The Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza Egypt will be the largest Museum in the world of Egyptian artifacts. The construction of the museum is almost as impressive as the construction of the Pyramids themselves.
Backed by over 3,500 years of civilization and a fledging culture that sprouted and flourished along the Nile River, Egypt has rarely spared any opportunity to preserve its historical monuments and artifacts.
Evidence of it is amply borne out by the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) project, billed is one of the largest museum developments currently underway globally.
With an allocated area of 480,000 square metres, the museum will be located nearly 2 kilometres away from the Giza pyramids adjacent to the Giza plateau, and on completion will become the intersection between modern and ancient Cairo directing the public back to the ancient heritage of Egypt.
The facility will offer an exhibition area of 35,000 square metres and house 100,000 artefacts.
The project construction consists of the following main elements: Museum and Conference Center (Main Building); the Menkaurus Retaining Wall and other retaining structures; auxiliary buildings including restaurants; car and coach parking; exhibition works and an extensive external works package.
The items to be displayed will be organized into chronological galleries spanning the ages of Pharaonic history including: Pre-History; Old Kingdom; Middle Kingdom; New Kingdom; and Late and Roman Period. Besides, there will also be two special areas for display, including theGrand Staircase and the Tutankhamun Gallery.
The museum has been designed by a team that consists of Heneghan Peng (architects); Ove Arup (structural engineer) and Buro Happold (mechanical engineer).Their scope of works included pre-schematic design, schematic design, detailed design, tender documents and construction drawings.
The genesis of the museum goes back to 1992 when a Presidential Decree was issued to allocate nearly 50 hectares at the current site location in Giza for the facility.
What followed was a flurry of activities with more than 1,550 conceptual architectural designs from 83 different countries being submitted by international architects and firms. The most distinguished was the winning design selected by the International Union of Architects in Paris on 2 June 2003.
Immediately after this date, development of the preliminary architectural design began, with the pre-schematic design being submitted to the Ministry of Culture at the end of April 2004
Hill International, along with its Egyptian partner EHAF Consulting Engineers, was awarded in 2010 the project construction management contract by Egypt's Ministry of Culture's Supreme Council of Antiquities.
In addition, a technical committee, comprising of Egyptian scholars, architects and engineers was set up to review the design and provide comments to the design team on a continuous basis.
Schematic design of the museum building was completed in June 2005, while schematic design of exhibitions was completed by the end of November 2005. As the next step, detailed design for the museum building began in April 2006 and detailed design for exhibition works began in November 2010.
The project is estimated to cost US$800 million, with 70% funding coming from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and the remaining 30% from the Egyptian government.
In February this year, Besix and Orascom were awarded the main construction contract and have already mobilised at the site.
As of 30 June, 829 total human resources are on the site and according to our estimates, there will be a total of 6,500 workers [including management staff] during the peak construction period
With more than 4 million visitors anticipated to visit the museum, the first stage is targeted to open in August 2015 and will accommodate more than 15,000 artefacts, including heavy and special ones.
Economic spin-offs
The economic benefits of GEM are too obvious to ignore.
At present, tourism accounts for nearly 4.4% of Egypt's gross national product (GNP) and also 10% of the total jobs are either directly or indirectly linked in some form to tourism.
Besides, with every additional 1 million visitor to the country, new job opportunities are created for 200,000.
Interestingly, the existing Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, Cairo is currently the single-largest antiquities museum in Egypt attracting more than 2 million visitors annually, which is more than all the other museums in Egypt combined.
The museum - which was built over 100 years ago - is home to more than 176,000 relics and antiquities from almost every period of ancient Egyptian history.
Display and storage spaces are limited with severe difficulties of expansion due to the building and surrounding constraints. As the number of excavations increase, the artifacts to be stored in the existing Egyptian Museum in Cairo have become over-crowded, as also the number of exhibits has completely outgrown the space available.
Furthermore, the facilities and programme of conservation and restoration, research, study and education required as standard functions for a modern museum, are not to the required standards in the current museums in Egypt.
