Sharm el Sheikh and Egyptian beach tourism ‘will endure’

Egyptian authorities will continue to back the country’s popular beach resorts, a minister has said.

The beautiful beaches of Sharm el Sheikh and the Red Sea have remained popular holiday destinations, despite the recent change in government.

This is the opinion of Egyptian tourism minister Hisham Zaazou who said that future investment in the sector will only complement the existing infrastructure.

“Nothing will affect beach tourism. We are building on, increasing even, the capacities and the services rendered for our clients coming to our beaches,” he told Reuters.

The minister said that beach tourism accounts for 70 per cent of the incoming air traffic to the country.

Mr Zaazou added that Egypt is aiming to increase the number of visitors from a projected 12 million this year to around 15 million by 2013.

The hotels in Sharm el Sheikh are not only full of sun worshippers, but also those who want to explore life under the waves. The marine habitats in the Red Sea are widely regarded as some of the best dive sites in the world.

Written by Ruth Norris

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