere.net/travel/egypt-vacation-packages-see-the-ancient-temples-the-way-the-pharaohs-did/

It is important to plan your Nile cruise in advance

A Nile cruise is a wonderful activity if you are in Egypt. You will have a fantastic and memorable time having a River Nile cruise. The main benefit of having a Nile cruise is that you can have a look of almost all big cities because river Nile has cover almost all of them. So it is a mouth watering trip and regarded as journey of a lifetime.
Egypt is a wonderful country full of ancient heritage and culture. It is one of the best place to visit if you have to spend your holidays in looking for something mysterious and adventurous. You can have different deals for visiting different location in Egypt but if you don’t visit Nile and not having a Nile cruise it means you have missed best part of your journey.
Some people thought that Nile cruise is costly and expensive one and common man cannot afford such kind of activities. It is wrong because there a lot of Nile cruise packages available which can suit you. If you want to have Nile cruise and stay there for some time you will find best packages because they accommodate tourist accordingly.
Having a nile cruise not only gives you view of river but you can also see a lot of historical and ancient place when having a nile cruise because river nile is world’s biggest river and it cover almost all big cities of the country so you can have a look at all these cities as well. It is important to know some important things as well when you are going for a Nile cruise.
Make sure that you had travel insurance because sometimes it becomes a dangerous cruise anything happen to you or your luggage. Don’t try to do childish activities when you are on cruise. Make your journey a memorable one by having a fantastic time.
Orbital for your Nile Cruise you can be assured that your nile cruise holiday will meet your highest expectations. We visit all the Nile Cruisers regularly and insist that all aspects of travel egypt meet our very high standards.
http://eva-news.com/travel/travel/it-is-important-to-plan-your-nile-cruise-in-advance/23867032/

Thomas Cook trains Egyptians in animal welfare

Thomas Cook staff in Egypt have been training local Calesh drivers to look after their horses and donkeys.

The Edfu training day, in partnership with international animal welfare charity The Brooke, was to help the locals improve living standards for their animals.

The operator believes using caleshes, like a horse and cart, to take visitors from cruise ships to the temple at Edfu provides an authentic flavour of Egypt.
It also benefits the local community which is dependent on tourism to make their living.

Thomas Cook has been working with the charity to promote its 'Responsible Tourism for Animals' campaign over the last two years.

This has included distributing a 'Happy Horses Holiday Code' via its resort packs encouraging tourists to check horses are healthy and owners are paid a fair price.

http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1150002.php

A Woman's Guide To Visiting Egypt Now

Olivia Katrandjian 

Journalist and Travel Writer 

When I told my parents I was going to Egypt, they freaked out. My dad, who was sure I'd come home in a body bag, threatened to steal my passport. Such are the views of a conservative father with only one daughter. Even when that daughter is 24 years old.

I made it to Cairo, one week after the attack on the Israeli embassy there, and while I wasn't afraid of violence, I was worried -- well, curious -- about being a woman in Egypt, not to mention an American one. I looked for information on what to wear and watch out for as a female tourist in Egypt, but couldn't find a comprehensive guide. So, ladies, here's what you need to know.
While Egypt is a Muslim country, it is much more progressive than other Arab nations. Some women wear a niqab (a veil covering the face), others wear a hijab (a covering of the hair and neck but not the face) and still others do not cover their heads at all. Women are not required by law to follow a dress code, so as a tourist, you can wear whatever you'd like; some people do. But whatever comfort you might find in wearing minimal clothing in the heat will be cancelled out by the discomfort of having men stare and yell at you. Save the push-up bras and cleavage-bearing tops for your next trip to Brazil.