To improve such a situation, there is an urgent requirement to construct the new museum incorporating the fundamental functions, such as conservation and restoration, exhibition, research, study and education.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Many Faces of Egypt
In 2008, over 12 million tourists visited Egypt for their holidays. Until the credit crunch, this North African country's tourism industry was rising year on year. Even with a world struggling with a tough economic climate, Egypt is well setup to weather the storm and looks like coming out of the other side stronger than ever.
Egypt is an especially desirable destination for European travellers with flight times from the UK at around five hours, all year round sun and a distinct lack of rain. With European holidays becoming fairly expensive because of the strength of the Euro, Egypt looks very desirable, especially to British travellers because you get a lot of Egyptian Pounds to your British Pounds.
Egypt is probably most well known for the Pyramids of Giza and the tombs of the Valley of the Kings and Queens. However, there are many faces to Egypt, some well known and some kept as a special secret.
Cairo, Egypt's capital and the largest city in Africa, is the base for many people's visits to the Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza. This colourful city, situated along the banks of the Nile, is known as the 'City of Minirets' and is a vibrant place with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Amongst the many bars, cafes and bazaars, there are still many reminders of Egypt's ancient civilization. It is also home to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities and the treasures of the country's most famous pharaoh - Tutankhamen. Many holidaymakers will spend a long weekend in Cairo and then move on to experience more of what Egypt has to offer.
After a visit to the bustling capital, a break is in order. There are many popular Red Sea resorts around Egypt's coats. The most famous are probably Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada and El Gouna. Each one offers excellent family friendly hotel facilities as well some beautiful sandy beaches and world-class scuba diving and snorkelling. One place that might not be on everybody's radar is Ain Soukhna, which means 'hot spring' in Egyptian, and is just two hours from the Pyramids of Giza. Ain Soukhna is also the closet beach to Cairo and is a great alternative to the capital if you need a beach break, but still want to be a short trip from the famous monuments of Giza.
For a different holiday altogether you can take a Nile cruise and enjoy a luxurious journey down one of the world's most famous rivers. Sit back in luxury aboard one of the many vessels that take tourists to a mix of well known and lesser known temples and sights. On average, cruises last around five to seven days and start from a number of destinations depending on the boat you choose. Most trips will either start or include a trip to Luxor, where you can visit the famous Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens.
Egypt holidays offer travellers a lot of options and it can be hard to fit in everything you want to do in one trip. This is why many people will return to this African country to enjoy the many experiences it has to offer.
Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
Egypt is an especially desirable destination for European travellers with flight times from the UK at around five hours, all year round sun and a distinct lack of rain. With European holidays becoming fairly expensive because of the strength of the Euro, Egypt looks very desirable, especially to British travellers because you get a lot of Egyptian Pounds to your British Pounds.
Egypt is probably most well known for the Pyramids of Giza and the tombs of the Valley of the Kings and Queens. However, there are many faces to Egypt, some well known and some kept as a special secret.
Cairo, Egypt's capital and the largest city in Africa, is the base for many people's visits to the Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza. This colourful city, situated along the banks of the Nile, is known as the 'City of Minirets' and is a vibrant place with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Amongst the many bars, cafes and bazaars, there are still many reminders of Egypt's ancient civilization. It is also home to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities and the treasures of the country's most famous pharaoh - Tutankhamen. Many holidaymakers will spend a long weekend in Cairo and then move on to experience more of what Egypt has to offer.
After a visit to the bustling capital, a break is in order. There are many popular Red Sea resorts around Egypt's coats. The most famous are probably Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada and El Gouna. Each one offers excellent family friendly hotel facilities as well some beautiful sandy beaches and world-class scuba diving and snorkelling. One place that might not be on everybody's radar is Ain Soukhna, which means 'hot spring' in Egyptian, and is just two hours from the Pyramids of Giza. Ain Soukhna is also the closet beach to Cairo and is a great alternative to the capital if you need a beach break, but still want to be a short trip from the famous monuments of Giza.
