Egypt Named "Official Home for British Diving"

Egypt has been named diver Destination of the Year 2011. Mrs Omayma El Husseini, the new Director of the Egyptian State Tourist Office in the UK, accepted the award during the official DIVER Awards ceremony together with Mr Ahmed Hany and Mr Nasri Salib from the Egyptian State Tourist Office Diving Unit in Egypt. The VIP reception took place at the Novotel, London ExCeL, on Friday, 30 March, organised by the DIVER Group. Additional success was achieved by Red Sea based Camel Dive Club, which won the award for Dive Centre of the Year 2011 for the first time. Diving enthusiasts across the UK have been voting at the DIVER Awards annually for 14 years, which makes them an authentic source for the top players within the dive industry. Since the Destination of the Year category was introduced in 2003, Egypt has won every consecutive year aside from one when it was awarded second. This year, Egypt outpaced the Maldives and Indonesia, being named once again as the official “Home of British diving”. Mrs Omayma El Husseini, Director UK, Egyptian State Tourist Office, commented, “We are delighted to hear that Britain’s divers have again voted for Egypt. Egypt’s strong diving offer, year round climate and historical importance have always provided a diverse holiday for any age group. “Egypt has gone through recent political changes, however this is the first time this has happened in over 30 years and the country is already settling back in. Everything is still very positive. “The affinity Egypt has with the UK tourism market has always been strong. Winning the Destination of the Year Award is a great sign of trust in Egypt as a hot spot for divers and all tourists alike.” The Dive Centre of the Year and Liveaboard of the Year categories are also frequently won by dive centres based in Egypt. Hesham Gabr, founder of the Camel Dive Club & Hotel, which became Dive Centre of the Year, commented: “We are especially proud to have won the Dive Centre of the Year Award for 2011, because this is the same year in which Sharm El Sheikh vas voted Dive Destination of the Year in the World Tourism Awards. British divers have shown us high loyalty over the past year and we would like to thank all divers who have supported us. We look forward to enjoying further world-class Red Sea dives in 2012 and beyond.” Egypt is a mecca for diving enthusiasts. The country’s two coastlines total 2,500km with the Red Sea Riviera being the biggest stretch of warm coastline and beautiful underwater reefs. Year round sunshine, stunning white sandy beaches and a colourful marine life in crystal clear water make Egypt a preferred destination for travellers seeking both undersea adventures and relaxation in the sun. The main seaside resorts Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada, El Gouna, Taba Heights, Soma Bay and Makadi Bay offer accommodation ranging from budget to luxury and an extensive choice of restaurants, cafes, bars and nightclubs.