You do not need to cover your head in Egypt, but dress modestly. Wear pants or long skirts. Cairo is hot, so loose fitting pants are going to be more comfortable than a pair of skinny jeans. It is also dusty and dirty, so white clothing will appear soiled far more quickly than clothing of other colors.
Sunglasses are a must, not only because it's bright out but also because they make it easier to avoid making eye contact with men on the street. If you find yourself without shades, don't look men in the eye -- it's considered a form of flirtation.
Before my trip, I was warned that outside Egypt's major cities the locals are much more conservative and that you must dress accordingly. But I found the opposite to be true. I took a cruise down the Nile and stopped at major tourist sites like the Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple. With the exception of a few souvenir dealers, everyone at these sites is a tourist, and they dress as such. Among tourists, you can wear what you want (within reason). There's no point in sweating it out in long pants and a long-sleeved shirt if everyone around you is in shorts.
While you don't need to wear a headscarf, it's not a bad idea to carry around a lightweight pashmina in case you go into a mosque and want to cover your head. In the more conservative mosques, if you're not completely covered, they will ask you to wear a bathrobe-type garment.

"Your conservative equals their slightly-less-scandalous, so skinny jeans need a long shirt, and even a high-neck shirt must either be loose or be layered with a loose sweater. There are many occasions where you can wear whatever you want at your destination, but the transportation and walking in between is the killer," said Alison, an American journalist who has been living in downtown Cairo for two years. So while a cocktail dress is perfectly acceptable attire at many parties, walking the streets in one is another matter altogether.

"Egyptians are very friendly and outgoing people," said Alison. "You can certainly socialize, but while in the US (or Lebanon for that matter) it's perfectly acceptable to talk to a stranger at a bar, be aware that this is not part of the Egyptian culture. When Egyptians go out at night, they do not interact with others outside their immediate group. So be yourself and enjoy the hospitality, but keep the rules of the locals in the back of your mind."
Expect harassment, ranging from harmless flirtation -- men will call you sukar (sugar), mozza (banana), butta (duck) and ask how many camels you cost -- to men staring at you, following you, grabbing your chest or butt and verbally harassing you. This is less common than flirtation, but nevertheless common. Avoid walking alone at night.

"It happens to all women in Cairo at some point, but do not be afraid of taking public transportation, like the metro, or going to certain areas, because there is no pattern of location," said Alison.
According to a report by the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights titled "Harassment: The Social Cancer," 98 percent of foreign female visitors to Egypt and 83 percent of Egyptian women experienced some degree of sexual harassment, and 62 percent of Egyptian men admitted to harassing women, both foreign and local.
Despite the potential for unwanted attention from men, with a little common sense and appropriate clothing, Egypt is an enjoyable destination with a rich history, an abundance of archeological sites, a delicious cuisine and a promising future.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/olivia-katrandjian/a-womans-guide-to-visitin_b_1063486.html

 

Is it Safe For American And Canadians to Travel to Egypt Now?

