Hurghada - Arab holiday capital for 2017

[newcastle]

Whoopee!!

Time to get my holiday planning organised....for somewhere - anywhere - else

Egyptian Ministry of Tourism spokesperson Omaima El-Houssieny said that the Arab Tourism Organisation named the Red Sea resort of Hurghada as the capital of Arab summer holiday destinations in 2017.

The Arab Tourism Organisation said that Hurghada was chosen due to its security, services, infrastructure and hospitality, according to the organisation.

"This is expected to boost tourism activity in the city up to 30 percent in light of the upcoming carnivals and events planned to celebrate the Arab Organisation's decision," El-Houssieny stated.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent ... pital.aspx

In their enthusiasm to get this puff piece to print, Al Ahram has cobbled together a selection of photos...seemingly taken from previous articles...extolling the attractions.

Unfortunately the first, and the last (a repetition) picture, feature the underwhelming Bella Vista hotel. But what is worse is that they've kept the rather alarming caption :

"Tourists enjoy on a beach at the Bella Vista Hotel in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, Egypt, January 9, 2016. Two armed assailants attacked a hotel in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Hurghada on Friday, wounding three foreign tourists. (Reuters)"

Only in Egypt, eh?

[Who2]

Good, just like in the 50,60's when the great British holiday maker went on holiday.
Benidorm before then was just a place with no decent booze & garlic & foreigners.

Margate was the place of dreams, kiss me quick, fish & chips, getting drunk and the odd occasional outbreak of semi-staged violence.
As most UK holiday destinations were in those days when Butlin's & Pontin's ruled...oh! and the 'pill.

So, good luck to them, and that they can afford it, have some fun, forget religion, get with holidays,
It's an institution back in Blighty and all over the World, these days.

I've never given it much consideration about Egyptians having holidays,
but it's always gladden's my heart when I see them around town....

[BENNU]

Whoopee!!

"Tourists enjoy on a beach at the Bella Vista Hotel in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, Egypt, January 9, 2016. Two armed assailants attacked a hotel in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Hurghada on Friday, wounding three foreign tourists. (Reuters)"

Whoopee indeed!!!

That was enough to stop tourists from my home country, because there were Danish eye witnesses to this huge tragedy. Finally, after all these years, relatives of mine had found the courage to visit me in this warzone, but they changed their minds and went to London and Spain instead. This episode is still their only argument to stay away forever.

[Major Thom]

I would have thought that Dubai would have been well ahead.

[newcastle]

I would have thought that Dubai would have been well ahead.

You'd be wrong.

Dubai is very expensive.....although still popular with wealthy Saudis.

Europe and the far east are increasingly popular and are perceived as better value-for-money destinations for Arabs looking for a halal-friendly holiday.

Egypt is also attracting a lot of interest from Arab holidaymakers.