India By The Nile Festival in Egypt

Cairo: Unfazed by political unrest in Egypt, India will launch the second edition of a mega cultural extravaganza, including a Bollywood musical, to showcase vibrant bilateral ties and make the relationship more dynamic.

“I think a festival like this gets a lot of visibility and demonstrates that India has taken a major initiative here. That generates goodwill, both at the official level and amongst the public,” India’s Ambassador to Egypt Navdeep Suri told PTI ahead of the “India by the Nile” festival this week.

The festival, running from April 1-20, will have a grand opening with Bollywood Love Story- A Musical at the Opera House from the April 3 to 6, and will see more than 35 Indian dancers performing to the much-loved music of Indian cinema.

The musical will also travel to three major Egyptian cities namely Alexandria, Hurghada and Luxor. The festival is being held for the second consecutive year in Egypt.

Suri said events like these make the relationship between one of the leading emerging economies, India, and the largest country in the Middle East, Egypt, more “dynamic and vibrant”.

Asked about the timing of the festival with political unrest in Egypt, Suri said, “We are aware, of course, about the various incidents of violence but as residents of Egypt, we also see the extent to which daily life continues normally.”

“We have always enjoyed close ties with Egypt and there is a genuine fondness for Indian culture amongst the Egyptian people. But we can’t get complacent and take things for granted. The festival is part of the embassy’s pro-active approach to reach out to the Egyptian public and to promote cultural understanding,” he said.

Suri said Bollywood was quite popular in Egypt and for this reason a number of Bollywood-themed events were planned in the festival, including the big Bollywood-style musical and the participation of Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar.

“We are keen to convey a more composite picture of Indian culture, to tell our Egyptian friends that there is more to India than Bollywood. And so we have Kathak dance, Rajasthani foil music, conversations among writers, cuisine and much more,” he said.

The Ambassador stressed that India stands to gain from engaging with Egypt by helping it build institutions of democracy and investing in the economic sector.

“We have a number of economic cooperation projects in the pipeline and work continuously to enhance trade and investment flows,” he said.

@ http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/india-to-launch-mega-cultural-fest-in-egypt_921309.html

The historical expedition of Prince Kamal El Din Hussein

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism This is a historic event taking place from the 14th to 26th of March 2014.

Who is the Prince?

The Prince  Kamal El Din Hussain (son of Sultan Hussain) who was heading out into the deep desert with Citroen Kegresse Autochinelles in the years 1923 – 1926.  Massive camel caravans of up to 500 animals were carrying his fuel supply as the logistical backbone of his ventures. He was the one who found and named the Gilf Kebir Plateau.A memorial plaque was laid down by Count Lazlo Almasy – better known as – The English Patient. This plaque was placed in honor of the Prince at the southern tip of the Gilf Kebir Plateau in 1933 after his death. The Hollywood film “The English Patient”, won nine Oscars in 1996. The Prince was the first to introduce the automobile into deep desert explorations.After 1 year of the construction of the memorial Almasy returned with tourists to revisit the site. That expedition was sponsored by the Royal Automobile Club of Egypt which was represented by Prince Muhammed Abdel Moneim and by the Ahram Newspaper represented by Hassan Sobhi.

The preliminary agenda for passengers

13 March 2014 – Arriving Cairo
Overseas participants arrive in Cairo. We will assist with hotel bookings and we will be delighted to assist and organize transfers to the hotels (only hotels listed as participating in Kamal Expedition).

14 March 2014 – Opening ceremony – Flight – Drive heading to Gilf Kebir
We will have a transfer organized from the hotels of our choice to the Kamal Expedition Opening Ceremony which will be held at the Automobile & Touring Club of Egypt in Cairo. You also have the choice of joining us independently at the Club if you wish. After a brunch and the ceremony we will be heading to the Cairo International Airport to catch a charter flight to Dakhla Oasis.
At the airport of Dakhla the packed 4×4 cars will be waiting for us and will bring us to have lunch. Meanwhile the last formalities will be finished with the government to have
a fast start to the desert after lunch. Divided into several groups, the participants will be leaving the Oasis heading south on the Asphalt Road. Leaving the road, our first visit will be the Balise of Saviem Trucks which traversed the entire Sahara from West to East in 1977 (from the Atlantic ocean to the Nile). In the area of G-Hills we will be looking for a camping place. In the evening we will have the chance to listen to an interesting lecture on a chosen topic related to the desert by one of our top speakers.