For a different holiday altogether you can take a Nile cruise and enjoy a luxurious journey down one of the world's most famous rivers. Sit back in luxury aboard one of the many vessels that take tourists to a mix of well known and lesser known temples and sights. On average, cruises last around five to seven days and start from a number of destinations depending on the boat you choose. Most trips will either start or include a trip to Luxor, where you can visit the famous Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens.
Egypt holidays offer travellers a lot of options and it can be hard to fit in everything you want to do in one trip. This is why many people will return to this African country to enjoy the many experiences it has to offer.
Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
Friday, March 13, 2015
Tourism and History of Travel
Travel for trade was an important feature since the beginning of civilisation. The port at Lothal was an important centre of trade between the Indus valley civilisation and the Sumerian civilisation.
600 BC and thereafter
The earliest form of leisure tourism can be traced as far back as the Babylonian and Egyptian empires. A museum of historic antiquities was open to the public in Babylon. The Egyptians held many religious festivals that attracted the devout and many people who thronged to cities to see famous works of arts and buildings.
In India, as elsewhere, kings travelled for empire building. The Brahmins and the common people travelled for religious purposes. Thousands of Brahmins and the common folk thronged Sarnath and Sravasti to be greeted by the inscrutable smile of the Enlightened One- the Buddha.
500 BC, the Greek civilisation
The Greek tourists travelled to sites of healing gods. The Greeks also enjoyed their religious festivals that increasingly became a pursuit of pleasure, and in particular, sport. Athens had become an important site for travellers visiting the major sights such as the Parthenon. Inns were established in large towns and seaports to provide for travellers' needs. Courtesans were the principal entertainment offered.
This era also saw the birth of travel writing. Herodotus was the worlds' first travel writer. Guidebooks also made their appearance in the fourth century covering destinations such as Athens, Sparta and Troy. Advertisements in the way of signs directing people to inns are also known in this period.
The Roman Empire
With no foreign borders between England and Syria, and with safe seas from piracy due to Roman patrols, the conditions favouring travel had arrived. First class roads coupled with staging inns (precursors of modern motels) promoted the growth of travel. Romans travelled to Sicily, Greece, Rhodes, Troy and Egypt. From 300 AD travel to the Holy Land also became very popular. The Romans introduced their guidebooks (itineraria), listing hotels with symbols to identify quality.
Second homes were built by the rich near Rome, occupied primarily during springtime social season. The most fashionable resorts were found around Bay of Naples. Naples attracted the retired and the intellectuals, Cumae attracted the fashionable while Baiae attracted the down market tourist, becoming noted for its rowdiness, drunkenness and all- night singing.
Travel and Tourism were to never attain a similar status until the modern times.
In the Middle Ages
Travel became difficult and dangerous as people travelled for business or for a sense of obligation and duty.
Adventurers sought fame and fortune through travel. The Europeans tried to discover a sea route to India for trade purposes and in this fashion discovered America and explored parts of Africa. Strolling players and minstrels made their living by performing as they travelled. Missionaries, saints, etc. travelled to spread the sacred word.
Leisure travel in India was introduced by the Mughals. The Mughal kings built luxurious palaces and enchanting gardens at places of natural and scenic beauty (for example Jehangir travelled to Kashmir drawn by its beauty.
Travel for empire building and pilgrimage was a regular feature.
The Grand Tour
From the early seventeenth century, a new form of tourism was developed as a direct outcome of the Renaissance. Under the reign of Elizabeth 1, young men seeking positions at court were encouraged to travel to continent to finish their education. Later, it became customary for education of gentleman to be completed by a 'Grand Tour' accompanied by a tutor and lasting for three or more years. While ostensibly educational, the pleasure seeking men travelled to enjoy life and culture of Paris, Venice or Florence. By the end of eighteenth century, the custom had become institutionalised in the gentry. Gradually pleasure travel displaced educational travel. The advent of Napoleonic wars inhibited travel for around 30 years and led to the decline of the custom of the Grand Tour.
