WORLD Travel Awards (WTA) has announced its continued support for tourism in Egypt by renewing plans to host its Africa & Indian Ocean Ceremony at The Savoy, Sharm el Sheikh on September 16, 2011.
In the wake of the recent political upheaval, World Travel Awards is also urging the travel trade and holidaymakers alike to follow suit by supporting Egypt’s tourism industry and Sharm el Sheikh in particular.
Graham Cooke, president and founder, World Travel Awards, predicts the quality of Egypt’s attractions will lead to a swift recovery of its travel and tourism economy.
“World-class destinations have an incredible ability to bounce back from adversity. In the last 18 months alone, you only have to look at how Thailand and Mexico have recovered so quickly from crises. Egypt too is a remarkably resilient destination, boasting an incredible array of attractions from the Pyramids of Giza and the temples of Luxor to the spectacular diving and beaches of the Red Sea,” said Cooke.
“This will be first time that World Travel Awards hosts an event in Egypt, reflecting the huge strides its hospitality industry has made to complement its natural wonders. Tourism has become the lifeblood of the Egyptian economy, accounting for one out of every eight jobs, drawing 14.7 million overseas visitors a year and representing 11 per cent of the nation’s output.
“We hope that our decision to support Egypt by continuing with the scheduled World Travel Awards event will contribute to a fast tourism recovery. We are confident that Sharm el Sheikh will prove an excellent host of our event.”
Emad Aziz, chairman of the Savoy Sharm el Sheikh says: “I am honoured that World Travel Awards is hosting its 2011 Africa & Indian Ocean Ceremony at The Savoy, Sharm el Sheikh. It will provide a great opportunity to showcase the attractions and facilities of our beautiful region to the travel and tourism world.
“Sharm el Sheikh is called the ‘City of Peace’. We remain fully up and running and welcoming our guests as usual. Our region offers a wealth of incredible attractions on our doorstep, all in a laid-back desert atmosphere. Sharm also serves as an ideal base to discover the ancient treasures of Luxor and Cairo.”