| Hurghada
celebrates Red Sea National Day |
H.E.
Governor Saad Abu Rida, Governor of
the Red Sea led the festivities of the
Red Sea National Day in the regions
capital Hurghada on the 21st of January.
H.E. The Governor invited a number of
senior government officials and other
important local dignitaries to join
him in the celebrations during which
H.E. inaugurated a number of new projects
including the first modern central fish
market in Hurghada complete with cold
storage facilities, as well as a number
of new hotels and touristic projects. |
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| Instructor
Trainer Course in Hurghada |
SDI/TDI,
the leading technical training agency
is holding their annual Middle East
Instructor Trainer course in March 2004
in the Hurghada Intercontinental Hotel.
The Instructor Trainer (IT) certification
represents the highest level of certification
that can be obtained from SDI/TDI. As
such, the IT certification puts forth
some expectations and requirements to
a future Instructor Trainer. Maintaining
the highest level of integrity and understanding
in diver education, standards, knowledge
and acting as an ambassador for SDI/TDI
with the expectation to be a role model
trainer to mention only a few.
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10
dive industry professionals from various countries
and backgrounds have been accepted into this
program. They will be taught and tested during
the intensive 4 day course.
Topics discussed are SDI/TDI training philosophy,
Evaluation systems and protocols, Risk Management,
Marketing and Pricing as well as CPROX and
CPR 1st courses.
The program is presented by Brian Carney who
recently took over the position as President
of SDI/TDI Word Headquarter from Bret Gilliam.
When asked about the IT Workshop, Brian said
“I am particularly excited to run this
program as the Middle East has been for a
long time one of the strongest areas and these
graduates will help SDI/TDI develop the region
even better.”
SDI/TDI Middle East can be contacted at +20-65-447520
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| Scubapro
Uwatec Workshop |
| Scubapro
Uwatec organized a technical familiarization
seminar to inform diving centers and
diving shops on Scubapro Uwatec products.
TABA divers invited all diving centers
in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheihk to
present the technology of Scubapro
Uwatec regulators and jackets. |
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More
than 60 instructors attended this technical
familiarization seminar in Hurghada and 40
people in Sharm El Sheihk.
Gilbert
de Coriolis, Technical Manager for Southern
Europe, introduced and explained how Scubapro
regulators and jackets function plus some
secrets about Scubapro equipment.
The
Red Sea Association has submitted a request
to Scubapro to organize one or two workshops
in Hurghada in the near future to educate
scuba instructors on equipment maintenance
with the aim of improving the quality of the
instructors operating in the Red Sea Region.
Scubapro will be establishing, in cooperation
with the dive industry, in both Hurghada and
Sharm El Sheikh a specialized workshop to
maintain, fix and offer spare parts for Scubapro
equipment.
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| Fishermen
of the World – Hurghada 2007 |
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Hurghada
has been selected as the host venue
for the 2007 World Professional Fishing
Championship and 2005 for Under-16
Youth Championship.
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Mr.
Marcel Ordan – President, and his
wife and Mr. Pierre Biever – Secretary
General & Treasurer arrived in Hurgada
in February to inspect the organizing venue
"The Marine Sports Club in Hurghada".
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| Red
Sea experience goes international |
Advertising ‘our’ Red Sea as a
Region.
Germany
has been for many years the top supplier
of both divers and visitors to the Red Sea.
Favourable exchange rates, with good flight
and accomodation packages, coupled with
out fantastic weather and famed hospitality,
make Egypt the number one holiday destination
for a huge percentage of German tourists.
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With
this in mind, the Boat show which takes
place in Dusseldorf in January every
year is of particular importance to
Red Sea Dive and Liveaboard operators.
Last year - its 35th showing, saw 320,000
visitors from 67 countries explored
products and services showcased from
1656 exhibitors.
So this year in addition to the dozens
of individual operators from the Red
Sea who exhibit in this show with their
individual stands, the Red Sea Association
repeated its earlier successful participation
with a RED SEA STAND aimed at promoting
the destination for all stakeholders. |
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We are now looking to repeat success this
in major shows around the world such as the
British, French and Dutch Diving/Boating Shows
and we are aiming next year at having a much
larger stand which will house as many operators
as possible under one RED SEA BANNER.