The development of the spas
The spas grew in popularity in the seventeenth century in Britain and a little later in the European Continent as awareness about the therapeutic qualities of mineral water increased. Taking the cure in the spa rapidly acquired the nature of a status symbol. The resorts changed in character as pleasure became the motivation of visits. They became an important centre of social life for the high society.
In the nineteenth century they were gradually replaced by the seaside resort.
The sun, sand and sea resorts
The sea water became associated with health benefits. The earliest visitors therefore drank it and did not bathe in it. By the early eighteenth century, small fishing resorts sprung up in England for visitors who drank and immersed themselves in sea water. With the overcrowding of inland spas, the new sea side resorts grew in popularity. The introduction of steamboat services in 19th century introduced more resorts in the circuit. The seaside resort gradually became a social meeting point
Role of the industrial revolution in promoting travel in the west
The rapid urbanisation due to industrialisation led to mass immigration in cities. These people were lured into travel to escape their environment to places of natural beauty, often to the countryside they had come from change of routine from a physically and psychologically stressful jobs to a leisurely pace in countryside.
Highlights of travel in the nineteenth century
*Advent of railway initially catalysed business travel and later leisure travel. Gradually special trains were chartered to only take leisure travel to their destinations.
* Package tours organised by entrepreneurs such as Thomas Cook.
* The European countries indulged in a lot of business travel often to their colonies to buy raw material and sell finished goods.
* The invention of photography acted as a status-enhancing tool and promoted overseas travel.
* The formation of first hotel chains; pioneered by the railway companies who established great railway terminus hotels.
* Seaside resorts began to develop different images as for day-trippers, elite, for gambling.
* Other types of destinations-ski resorts, hill stations, mountaineering spots etc.
* The technological development in steamships promoted travel between North America and Europe.
* The Suez Canal opened direct sea routes to India and the Far East.
* The cult of the guidebook followed the development of photography.
Tourism in the Twentieth Century
The First World War gave first hand experience of countries and aroused a sense of curiosity about international travel among less well off sector for the first time. The large scale of migration to the US meant a lot of travel across the Atlantic. Private motoring began to encourage domestic travel in Europe and the west. The sea side resort became annual family holiday destination in Britain and increased in popularity in other countries of the west. Hotels proliferated in these destinations.
The birth of air travel and after
The wars increased interest in international travel. This interest was given the shape of mass tourism by the aviation industry. The surplus of aircraft and growth of private airlines aided the expansion of air travel. The aircraft had become comfortable, faster and steadily cheaper for overseas travel. With the introduction of Boeing 707 jet in 1958, the age of air travel for the masses had arrived. The beginning of chartered flights boosted the package tour market and led to the establishment of organised mass tourism. The Boeing 747, a 400 seat craft, brought the cost of travel down sharply. The seaside resorts in the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Caribbean were the initial hot spots of mass tourism.
A corresponding growth in hotel industry led to the establishment of world-wide chains. Tourism also began to diversify as people began to flock alternative destinations in the 70s. Nepal and India received a throng of tourists lured by Hare Krishna movement and transcendental meditation. The beginning of individual travel in a significant volume only occurred in the 80s. Air travel also led to a continuous growth in business travel especially with the emergence of the MNCs.
Sarvajeet Chandra writes on issues that are usually brushed under the carpet, or are too everyday-ish for high street strategists. He writes on making strategic plan robust, how to execute strategy well and other tactical issues for everyday business success.
600 BC and thereafter
The earliest form of leisure tourism can be traced as far back as the Babylonian and Egyptian empires. A museum of historic antiquities was open to the public in Babylon. The Egyptians held many religious festivals that attracted the devout and many people who thronged to cities to see famous works of arts and buildings.
In India, as elsewhere, kings travelled for empire building. The Brahmins and the common people travelled for religious purposes. Thousands of Brahmins and the common folk thronged Sarnath and Sravasti to be greeted by the inscrutable smile of the Enlightened One- the Buddha.