Buy Pulaski Bedroom Furniture And Capel Rugs Online

Since medieval times, Egypt has always been a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world. The good weather, the many beaches of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and the diversity of monuments that the land of the pharos hosts always attracted travelers from different regions to come and visit Egypt.
However, with all the political events that started with the people’s revolution against the government on the 25th of January 2011, and with many countries placing warnings to travelers who want to visit Egypt in this period like the United States of America and Canada, many questions jump in the head of a tourist before thinking of coming to Egypt. The most important question is “is it safe to visit Egypt now?” and The answer to this question is “Yes” for many different reasons
The tourism business in Egypt has proved that it was able to be strong enough to pass through a number of challenges in the past few decades. The travel companies, with the help of the Egyptian people and the Egyptian government, were always able to get through all of these obstacles.
The first challenge was the incident that took place in Luxor in 1997 when a group of criminals attacked a number of tourists in the Hatshepsut temple in the West Bank. This accident affected the tourism business in Sothern Egypt for years. However, the Egyptian government, by increasing the security masseurs in the region and adding security gates at the entrance of every monument in Luxor and Aswan, was able to attract tourists again to come to Egypt. The Egyptian people as well played a major role in making their country regain its position in the international tourism business.
The second hard challenge that the travel business in Egypt had to face was the bombing that took place in Sharm El Sheikh in 2005. However, the whole image and environment in Sharm El Sheikh after this incident was totally different from what happened in Luxor as tourists coming to Egypt knew that these accidents happen everywhere in the world and not only in Egypt.
Although the number of tourists coming to Egypt and to Sharm El Sheikh in particular decreased, a large number of tourists, especially from Russia, the United States, and England, didn’t cancel their reservations, went to Egypt, and enjoyed their trip very much.
I had the chance to visit Sharm El Sheikh two weeks after the bombing and the beaches, restaurants, hotels, and nightspots were full of tourists. ” I feel secure in Sharm El Sheikh more than my own country”, one tourist said at the time.
Moreover, things are getting calmer and calmer in Egypt as time passes by. Especially after the Egyptian former president, Hosny Mubarak, and his sons, Gamal and Alaa, as well as many other corrupted high officials, were put in jail and are they awaiting their trials now.
The Egyptian people now feel that their revolution have achieved its goals and the streets in Cairo and all the other cities around Egypt are gradually getting back to normal.
The Egyptian police forces that withdrew from the streets in the beginning of the revolution on the 28th of January are now going back to their position in the streets of Egypt. The new Egyptian minster of interior affairs, Mr. Mansour Al Esewy, declared that all the policemen and police officers are already back in their positions everywhere in Egypt. Even the curfew that was set during the last two months has been informally cancelled now and you see people in the streets till the dawn.
Furthermore, all the museums, ancient monuments, archeological sites have been reopened again and they are operating with normal working hours. Even the Egyptian Museum of antiquities, which is located in the middle of the Tahrir square where the Egyptian revolution factually took place was reopened in March and the visitors were welcomed by flowers when they enter the museum.

On the other hand, Franco Frattini, The Italian Minster of foreign affairs noted that Egypt is getting more and more stable and encouraged the Italians to visit Egypt in large numbers as they used to do. This is the case with many other European countries that their governments have canceled the warnings concerning traveling to Egypt.
All of these factors encouraged tourists from different European countries to visit Egypt In the previous period. the airports of Luxor, Sharm El Sheikh, and Hurghada have received hundreds of tourists in the end of March and in the beginning of April
Another important advantage for travelers to visit Egypt now is to enjoy the wonderful weather in cities like Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea and Luxor and Aswan in the South of Egypt. The weather in these cities is still not very hot in the morning and wonderful in the afternoon and at night. In a month or two, the weather would be too hot for travelers to enjoy their stay in these major Egyptian cities.
Travelers, should as well, take advantage of the great deals and low price packages that the Egyptian tourism companies, hotels, shops, and restaurants are offering now. A tourist can save up to 30% if he visits Egypt now and he will still enjoy himself and feel secured in the land of the Nile.
Egypt is and will always be a safe country to visit. Tourist from all over the world will always feel secured in Egypt more than any other country in Europe or in America.
Usually activities and stops in any city in Europe would close up at 9 or 10 at night. This is not the case for Egypt. One can enjoy himself and have a lot of activities to do until late at night or even until sunrise. A lot of people like to call Cairo, the city that never sleeps.
The Egyptian people have always been known for their wonderful hospitality and generosity with tourists. “We are always friendly with foreigners and they are the very important to us, we would defend them with our own lives. They are our guests and we consider our guest as a family member”, a taxi driver said in an interview in the Egyptian Television.
http://cnr-btec.com/2011/10/is-it-safe-for-american-and-canadians-to-travel-to-egypt-now/ 

Cross Egypt Challenge ends 1,700km later in Abu SimbelScooter riders complete 9-day cross-country trip aimed at showing the world Egypt is still safe for tourism

Scooter riders complete 9-day cross-country trip aimed at showing the world Egypt is still safe for tourism.

The Cross Egypt Challenge, a 1,700 kilometre journey by scooter undertaken by 16 international travellers, has reached its conclusion at Abu Simbel Temple near Egypt's southern border.

The nine-day trip took scooter riders through Alexandria, Cairo, Suez, Taba, Sharm El-Sheikh, Hugharda, Luxor and Aswan, ending in Abu Simbel in the extreme south of the country.

