Why Visit Egypt

Reasons You Should Visit Egypt at Least Once

Egypt may be known for ancient treasures and rich history, but there is more to this nation than you might expect. From surreal waters and golden sand beaches to remarkable architecture and natural therapies, Egypt is worthy of your bucket list. Here are some of the top reasons Egypt should be your next destination.

It’s one of the oldest ancient civilisations in the world

Ancient Egypt is one of the most interesting and oldest civilisations in the world. The Great Pyramids of Giza, the only surviving ancient wonder, along with ancient Egyptian statues and tombs, continue to seize the attention of top archaeologists and, of course, the wider world. To this day, remains of the ancient Egyptian civilization continue to be discovered.

It has the longest river in the world

Ranking as the longest river in the world, the Nile extends around 6,695km (4,160mi) and flows into the Mediterranean. You can visit a number of attractions along its length; the most prominent being Luxor and Aswan, both of which feature on Monarch Vacations .

You’ll follow the footsteps of Moses

Mount Sinai, also known as Jabal Al Tor or Mount Moses, is considered a holy site and is visited by pilgrims from religions including Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

It is where the prophet Moses received the divine commandments from God. It is located in the beautiful Sinai Peninsula, where many come to enjoy mountain climbing and hiking, too.

Paradise beneath the waves

The Red Sea is without question the best place to dive in Egypt. It offers diverse locations for an unforgettable experience including bright corals and colourful, distinctive fish. Egypt offers different diving opportunities including wrecks, walls, drifts, pinnacles, shore dives, day boats and liveaboards.

The beaches are gorgeous

The beaches of Egypt are a dream come true with the country home to internationally renowned beaches guaranteed to delight sunseekers.

From natural pools and crystal blue waters to steady beaches as well as surfing spots, they are not to be missed.

It’s a hotspot for water sports champions

Dahab, Safaga, Hurghada, Ras Sudr and El Gouna are all among the top kite and windsurfing destinations in Egypt.

Kite and windsurfing champions from around the world train in these locations due to the perfect weather and steady, safe waters. Not a champion? Egypt has some of the best kite and windsurfing schools as well.

The weather is great all year round

Egypt’s high season never ends. Summer is the perfect time to take a dip and go diving, while winter is the best time to visit the historic desert sites.

Safari desert trips are the best in Egypt

Much of the land here is desert, making it the perfect spot for a new kind of adventure. The best way to discover the region is via a safari trip. Camp to enjoy the full experience.

Horseback riding here is amazing

Wherever you’re going to enjoy your horseback riding experience in Egypt, rest assured you’ll have a view to go with it. Enjoy a ride across the dunes overlooking the lake in Fayoum, pass by the great pyramids or enjoy a romantic ride by the crystal blue beaches in Hurghada.

It’s a dream for architecture and art lovers

Cairo has some of the best Islamic architecture and art on earth. Visit mosques that have been standing for 1,200 years, such as the Mosque of Ibn Tulun, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, the Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Hassan and more. These mosques are a perfect chance for architecture, art and history buffs to soak up some culture.

Egyptian cuisine is delicious

Egyptian food has been influenced by neighbouring countries in the Middle East, resulting in dishes full of flavour. Not only is it delicious, but the food in Egypt shapes the national culture. Egyptians turn to food in times of happiness, need and struggle. It’s the highlight of any occasion.

Egypt’s therapeutic waters and sands

Therapeutic tourism has long been popular in Egypt. The hot springs here are reputed to help cure respiratory diseases, kidney, bone and other skin problems. The mud in many areas is also said to cure skin issues. Sand-burying massages are also popular in Egypt and are said to treat physical injuries.

Egyptian people are a diverse bunch

In Egypt, people have different accents, distinctive food, unique traditions and even different fashions depending on which city they are from. Some cities even have different languages. Just wandering around Egypt is an experience in and of itself.

UNWTO

UNWTO STARTUP COMPETITION FOR MEGA EVENTS AND MICE TOURISM

The Competition

Tourism is one of the leading sectors in international trade, accounting in 2019 for 28% of the world’s services exports, representing 1,7 trillion dollars from international tourism, turning it into the fifth largest traded services sector (UNWTO). While many factors influence tourism growth, MICE tourism and mega events can contribute massively to the influx of tourists to a country and destination. With this call, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is sourcing the most sustainable, innovative, and disruptive entrepreneurs that offer SMART solutions for mega events and mice tourism that benefit visitors, organizers, and local communities in a sustainable way.