500 BC, the Greek civilisation
The Greek tourists travelled to sites of healing gods. The Greeks also enjoyed their religious festivals that increasingly became a pursuit of pleasure, and in particular, sport. Athens had become an important site for travellers visiting the major sights such as the Parthenon. Inns were established in large towns and seaports to provide for travellers' needs. Courtesans were the principal entertainment offered.
This era also saw the birth of travel writing. Herodotus was the worlds' first travel writer. Guidebooks also made their appearance in the fourth century covering destinations such as Athens, Sparta and Troy. Advertisements in the way of signs directing people to inns are also known in this period.
The Roman Empire
With no foreign borders between England and Syria, and with safe seas from piracy due to Roman patrols, the conditions favouring travel had arrived. First class roads coupled with staging inns (precursors of modern motels) promoted the growth of travel. Romans travelled to Sicily, Greece, Rhodes, Troy and Egypt. From 300 AD travel to the Holy Land also became very popular. The Romans introduced their guidebooks (itineraria), listing hotels with symbols to identify quality.
Second homes were built by the rich near Rome, occupied primarily during springtime social season. The most fashionable resorts were found around Bay of Naples. Naples attracted the retired and the intellectuals, Cumae attracted the fashionable while Baiae attracted the down market tourist, becoming noted for its rowdiness, drunkenness and all- night singing.
Travel and Tourism were to never attain a similar status until the modern times.
In the Middle Ages
Travel became difficult and dangerous as people travelled for business or for a sense of obligation and duty.
Adventurers sought fame and fortune through travel. The Europeans tried to discover a sea route to India for trade purposes and in this fashion discovered America and explored parts of Africa. Strolling players and minstrels made their living by performing as they travelled. Missionaries, saints, etc. travelled to spread the sacred word.
Leisure travel in India was introduced by the Mughals. The Mughal kings built luxurious palaces and enchanting gardens at places of natural and scenic beauty (for example Jehangir travelled to Kashmir drawn by its beauty.
Travel for empire building and pilgrimage was a regular feature.
The Grand Tour
From the early seventeenth century, a new form of tourism was developed as a direct outcome of the Renaissance. Under the reign of Elizabeth 1, young men seeking positions at court were encouraged to travel to continent to finish their education. Later, it became customary for education of gentleman to be completed by a 'Grand Tour' accompanied by a tutor and lasting for three or more years. While ostensibly educational, the pleasure seeking men travelled to enjoy life and culture of Paris, Venice or Florence. By the end of eighteenth century, the custom had become institutionalised in the gentry. Gradually pleasure travel displaced educational travel. The advent of Napoleonic wars inhibited travel for around 30 years and led to the decline of the custom of the Grand Tour.
The development of the spas
The spas grew in popularity in the seventeenth century in Britain and a little later in the European Continent as awareness about the therapeutic qualities of mineral water increased. Taking the cure in the spa rapidly acquired the nature of a status symbol. The resorts changed in character as pleasure became the motivation of visits. They became an important centre of social life for the high society.
In the nineteenth century they were gradually replaced by the seaside resort.
The sun, sand and sea resorts
The sea water became associated with health benefits. The earliest visitors therefore drank it and did not bathe in it. By the early eighteenth century, small fishing resorts sprung up in England for visitors who drank and immersed themselves in sea water. With the overcrowding of inland spas, the new sea side resorts grew in popularity. The introduction of steamboat services in 19th century introduced more resorts in the circuit. The seaside resort gradually became a social meeting point
Role of the industrial revolution in promoting travel in the west
The rapid urbanisation due to industrialisation led to mass immigration in cities. These people were lured into travel to escape their environment to places of natural beauty, often to the countryside they had come from change of routine from a physically and psychologically stressful jobs to a leisurely pace in countryside.
Highlights of travel in the nineteenth century
*Advent of railway initially catalysed business travel and later leisure travel. Gradually special trains were chartered to only take leisure travel to their destinations.
* Package tours organised by entrepreneurs such as Thomas Cook.
* The European countries indulged in a lot of business travel often to their colonies to buy raw material and sell finished goods.
* The invention of photography acted as a status-enhancing tool and promoted overseas travel.