Christine Edward, Cross Egypt's media spokesperson, said the journey was organised to help boost Egyptian tourism and show the world the country is still safe despite ongoing political turbulence

Edward said that five countries had riders participating in the event -- Egypt, the US, Mexico, Lebanon and Greece.

Kimit Misr Festival to activate tourism in Egypt

In an attempt adopted by Egypt s Ministry of Culture to activate tourism, the Cultural Center of Saad Zaglool will hold a festival of Kimit Misr, Egypt s residents group, and aim to activate tourism on Saturday October 22.

Head of the Center Tarik Mamon said the idea is based on discussing one Egyptian culture and the importance of tourist sites in addition to Egyptian habits, books and exhibitions.

He added the festival will introduce the Nubian culture as a model of South Egypt s civilization on Saturday October 22.

An official in the Fine Arts sector, Arfat Ahmed, said the festival aims to activate tourism in Egypt, which currently suffers from recession since the launch of the Egyptian January 25 Revolution. He said they will introduce important tourist sites in Egypt, in addition to marketing handcrafts and creating job opportunities for the Egyptian youth.

German Tourism Expert Sees Malaysia As A Potential Partner Country

German Tourism Expert Sees Malaysia As A Potential Partner Country

From Manik Mehta

SINGAPORE, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Describing Malaysia as a "fascinating tourism destination", the top man at the Messe Berlin GmbH, the Berlin-based trade fair firm which hosts the world's biggest tourism fair called "ITB Berlin", says Malaysia has the tourism credentials as a "partner country".

Raimund Hosch, chief executive of Messe Berlin GmbH, said: "I see the (partner country) potential in Malaysia."

"Malaysia has very good infrastructure along with cultural diversity, good sports and medical facilities besides being an important Asean member country," he told BERNAMA at the Asian edition of "ITB Berlin" called "ITB Asia" held in Singapore.

Amid the euphoria over China and India, Hosch said one should not forget the 10-member Asean regional grouping in which Malaysia was a leading member state.

He said Malaysia could follow the route taken by Egypt which participated as a partner country last year at ITB Asia in Singapore.

Next year, Egypt will be a partner country at the mother of all tourism fairs, ITB Berlin, held in the German capital, said Hosch, who is regarded as one of Germany's leading tourism experts and a respected trade fair strategist.

"Given its growing business interaction with the world, Malaysia can also be interesting for business travellers. Perhaps, Malaysia may like to first participate as a partner country in Singapore and, later, in Berlin.

"Malaysia would need to formally apply for consideration as a partner country candidate. Unless taken in the coming weeks or months, there may be a slot available for partner country participation in 2012," he said.

Hosch said Malaysia was part of the strong-growth tourism sector of the Asia-Pacific region despite the economic and financial crises in the United States and Europe.

Plans by the Suntech exhibition company to set up a congress centre near or around Kuala Lumpur reflects Malaysia's importance for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) sector.

Newly released figures from the UN World Tourism Organisation also confirms the strength and growth potential in the Asian travel industry.

"This has been the best year for tourism despite the crises in several regions of the world. Even four months ahead of the current ITB Asia show, we were completely sold out.

"We're creating additional 20 per cent more space. We're having over 750 exhibitors from 70 countries, including newcomers Botswana, Finland, Croatia and even Iraq," Hosch said.

Malaysia is represented by a contingent of 33 exhibitors, according to the official directory for ITB Asia 2011.

Many of the Malaysian exhibitors are hotels from across the country with Sabah and Sarawak state tourism agencies also participating.

Messe Berlin, which received the highest award in the tourism sector, the "Innovation Award 2011" has had a good year in 2011 so far.

-- BERNAMA

Jean Claude Van Damme

Super famous actor and kickboxer Jean Claude Van Damme has arrived in Egypt to celebrate his 51st birthday.

He explained his choice by a great interest in the recent changes that occurred in the country.

The celebrity plans to go sight seeing, meet his fans and take part in several local TV shows.

(RIAN)