15 March 2014 – Wadi Eight Bells
After breakfast, we will be continuing in groups crossing different desert landscapes to approach the Gilf El Kebir plateau. We will find some relics from the Second World War: broken down Cars which were used by the British Special Forces, the Long Range Desert Group. We will also cross some dunes to reach the landing ground of 8 Bells where we will set up camps nearby. Like every night we will have the chance to listen to an interesting lecture on the desert by one of our top speakers.

16 March 2014 – Gilf Kebir – Wadi Wassa – Kamal El DIn Monument
We will be traveling through the Wadi Eight Bells to reach the Wadi Wassa and the Rock paintings of the Mararet el Qantara which was found in 1935 by a British explorer group under the leadership of Shaw. From here we will be heading south to the southern tip of the Gilf el Kebir Plateau where Almasy erected the Kamal El Din Monument 81 years ago. Nearby, we will find a set up prepared for the group. It will be on that occasion were all the groups will be gathered together and we would have a longer entertaining program for you that evening including the screening of a documentary film. If you do not feel like attending the screening, you could enjoy the calm evening weather some hundred metres away.

17 March 2014 – Camil Crater
After a late evening, the starting of the groups will be delayed. They will be heading to the south to reach the meteorite crater of Gebel Kamil, where they will be camping nearby. The evening will once again be filled with an interesting topic of one of the speakers.

18 March 2014 – Gebel Uweinat – Karkur Talh
The groups will be heading towards Gebel Uweinat to arrive there after a few kilometers looking for camping places in the Karkur Talh area and will be exploring the different sites of the Gebel Uweinat. In the evening there will be a chance of attending another interesting lecture.

19 March 2014 – Rock cave near Peter & Paul
There will be a chance to have a short hike in the mountain in the morning before heading back north to reach some interesting rock art caves near the mountain of Peter & Paul. In the evening another interesting lecture will be organized.

20 March 2014 – Gilf Kebir – Wadi Sura
We will be reaching the area of Wadi Sura (the Cave of Swimmers) which became famous through the 1997 film The English Patient. We will be visiting the Clayton Cave and the Chinati Camp site exploring some rock paintings nearby. Before that, we will have a second gathering in front of the Cave of the Beast. Here all the groups will unite for a second time to watch a short film about the life of the late Egyptian Father of Environment, Prof. Mohammed el Kassas, who died on that day (March 21st) one year ago in Cairo. Through different presentations and a film we will have a second longer night in that area.

21 March 2014 – Gilf Kebir Aqaba Pass
The groups will split up again to move over the Three Castles to the Aqaba Pass to drive on top of the Gilf Kebir Plateau and to cross some dunes which are on top of the plateau. Here we will be looking for different camping areas and have the chance to another interesting lecture.

22 March 2014 – Gilf Kebir – Wadi Hamra
We will reach the higher level of the Plateau and have a nice view at Belle Vue
onto the southern plane. Driving along the edge of the plateau we will reach a passage which will get us to the southern tip of Wadi Hamra. Here, we will be visiting different engraving sites and have a special look at the different Fauna of the Gilf el Kebir area. We will be camping at the northern exit of the Wadi Hamra where each group will get a chance to listen to an interesting lecture.

23 March and 24 March 2014 – Crossing Great Sand Sea
These 2 days we will be crossing the dunes of the Great Sand Sea having exciting passages crossing the dunes from west to east.

25 March 2014 – White Desert
We will be back near the Wadi Obaid and we will be entering the National Park of the White desert. Here a buffet will be waiting for all the participants. The groups will be spread in the National Park and a last evening with lectures will end our evenings in the desert.