* The formation of first hotel chains; pioneered by the railway companies who established great railway terminus hotels.
* Seaside resorts began to develop different images as for day-trippers, elite, for gambling.
* Other types of destinations-ski resorts, hill stations, mountaineering spots etc.
* The technological development in steamships promoted travel between North America and Europe.
* The Suez Canal opened direct sea routes to India and the Far East.
* The cult of the guidebook followed the development of photography.
Tourism in the Twentieth Century
The First World War gave first hand experience of countries and aroused a sense of curiosity about international travel among less well off sector for the first time. The large scale of migration to the US meant a lot of travel across the Atlantic. Private motoring began to encourage domestic travel in Europe and the west. The sea side resort became annual family holiday destination in Britain and increased in popularity in other countries of the west. Hotels proliferated in these destinations.
The birth of air travel and after
The wars increased interest in international travel. This interest was given the shape of mass tourism by the aviation industry. The surplus of aircraft and growth of private airlines aided the expansion of air travel. The aircraft had become comfortable, faster and steadily cheaper for overseas travel. With the introduction of Boeing 707 jet in 1958, the age of air travel for the masses had arrived. The beginning of chartered flights boosted the package tour market and led to the establishment of organised mass tourism. The Boeing 747, a 400 seat craft, brought the cost of travel down sharply. The seaside resorts in the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Caribbean were the initial hot spots of mass tourism.
A corresponding growth in hotel industry led to the establishment of world-wide chains. Tourism also began to diversify as people began to flock alternative destinations in the 70s. Nepal and India received a throng of tourists lured by Hare Krishna movement and transcendental meditation. The beginning of individual travel in a significant volume only occurred in the 80s. Air travel also led to a continuous growth in business travel especially with the emergence of the MNCs.
Sarvajeet Chandra writes on issues that are usually brushed under the carpet, or are too everyday-ish for high street strategists. He writes on making strategic plan robust, how to execute strategy well and other tactical issues for everyday business success.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Why Take An Enchanting Nile Cruise In Egypt
Egypt is truly one of the ancient wonders of the world, offering a rich history and cultural diversity. When you think about Egypt, one of its best attractions has to be the enchanting Nile River. Thinking about Nile river cruise in Egypt is enough to fill one's mind with different images of enchantment, as well as, mystery. When you take a well run and a carefully selected cruise from Sharm to Cairo, you will be able to savor the enchanting river has to offer. Cairo has all that you have in mind when it comes to a holiday. When you take a cruise, it gives you the opportunity of visiting and seeing various small Egyptian towns as well as other antiquities that you may not see. You also get the opportunity to see the lifestyles of the inhabitants of rural Egypt and witness that the way of life is not any different from the time of the Egyptian pharaohs.
The most popular cruises are usually three, four or even seven days with a full excursion taking as long as fourteen days. A longer cruise usually allows for deeper and longer incursions inland to more remote tourist sites. One of the best Nile river cruises in Egypt usually involves traveling to Cairo from Sharm el sheikh. Sharm el sheikh is one of the best small Egyptian towns to visit. Aside from the usual historic attractions of Egypt, the city offers the modern aspect of Egyptian tourism. The waters around the city are ideal for scuba diving. The waters are ideal for both experienced as well as new scuba divers. An excursion of Sharm el sheikh will lead you to the Ras Muhammad national park, which protects the land as well as the seas of the peninsula from human encroachment. The island also offers excellent golfing facilities.
When you take an Egyptian excursion, it would not be complete without taking a river cruise. There is an option of an all-inclusive Nile river cruises in Egypt, which offers great advantages especially when booked earlier. This option is also a cheaper way of touring Egypt. Most Nile cruises, however, do not start from the city of Cairo as most people may think, but from the North towards the South. In a short time, you will be able to tour the major attractions including the sphinx, the pyramids and the diverse culture. Once on board the cruise ship, the passenger will enjoy excellent customer service. Various boats and water vessels offer such excursions in Egypt with some being dhows while others are large cruise liners offering amenities like spas, pools and other amenities.
