Tourist Trips in Egypt Port-Cities Safaga and Port Said Boosted

Egypt’s Red Sea port of Safaga Saturday received a luxury cruise ship coming from the port of Aqaba, carrying 1404 tourists of various nationalities.

Maj. Gen. Waheed Tosson, acting director of Safaga Seaport, said: "Tourists have started their tour by heading to Luxor, to visit the monuments, temples and museums, as well as archaeological and historical sites. Then, they will visit Hurghada for leisure trips, luxury hotels, tourist resorts and tours, purchasing gifts and antiques from Hurghada’s famous market."

Egypt’s Mediterranean city Port Said also received a luxury cruise ship Saturday carrying 670 tourists of various nationalities on a grand voyage around Mediterranean ports.

In a press statement Saturday, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Sharaf, Chairman of Port Said Port Authority, said: "The ship hails from the port of Hurghada. It will leave the port later today bound for Cyprus. Here, in Port Said, it was received by folk groups amid celebrations of the province’s 154th anniversary. We are doing everything in our power to facilitate all procedures and make their visit to Egypt – and especially Port Said – a most memorable and pleasurable experience for all tourists, from the moment they arrive and until they safely leave."

Meanwhile, Hisham Zaazou, Minister of Tourism, succeeded in ending a crisis where the Abu-Simbel – Aswan highway was blocked by people on a protest rally.

Zaazou affirmed that he directed Aswan Tourist Office to check on the situation and make sure tourists are not affected in any way by internal problems, to avoid giving tourists the wrong impression about stability issues in Egypt.

The Minister also expressed thanks and appreciation for the Governor of Aswan and the Minister of Civil Aviation and civil society leaders in Aswan for their understanding of the situation and their efforts to resolve the crisis.