Mega events are large-scale events often of a longer duration that attract a significant number of attendees from different parts of the world, related to sporting, cultural, or business, and they usually have a global impact. They can benefit a host destination in terms of attracting visitors, drawing global attention to destinations, and as a consequence increasing international tourist arrivals. In principle, mega events contribute short-term benefits, yet when executed systematically and in a sustainable way, they can be a catalyst for longer-term tourism development in various aspects from economic to social. Although international tourist arrivals and receipts increase significantly for the host country of a mega event, we must take into account possible tourist displacement and the effect of this kind of tourism on the destination. They can present a range of challenges for the country, the host destination, and the stakeholders involved.

Tourism generated by Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions, or MICE Tourism, is a specialized segment of the tourism industry that involves organizing and hosting short-term events and gatherings for business purposes. It is an important sector for many countries and cities, as it can attract significant numbers of high-spending visitors who contribute to the local economy. The tourism industry relies on effective marketing and promotion to attract attendees and exhibitors, as well as on skilled event organizers who can manage the logistics and coordination of large-scale events.

Both tourism activities generate a substantial amount of tourist arrivals but present different challenges.

Present your business and offer an innovative solution to the challenges of mega events and mice tourism!

Categories for MICE Tourism

  1. Digitalization and Disruptiveness for Sustainable Event Management: Mega events can have significant environmental impacts, such as increased energy and water consumption, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions. Disruptive ideas that contribute to sustainable event management practices can help to minimize these impacts by reducing waste, conserving resources, and promoting renewable energy. Digital technologies can be used to enhance the attendee experience and improve mega events, as well as serves as a tool for sustainability for both the infrastructure and the services.
    Key challenges waste reduction, conserving resources, renewable energy, enhancing attendee experience, and emerging technologies.
     
  2. Inclusiveness and Accessibility: Mega events can often be exclusive and not accessible to everyone. Inclusive event design aims to create events that are accessible and welcoming to all attendees, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds. In addition, they have an impact on the surrounding communities, both positive and negative. Engaging with local communities can help to build trust and support for the event, as well as to identify and address any concerns or issues that arise. This can involve partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, and local government.
    Key challenges: fan engagement, promotion of values, accessible infrastructure, involvement and partnership with local communities

Calendar

31 May 2023
Launch of the challenge

1 September 2023
Deadline for candidatures

September 2023
Announcement of the finalist startups (online)

September-October 2023
Pitch of the finalists

Audience & Requirements

The purpose of the competition is to capture the attention of many startups, entrepreneurs, and businesses from around the global tourism value chain to facilitate the selection of those most relevant to the challenge we are addressing.

The business must offer an innovative and disruptive solution for one of the challenges of Mega Events and MICE Tourism.

In addition, the competition will require the following requirements to participate: The projects must be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations and preferably also allow for an introduction or adaptation of digital and technological elements, and focused on one (or several) of the following areas:

  • Be innovative/disruptive in nature providing value-added solutions;
  • Harnessing the impact of new technologies;
  • Alternative and complementary business models to harness the economic impact of tourism in destination(s);
  • Smart and innovative solutions for sustainable experiences;
  • Entrepreneur/promoter team: Suitability of the promoter team, motivation, and interest;
  • Startup in Seed Stage or Early Stage (have a minimum viable product or an idea that is ready to be developed);
  • Emphasize the promotion of gender equity (and female empowerment), digitalization, environmental preservation, local communities, and youth leadership.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to join UNWTO Innovation Network
  • Opportunity to participate and pitch solution at a Global UNWTO event
  • Potential opportunity to provide a demo of the solution at an upcoming global UNWTO event
  • Visibility on UNWTO global platforms and social media networks
  • Scholarships for UNWTO Tourism Online Academy
  • Access to potential Mentorship programs with international leaders in the field of innovation
  • Networking opportunities with UNWTO and key partners
  • Access to potential seed funding, investments, and partnership opportunities with consultancies, accelerators, and incubators within the UNWTO Network

Climate Change

What Is Egypt Doing About Climate Change?