As with other good things, a Nile river cruises in Egypt have their own drawbacks although they are minor/. The first advantage is brought about by the costs of the cruises being quite high. When you go with the quality or renowned operators, you may end up paying tidy sums of money; on the other hand, it is not advisable to go for the cheaper cruises. Since when on a cruise you are always on the move, this may be quite tiring since you may have to cover most of the attractions in a week or two. Despite these setbacks, a Nile excursion is still a great way of touring the greater Egypt. When you reach Cairo, you may be able to take an excursion of the city and sample what it has to offer.
I am Zemi a world traveler. I write articles on best tourist attractions around the world. I hope you enjoyed reading Nile cruises in Egypt. visit my website onetour-egypt.co.uk to read more about Excursions in Egypt.
The most popular cruises are usually three, four or even seven days with a full excursion taking as long as fourteen days. A longer cruise usually allows for deeper and longer incursions inland to more remote tourist sites. One of the best Nile river cruises in Egypt usually involves traveling to Cairo from Sharm el sheikh. Sharm el sheikh is one of the best small Egyptian towns to visit. Aside from the usual historic attractions of Egypt, the city offers the modern aspect of Egyptian tourism. The waters around the city are ideal for scuba diving. The waters are ideal for both experienced as well as new scuba divers. An excursion of Sharm el sheikh will lead you to the Ras Muhammad national park, which protects the land as well as the seas of the peninsula from human encroachment. The island also offers excellent golfing facilities.
When you take an Egyptian excursion, it would not be complete without taking a river cruise. There is an option of an all-inclusive Nile river cruises in Egypt, which offers great advantages especially when booked earlier. This option is also a cheaper way of touring Egypt. Most Nile cruises, however, do not start from the city of Cairo as most people may think, but from the North towards the South. In a short time, you will be able to tour the major attractions including the sphinx, the pyramids and the diverse culture. Once on board the cruise ship, the passenger will enjoy excellent customer service. Various boats and water vessels offer such excursions in Egypt with some being dhows while others are large cruise liners offering amenities like spas, pools and other amenities.
As with other good things, a Nile river cruises in Egypt have their own drawbacks although they are minor/. The first advantage is brought about by the costs of the cruises being quite high. When you go with the quality or renowned operators, you may end up paying tidy sums of money; on the other hand, it is not advisable to go for the cheaper cruises. Since when on a cruise you are always on the move, this may be quite tiring since you may have to cover most of the attractions in a week or two. Despite these setbacks, a Nile excursion is still a great way of touring the greater Egypt. When you reach Cairo, you may be able to take an excursion of the city and sample what it has to offer.
I am Zemi a world traveler. I write articles on best tourist attractions around the world. I hope you enjoyed reading Nile cruises in Egypt. visit my website onetour-egypt.co.uk to read more about Excursions in Egypt.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Hope after the revolution in the Egyptian tourism
The demonstrations in Egypt have emptied the hotels and cruise ships, but the tourists are returning and most Egyptians hope the recovery will be quick. A large number of the population works in the tourism industry. There is hope that in the long run the revolution and its outcome will boost business.
With its year-round warm beaches and wealth of antiquities from the Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic - Islamic ages along with Contemporary art, Egypt has much to offer the tourist. Accounting for over a tenth of the GDP, Egypt earns over $10 billion from tourism annually.
Hotel occupancy Egypt sank after the unrest erupted on January 25th. Meaning that Egypt lost at least $1 billion in this important industry that employs one out of every 7 citizens.
Many countries including the US and Canada issued travel warnings to Egypt, causing the tourism industry to collapse for the short term. These are starting to be lifted so it is hoped tourism can get back on track. All the Tourist Sites such as the Egyptian Museum, the Saqqara and Giza Pyramids in Greater Cairo are open and look forward to entertaining the thousands of daily visitors they have in the past. Other sites and the Nile Cruises in upper Egypt including the Karnak temple and the world famous Valley of the Kings are waiting for the visitors to return.