26 March 2014 – Cairo – Closing Ceremony in Mena Hous
We will be leaving the White Desert National Park heading back to the road in a northerly direction reaching Baharya Oasis where a lunch will be prepared for everyone. After lunch, a 300 kilometre drive to Gizeh will bring us to the Mena House Hotel at the foot of the Pyramids. After a welcome coffee and cakes, the closing ceremony will be held in the hotel and will include a dinner. The anniversary of the Prince Kamal el Din monument will come to the end of its journey.

for more info visit : http://www.kamalexpedition.com

under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism This is a historic event taking place from the 14th to 26th of March 2014. – See more at: http://en.egypt.travel/events/id/371#sthash.aYWVe1KJ.dpuf

Replica Tutankhamun tomb set to open in Luxor

A painstakingly accurate replica of King Tut’s tomb is set to open in Egypt – Luxor

Its existence will present visitors with the moral dilemma of paying to see the original tomb or helping to preserve its future existence by visiting the facsimile version instead. 

The Supreme Council of Antiquities commissioned carefully-crafted replicas of the tombs of Seti I, Nefertari and Tutankhamun back in 2009.

The move was a bid to stave off further irreparable damage caused by decades of tourists flocking to see the boy king’s burial chamber and other ancient tombs.

Changes in temperature and humidity, say experts, is causing the intricately painted plaster to crumble away from the walls. Visitors could soon be completely banned from entering them

A Madrid-based company, Factum Arte, which has worked with museums all over the world to produce facsimiles of endangered art, used high-tech 3D scanners to create the replica of King Tut’s tomb in a process that has taken several years to complete.

November will see the new version of the tomb of Tutankhamun installed just outside Howard Carter’s house, around half a mile from where the original lays in Luxor‘s Valley of the Kings.

On November 4th 1922, after years of toiling away in the Valley of the Kings, British archaeologist Howard Carter sensationally discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb and revealed one of the most significant Egyptian excavations of all time.

The fascination with Carter’s story and the perpetual promise of more discoveries has seen tourists pouring into the sun-drenched site although there has been a significant dip in tourism this year as the country has suffered from ongoing political protests.

One of the Factum Arte team, Briton Adam Lowe, is hopeful that the replica will become as popular as the orginal as visitors ‘become part of the force that protects it [the original] rather than a force that is leading to its destruction.’

He told the BBC: ‘They will have the thrill of visiting something they know is 3,000 years old and they have the guilt of knowing, as they look at it, that their presence is part of the reason why it won’t be there in another 100 years’ time.’

Source: dailymail

Classic Egypt back on map as FCO relaxes advice for tourists visiting Luxor and Aswan

British tourists wishing to visit the Valley of the Kings, home to Tutankhamun’s famous tomb, can once again do so safe in the knowledge that they will be covered by travel insurance after the British government relaxed long-standing advisories.

The FCO is still warning against all but essential travel to a large part of the country including Cairo and the North Sinai but destinations such as Luxor, Aswan and the Abu Simbel temples in Nubia are back on the map.

A spokesperson for the FCO said: ‘We continue to urge British nationals already in Egypt to follow the instructions of the local authorities and obey curfews where they are in place. There remains a high threat from terrorism throughout Egypt. This has not changed.’

They continued: ‘As always, the safety of British nationals is a priority. We continue to follow developments carefully, and keep our travel advice under continuous review.

‘British nationals should continue to monitor FCO travel advice closely for any updates and stay away from any demonstrations or protests.’

Speaking at a holiday industry conference in London last week, Egypt’s minister of tourism Hisham Zaazou told journalists: ‘More than 18 countries have lifted the travel advisory on Luxor and Aswan. As soon as the FCO revises its travel advice for the UK, we will work tirelessly with our valued media, travel agent and tour operator partners to communicate that the whole of Egypt is open.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2500039/Egypt-map-FCO-relaxes-advice-tourists-Luxor-Aswan.html#ixzz2kdoGTpIN

Lavrov hopes to restore tourism cooperation with Egypt

 

 

 

Moscow is confident that the scale of tourism cooperation with Egypt will be restored after the lift of the state of emergency in that country, the Voice of Russia correspondent Ksenya Melnikova reports.

“We have agreed on the intensive development of dialogue on tourism. This is an extremely important area of our relations and part of stabilization efforts in Egypt; as I understand, the lift of the state of emergency regime which occurred yesterday can restore the scale of tourism cooperation. I am absolutely positive about that,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a press conference after his negotiations in Cairo.

