HispanicBusiness

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwire) -- 12/13/12 -- In heartening news, Egypt's Tourism Minister recently announced positive figures for visitors to the country in 2012, with more tourists expected to holiday there before the New Year.

As well as mild winter weather across the region, the famous river Nile provides another major draw, and cruises on this landmark stretch of water are predicted to increase visitor figures further.

Tourism Minister Hisham Zaazou has linked the predicted increase in tourists to Egypt with the popularity of Nile river cruises, and it's certainly one of the most enchanting ways to see the sights in this richly historic country.

8.8 million people have already experienced the delights of Egypt this year, and Zaazou believes this is set to rise to 12 million before 2013. October to April is the best time for cruises, as temperatures are milder, allowing visitors to comfortably hop on and off boats to see the historic sites en route.

During April and June, a series of locks in the Nile may also affect accessibility to certain areas and towns, meaning many holidaymakers choose to take their cruise trip earlier.

The popularity of such cruises with tourists will no doubt increase with new changes to the accessibility of the river itself. Part of the river which has been closed for 16 years re-opened earlier this year, after it was irrigated and deemed safe for visitors.

As a result, it's now possible to sail the Cairo-Luxor stretch, and many cruise ships are beginning to reclaim this route, allowing visitors to see lesser-known sights like Beni Hasan and the Temple of Dendera.

Zaazou's predictions for next year indicate a 20% rise in tourist numbers overall, and with so much to offer holidaymakers, Egypt looks set to thrive.

Visiting Egypt's historic sites, cities and coastal regions can all be done in style and comfort on a Nile cruise, and arranging a holiday can be equally stress-free with Egypt holidays with Monarch. Monarch offers a range of affordable Nile cruise package holidays, with prices starting from just GBP 301 per person.



Contacts:
Monarch Airlines
Robert Foulkes
01582 398122
Robert.Foulkes@Monarch.co.uk
www.monarch.co.uk