Having just returned myself from a month in Egypt. Everything was back to normal. I was there 18 months ago before the demonstrations, and the only things I noticed different were that there was little security at the Royal Place (of course Mubarak is gone) and new businesses popping up everywhere. These entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the new beginning with no bribes in order to get a business license.
As a tour operator to Egypt we see this as the beginning of progress and improvements to bring the industry up to modern day standards. It should be noted this is not an excuse to treat Egypt as a discount destination due to the demonstrations. Prices have not reduced at the sites or Hotels and to enjoy a quality tour of Egypt you get what you pay for.
After 30 years of Dictatorship the country now has an opportunity to modernize and set new standards for its tourism industry. The people of Egypt are wonderful warm hearted people who make the most of what has been repressive living conditions. It is hoped that this new era will give them hope and opportunities they have never had before.
Tourism is a fragile industry easily shaken by various events, both natural disasters and man made problems. We believe that there will be a pent up desire to go to Egypt, to many it is the dream vacation one they have dreamed of from hearing the history in school. Our clients tell us their trip was the dream of a lifetime. Egypt offers history and sites that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.
Tourism has started to return. Tourism supports the Egyptian population. Visit Egypt soon, there is nothing to compare. There is only one Egypt.
And for more information and tours to Egypt check out:
http://www.egypttoursandtravel.com
http://www.nile-cruises.com
Avril Betts CHA and partner Khaled Azzam own A-Z Tours and Action Travel along with their own agency in Cairo, Egypt.
We like to think your vacation starts when you call us. Our staff are great and treat our clients like family, offering custom tours to Egypt and surrounding countries.
With its year-round warm beaches and wealth of antiquities from the Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic - Islamic ages along with Contemporary art, Egypt has much to offer the tourist. Accounting for over a tenth of the GDP, Egypt earns over $10 billion from tourism annually.
Hotel occupancy Egypt sank after the unrest erupted on January 25th. Meaning that Egypt lost at least $1 billion in this important industry that employs one out of every 7 citizens.
Many countries including the US and Canada issued travel warnings to Egypt, causing the tourism industry to collapse for the short term. These are starting to be lifted so it is hoped tourism can get back on track. All the Tourist Sites such as the Egyptian Museum, the Saqqara and Giza Pyramids in Greater Cairo are open and look forward to entertaining the thousands of daily visitors they have in the past. Other sites and the Nile Cruises in upper Egypt including the Karnak temple and the world famous Valley of the Kings are waiting for the visitors to return.
Having just returned myself from a month in Egypt. Everything was back to normal. I was there 18 months ago before the demonstrations, and the only things I noticed different were that there was little security at the Royal Place (of course Mubarak is gone) and new businesses popping up everywhere. These entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the new beginning with no bribes in order to get a business license.
As a tour operator to Egypt we see this as the beginning of progress and improvements to bring the industry up to modern day standards. It should be noted this is not an excuse to treat Egypt as a discount destination due to the demonstrations. Prices have not reduced at the sites or Hotels and to enjoy a quality tour of Egypt you get what you pay for.
After 30 years of Dictatorship the country now has an opportunity to modernize and set new standards for its tourism industry. The people of Egypt are wonderful warm hearted people who make the most of what has been repressive living conditions. It is hoped that this new era will give them hope and opportunities they have never had before.
Tourism is a fragile industry easily shaken by various events, both natural disasters and man made problems. We believe that there will be a pent up desire to go to Egypt, to many it is the dream vacation one they have dreamed of from hearing the history in school. Our clients tell us their trip was the dream of a lifetime. Egypt offers history and sites that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.
Tourism has started to return. Tourism supports the Egyptian population. Visit Egypt soon, there is nothing to compare. There is only one Egypt.
And for more information and tours to Egypt check out:
http://www.egypttoursandtravel.com
http://www.nile-cruises.com
Avril Betts CHA and partner Khaled Azzam own A-Z Tours and Action Travel along with their own agency in Cairo, Egypt.
We like to think your vacation starts when you call us. Our staff are great and treat our clients like family, offering custom tours to Egypt and surrounding countries.