Voice of Russia 
Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_11_14/Lavrov-hopes-to-restore-tourism-cooperation-with-Egypt-after-state-of-emergency-is-over-6248/

Minister of Tourism said : Egypt open for tourism

 

 

Egypt will end its state of emergency and lift all curfews in the country by November 14, according to Egypt’s Minister of Tourism Hesham Zaazou Speaking at World Travel Market at London’s Excel, he said, ‘Over 18 countries have now lifted their negative travel advice to key regions of the Red Sea, Luxor and Aswan. Egypt’s compass is now pointing in the right direction.’

Apart from the Red Sea resorts, the UK government currently advises against all but essential travel to most of Egypt including Luxor and Aswan, but the Minister hopes this is reviewed and expects to meet with the Foreign Office in the coming days.

 

Following this summer’s revolution and subsequent protests, Egypt has seen a huge drop in tourist arrivals. ‘It’s been a challenging time as over 4 million Egyptians work in tourism,’ he said. ‘In the last week of September, we saw a drop of 90% compared to last year which is huge. However, while the media has focused on negative images of Cairo, I want to stress that not one single tourist has been targeted.’

 

As part of the mission to win back tourists, the tourist board has launched their ‘Egypt Now’ initiative with live streams of key tourist hot spots in Egypt available on their website, as well as an ‘Egypt Travel’ mobile application  for visitors to plan their holiday.

 

‘One million British tourists visited Egypt last year and 1.46 million in 2010. We must be doing something right and we’re adamant we can retrieve these figures.’

 

Message from Andy & Debbie McKnight for ETA Chairman

Dear Chairman.
My wife & I (both British Sub Aqua Club divers) have just returned home to Cyprus from Dahab where we enjoyed an eight day diving holiday with Desert Divers.  Before travelling to Dahab we had been quite concerned regarding the civil unrest that had made up most of the media reporting relating to Egypt in the weeks prior to our departure.  We need not have worried, as there was not a trace of tension in the air for the duration of our holiday.  We felt safer walking through the streets of Dahab at night than we would have done on many streets in London.

We were met at Sharm El Sheikh airport by the shuttle bus from Blue Beach Club Hotel and transported to that hotel very efficiently despite the many police roadside checks en route.  Setting aside a mix-up with our room on arrival, we enjoyed the first of many restful nights at the hotel.  Our room mix-up was sorted out the very next morning with efficiency and courtesy and after a welcome breakfast, we went to along Desert Divers to deliver our dive kit and sort out the registration formalities with Tanis Newman, the proprietor.
The dive guides, Mahmoud (or Barracuda) and Khalid were helpful, efficient and accommodating.  Of the dive sites 95% were everything we had been expecting and more, with the one exception being Bannerfish Bay. My wife, a keen underwater photographer, was in her element and I got to see some very impressive walls, the next best things to wrecks for me.

As always, we found the Egyptian people to be most friendly and helpful, although the restaurant “hustlers” and shopkeepers along the seafront were somewhat too persistent at times, but it was always good-natured banter.  We sympathize with them for their predicament given that the resort in general was obviously suffering from a severe shortage of tourists and wish for them a return to normality as soon as possible.
Full marks to Egyptair, especially on our return trip to Cyprus.  We left our hotel in Dahab at 10:00 hrs. and opened our own front door in Larnaka just eight hours later, with all our luggage accounted for and without having to worry about retrieving and re-checking it in at Cairo.
Our thanks also go to the civil and tourist police for their re-assuring presence during our holiday, we did not feel that it was in any way intrusive at any time.
Would we go back?  You bet, in fact, the “return fixture” is already in the planning stages.
Andy (& Debbie) McKnight.Cyprus Sub Aqua Club.BSAC Branch 2496.

Hurghada Again & Again

One of Egypt’s very first tourist hot spots, Hurghada, still retains the charm of the good old days, yet with a brand new look.

For long, Hurghada has been regarded as a divers’ haven. By all means it is. Whether you are looking for colorful corals, or for wreck diving, there is something to keep you busy underwater.