Our aim obviously is increase our share of
the world dive travel market which benefits
us all. We have to be a little more aggressive
and proactive in selling ourself as a quality
diving destination, not just a cheap, last
minute.com alternative. Take a look for example
at the way the Cayman Islands market themselves
in every dive magazine and at every Dive /
Travel / Boat Show.
They
always advertise as a region, never as individual
operators. They are phsically small geographically
but are huge in the diving world through
slick and clever marketing, with never a
mention of price! This is the way forward
in getting even more people to spend their
two weeks in the sun with us.
8th.
Edition of EMITT has ended successfully.
The Red Sea Association has participated
in the 8th edition of EMITT - the East Mediterranean
International Travel & Tourism Exhibition.
This was held betwen the 26th -29th February
2004, at the Tuyap Beylikdüzü
Exhibition Centre Istanbul, Turkey.
The number of visitors reached 100.000,
a quarter of them being employed in the
tourism industry.
This
year, EMITT attracted more professionals
than the last year's exhibition, which meant
an increase of 35%. The number of exhibiting
companies reached 721, three quarters of
whom were international exhibitors, which
also meant an increase of 25%.
Gossip from some of the big international
exhibitors was that some huge deals had
been struck and major contracts signed.
We understand that for next years venue,
it is hoped that 150,000 visitors will pack
out the centre. There will be even more
space devoted to stands with more invites
going out to international big name players
to push the event from ‘regional’
to ‘international’.
The opening ceremony of EMITT 2004 was made
with the participation of Mr. Erkan MUMCU,
The Minister of Tourism and Culture; Mr.
Ali Mufit GURTUNA, The mayor of Istanbul;
Mr. Sinan BABILA, president of TUROB; and
lastly Mr. Oktay VARLIER, President
of TYD.
34 Countries participated in the most recent
and of the 8 exhibitions including Dubai,
Sharjah, India, Egypt, Cuba, Syria, Bulgaria,
Cyprus, Armenia and so on. Nearly all of
the exhibitors signed up for taking either
the same size or larger stand for next years
show.
For
any further info. about joining us under
the Red Sea Stand for future shows please
do not hesitate to contact us.
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| Egyptian
Parliament Discovers Scuba |
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Adelegation
from the Egyptian Parliament (Parliament
Committee for Tourism & Information)
spent one week in mid February in the
Red Sea Governorate visiting various
diving spots in Marsa Alam, Quseir,
Safaga, Hurghada and El Gouna. They
were on a field orientation trip to
familiarize themselves with the touristic
sector in the Red Sea and explore ways
and means of developing it further.
The 50+ strong delegation headed by
MP Mrs.
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Fayda
Kamel, (President of the Committee) and Dr.
Mohamed Salah, (Advisor to the Minister of
Tourism for Diving and Watersports) held a
meeting in Marsa Alam on the 14th of February
with the Red Sea Association for Diving and
Watersports.
During
this meeting the Association made a compelling
presentation outlining the scope and potential
of dive travel tourism, the world dive travel
market, the various problems that are impeding
the potential growth of this sector and
proposals to overcome them.
This is a follow up to the parliamentary
hearing (the first ever), which took place
in the House of Parliament last year and
again emphasized the need to fill the legislative
vacuum that exists with respect to diving
and watersports.
The delegation reaffirmed their full support
and commitment to give this promising and
vital sector the legal frame it deserves
to better regulate it and increase its efficiency
and improve its’ quality and standards.
The Red Sea Association was represented
in this meeting by chairman Karim Helal,
Vice Chairman Mahmoud Marzouky, Director
Dr. Hossam Nassef and southern representative
Mr. Hossam Helmi.
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A
second Parliamentary Committee, this
time the Environmental Committee visited
Hurghada with H.E. Dr. Mahdouh Riad,
Minister of State for Environmental
Affairs and attended a conference on
the 25th of february with officials
from the EEAA, the Red Sea Protectorates,
HEPCA and others.The Red Sea Association
made a presentation to the audience
about the environmental aspects of the
diving & watersports industry in
the Red sea outlining the current efforts,
the problems facing the environment
and proposed solutions thereto. |
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H.E.
The Minister was very positive and pledged
government support for their effort and
to working in partnership with the NGO active
in this field - namely the Red Sea Association
and HEPCA.
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