Despite only about 0.6% of the world’s yearly greenhouse gas emissions coming from Egypt, the country is Africa’s second-largest gas producer and supplies nearly a third of the continent’s gas, with production expected to further increase significantly in the upcoming years, both for domestic use and export to the EU.

Low-income populations, both in Egypt and around the world, are disproportionately affected by a number of climate change-related risks.

Due to the projected rise in heatwaves, dust storms, and other extreme weather events, Egypt is particularly exposed to the effects of global warming. We take a look at how Egypt is doing about climate change. 

Hosting COP27

Since 1995, COP summits have served as the principal international platform for climate negotiations. In the 2015 Paris Agreement, the goal of limiting the increase in the average global temperature to 1.5C (2.7F) over preindustrial levels was established. 

Ahead of COP27, which took place in the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh, president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi said that his country would use its position as host to promote the interests of other developing nations, particularly those in Africa. Despite making up a small portion of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, developing countries are among the hardest hit due to climate change’s worsening effects on issues like food insecurity, water scarcity, and extreme heat.

Building on a diplomatic effort to seek African support in a dispute with Ethiopia over a project on the Blue Nile that Cairo views as a danger to its water supplies, Egypt is positioning itself as a champion of Africa and the Global South. But to reach its climate goals and reach the four-fold increase in the contribution of renewables to its power mix by 2030 by scaling up solar and wind projects as well as green hydrogen power, the country will need an additional US$246 billion in funding.

Given the low visibility of ecology and the limitations on civic action, some Egyptians express astonishment that the government would sponsor such a meeting. However, according to Rabab el-Mahdi, director of the Alternative Solutions Research project at the American University in Cairo, hosting COP27 “forced the government and consequently brought to society a broader discussion about climate change that has been missing from the overall national debate.”

What Is Egypt Doing About Climate Change?

Over the past two decades, Egypt has made significant strives in mitigating climate change, including doubling its wind energy production. In order to deal with the rising water stress, the country has also explored adaptation activities, such as building desalination plants and infrastructure for flood control. It was the first government in the Middle East and North Africa to issue green bonds, allocating $750 million towards sustainable water management and clean public transportation. Since accepting the role of COP27 host roughly a year ago, Egypt has unveiled a variety of climate-related initiatives, including plans to turn the popular tourist destination Sharm el-Sheikh into a “green city”.

However, independent climate watchdogs like the Climate Change Performance Index and the Climate Action Tracker criticise the nation’s overall climate strategy as being vague and unambitious. Natural gas and other fossil fuels, which made up about 90% of the country’s capacity for power generation in 2019, contribute to the issue. Cairo, which is among the lower-income cities that claim they should be able to use fossil fuels to expand their economies until they can afford to switch to sustainable energy, wants to enhance the nation’s production of oil and natural gas.

Egypt’s lack of enthusiasm for reducing emissions has also drawn some criticism. Cairo updated its nationally determined contribution (NDC) – a country’s voluntary strategy for cutting its own emissions – more than a year after the Paris Agreement deadline. In addition to being dependent on outside assistance, Egypt’s new NDC lacks a specific goal for attaining net-zero emissions, like many other nations. Furthermore, Cairo also places more of an emphasis on adaptation rather than emission reduction in its 2022 National Climate Change Strategy.

Fears Over Future COPs 

The oil and gas sectors receive two-thirds of all foreign investment in Egypt. Additionally, China is taking part in numerous large-scale infrastructure projects in the nation, while Russia is funding the El-Dabaa nuclear power station, whose construction will start later this year. Since some of the major emitters are also some of the nations Egypt maintains close ties with, the African country has been accused of doubling down on fossil fuels by stifling dissent. 

Another concern about the influence of fossil fuel producers on international climate talks is growing among climate experts and activists as the United Arab Emirates, one of the largest oil exporters in the world. The UAE will preside over the next round of COP28 UN climate talks that starts in late November next year. Oil and gas, which make up around 30% of the the country’s GDP, also account for about 13% of the nation’s exports. The building and transport sectors, among many others, are likewise financially dependent on fossil fuels. At least 636 pro-fossil fuel lobbyists attended the COP27 discussions in Egypt, and 70 of them had ties to oil and gas businesses in the UAE.