Windsurfing, sailing, deep sea fishing, swimming, snorkeling and diving are all activities you can do there.

Beaches

All the beaches in Hurghada are privately owned by hotels and clubs and are accessible only to their guests or for a fee for outsiders. Some of the recommended beaches are:

Elysees Dream Beach, located at the entrance of the boule-vard. It is a private beach open 9 am to 7 pm. There is a restaurant and a bar on the beach and the cost is reasonable for non-resort staying guests.

Old Vic Beachis one of the most well-known and populated beaches as it is protected

from the waves and winds of the sea. There is a good water sports center, a bar and restaurant and sun beds with umbrellas. Also located at the Boulevard.

Aladdin Beach Resort has a nice amphitheater, beach disco, an open air animation studio,coffee shop and more. Sports and beach activities are available, as well as, sun beds.

Aside from these beaches, outsiders can also use hotel beaches by paying for day use such as the Steigenberger Al Dau, the Marriott Beach Resort, Coral Beach Rotana Resort and others.

Other Egyptian restaurants with good ratings are:

Hefny’s seafood, if you can overlook the décor, you will not be sorry, especially if you order the calamari dish.
It is located on Mina Street and El Minathat is said to have fresh fish always. Order grilled or fried along with a variety of side dishes. Also located on Mina Street.
Also don’t miss on Felfela located on the sea shore with a great panoramic view. Dishes offered include mixed grills and lentil soup.
An Evening Out
Have a walk after dinner on the Marina Boulevard before you head to one of the many bars dotting Hurghada Marina Boulevard. The town’s most famous Papas Bar is a great place to watch the game or shoot some darts, while Shade Barwith its funky coloured and comfy beanbags is a great place for a casual get-together.

As a finale to your night out at the boulevard, there is no better place to be than the hip and trendy Hed Kandi, to dance the night away at Hurghada’s ultimate clubbing venue.
Papas Bar Tel: +2-016/8833554, Shade Bar Tel: +2-010/3441813
Hed Kandi: Tel: +2-016/8833556

Other evening venues
Hurghada is never without evening outings including Little Buddha with its trendy cocktails and chic ambiance and excellent Sushi. Located at Sindbad Resort on Village Road.
The Ministry of Sound has the DJ from the London Ministry of Sound flying in regularly to play great tunes and there are several theme nights. Located on the beach near Sakkala.
The Hard Rock Cafe comes complete with a guitar, old photographs adorning the walls and an incredible collection of rock memorabilia. There is an open-air seating, a pool bar
and great music. Located at Alkora Road. The Dutch bar
is one of the oldest in town and known for its kitsch appeal
and interiors. Located inside the Princess Hotel.
Hotels
There are over 270 hotels in Hurghada alone. You can make your choice from 2-star hotels to 5-star international chain hotels. Some have their own beaches and others
are located inside the city.
Other Options
Over and above, if you opt for an apartment hotel there are the Resort Apartments. The apartments have a mix of 1 and 2 bedrooms, fully equipped with linen and towels and
kitchen utensils. The main feature is the two large swimming pools and is a 15-minute walk from the Old Vic Village beach.
Address: Mohamed Said St. Al Kowthar.

Spas in or nearby Hurghada
The Oberoi Spa, managed by Banyan Tree, offers a safe haven from busy schedules and the rush of daily life.
The Oberoi Massage uses the palms and fingertips to apply pressure to stimulate blood circulation and induce a state of total relaxation. For those who prefer a firm massage,
the Pharaoh’s Massage uses a technique of deep pressure that helps to relax worn out tissues and muscles in the body.
Tel: +2-065-3440777

Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel features a full-service spa that includes massage and treatment rooms, facial treatments, body treatments, and beauty services.
Tel: +2-065-3465400
The Desert Rose Resort offers a full-service spa that features massage and treatment rooms and beauty services. In addition to an outdoor pool and a children’s pool,
The Desert Rose Resort provides a private beach, a health
club, and a spa tub.
Tel: +2-065-3460600
Hurghada Marriott Red Sea Resort features spa services, massage and treatment rooms, beauty services, and a hair salon. In addition to an outdoor pool and a children’s pool and a private beach.
Tel: +2-065-3446950
Swiss Wellness Spa Resort 30 comfortably furnished en-suite rooms. The steam room
and sauna are available as well as recognized treatments and therapies including professional massages and a fitness room. A menu for vegetarians and diabetics is available.
Sheraton Road, Riviera Village. Telephone: +2-065 344 94 78 &
+2-065 344 94 79
Getting around Hurghada
Local taxis from the hotels are the best transportation. The only public transport available is the Jals Jalls, Toyota minivans and have no fixed routes, if you find one, just wave. It would do well, if you hire a car or bike, from agencies around the airport or town center.

Soma Bay:

An all-in-one Red Sea experience Did you ever dream of experiencing the whole of the Red Sea without having to travel from one spot to another? Well, no need to dream anymore, just head to Soma Bay.Located about 45 km south of Hurghada International Airport, the fast-growing tourist complex of Soma Bay offers a reminiscent experience flavoured by its over-the-top accommodation facilities and wide array of activities, sports, and excursions on offer.The latest addition to Soma Bay’s hotelier scene is the exquisite Kempinski Soma Bay. Service exceeds your expectation of a five-star hotel with the individualized experiences the place offers. Having your lunch table set in the sea and enjoying your meal while the water tingles your feet is not a wishful thinking; all you need to do is voice your wish and Kempinski Soma Bay will manage the rest. Another mind-blowing accommodation facility in Soma Bay is the elegant and classy La Résidence des Cascades. A golfer’s dream-land, the place is designed and equipped to give you a dream golfing vacation. It comes with a stunning 18-hole par-72 golf course designed by the South African golf leg-end Gary Player. Enjoy golfing with the open sea in sight and the surreal Red Sea mountain peaks in the backdrop. La Résidence des Cascades is not all about hole-in-ones or perfect swings, there is more into it that just golfing. The hotel’s spa, Les Thermes Marins, offers a rare opportunity to revitalize your well-being with the much appreciated Thalasso treatment. Its wide range of therapies includes underwater massages, jet showers, and seaweed wraps. Les Thermes Marins trademark is actually its Aquatonic Pool; a 750 square meter body-toning pool that leaves you floating on clouds of relaxation.Soma Bay offers a wide range of activities that keep out-door addicts coming back for more. Diving is still the Red Sea prime sport and Soma Bay has its good share of diving spots. Right on its doorstep there are sites like the amazing Seven Pillars. It is a 10- to 12-meter dive into a surreal world of underwater colors. Look for the giant Napoleon fish – it is quite friendly with humans.

If you are looking for other underwater adventures, the dive clubs in Soma Bay offers a long list of diving spots including sites like Panorama Reef, Tobia, Abu Kafan,
Claude Reef, Ras Abu Soma, Hamdallah Reef, and the Salem Express wreck.Soma Bay is the perfect place for the thrilling water sport Kite Surfing. The place is blessed with an amazing reef-less lagoon and a constantly blowing wind; together they make
the perfect conditions for kite surfing. If you are not that much into kite surfing and prefer a more classical water sport, you can always head to Kempinski’s water sport center. There you can have some good old windsurfing or go for a propitious catamaran sail enjoying the cinematic sunset views of the glamorous Red Sea.
Kempinski Soma Bay
Tel: +2-065 3561500
http://www.kempinski-somabay.com
La Résidence des Cascades
Tel: +2-065 3542333
http://www.residencedescascades.com
official website :

http://www.egypt.travel

Hisham Zaazuo the Minister of Tourism Resigned 1st July

Each of the Minister of Tourism, Environment,Communication and the Minister of State for Parliamentary and Legal Affairs resigned  formally to the Council of Ministers to submit it to the presidency.

In protest at the poor performance of the institution of the presidency and not dealing with the will of the people and not to pay attention to events that fill the areas of Egypt .

Resignation of the Minister of Tourism

Mr. Hisham Zazoua the Minister of Tourism  request of the Prime Minister to accept his resignation on objection to the assigning of Luxor New Governor who has a terrorist background and has been accused in  participating in  Luxor massacre in 1997, and all  the tourism sector Supporting the position of the Tourism minister