06/10/2013
Egyptian hotels show unusually high occupancy for the beginning of the summer season — their average occupancy reaches 70%, and in some cases even reaches 100%. True, these results do not please local hoteliers — such an atypical load was ensured by dumping prices for accommodation, which they had to expose due to a sharp decline in the European market. However, experts expect another surge in demand for tours to Egypt in all major markets by mid-July.
“The situation is not much different from last year, now there is a period of weak demand, but the situation should be refracted by mid-July. However, there is still a difference with the last season: if last May several hotels were even closed for the period of late spring — early summer, now the average occupancy is from 70% to 100%, «Alexey Zalivin, executive director, told the TURPROM newsgroup. Egyptian host company «ALS-tour».
According to the expert, the main reason for such an influx of tourists was the rather low prices given by the hoteliers against the backdrop of the fall in European markets. “But on the whole, the situation is normal, I don’t remember the year before the revolution, when there would have been no failure from mid-May to mid-June,” the source said. As Mr. Zalivin explained, such a dip in demand in Egypt arises due to the fact that since June many other «classic» summer European destinations have come into play, to which a significant part of the traffic volumes will be reoriented. “Tour operators, especially Turkish ones, are now reducing their volumes in the Egyptian direction by 60%, switching to Turkish resorts,” the expert explained. In addition, according to the interlocutor, at the start of the season, the volume of European tourist flow to Egypt, primarily from Germany and Eastern Europe, also decreases against the background of competition from other European beach destinations.
Experts of the Russian travel market, in turn, expect a fairly good season from summer Egypt. “Hotels in Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh are 80-90% full. The forecast for the summer season is favorable, «- said Victoria Lopukhova, press secretary of the travel company» NTK Intourist «. The expert also noted that a significant factor for the current hotel occupancy is the low price. «Prices for Egyptian» fives «are significantly lower than for similar Turkish hotels, which inclines many tourists towards the resorts of the Red Sea,» the source said. In addition, the choice of Hurghada is also influenced by the convenience of this resort for families with children. “In summer, more and more tourists prefer Hurghada with a convenient entrance to the sea and sandy beaches, as this resort is best suited for families with children. Economy fives are in demand, also fours — in Hurghada these are such hotels as Sea Gull Resort 4 *, Aladdin 4 *, Ali Baba Palace 4 + *, Club Azur 4 * +, etc. In Sharm el-Sheikh — Tropicana Grand Azure 5 *, Al Bostan 4 *, Hauza Beach Resort 5 *, Nubian Village 5 * «. The depth of sales, however, is not great «Egypt is not a direction that is distinguished by a great depth of sales, basically it is one and a half to two weeks,» explained Victoria Lopukhova. As for transportation, according to the expert, Russian carriers do not leave this direction with their attention: “The flight program to Sharm El Sheikh on the wings of Transaero will start on June 9, flights will be carried out on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The flight program to Hurghada on Transaero flights will start from June 15 also on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, «Victoria Lopukhova said.
“The forecasted expectations of sales of tours to Egypt in the coming summer season are good. The flow to Egypt is actively recovering, compared to last year, the sales volume increased by more than 30%, ”added Natalya Novikova, head of the PR department of the TUI tour operator. The expert noted that summer is not the highest season for Egypt, but at this time it competes very successfully with other destinations in terms of prices. “The main hotel category chosen by Russian tourists is 5 *, which accounts for up to 70% of sales. And the most demanded duration of rest is 9-10 nights, such tours are booked by up to 60% of tourists. The leaders of our sales are the Concorde El Salam 5 * hotels in Sharm El Sheikh, the base hotel of the exclusive TUISelect vacation concept and the Caribbean World Soma Bay 5 * in Hurghada, ”the interlocutor added.
Experts expect a new surge in the Egyptian market, which will inevitably lead to “footsteps” in popular hotels, by mid-July. “The situation will improve by mid-July — August, and it is highly likely that everyone will“ wake up ”at the same time: both the European market and the demand from Russian tourists, as well as the local market will revive,” said Alexey Zalivin. Taking into account the fact that the loading of hotels is not bad even now, it will probably be difficult with rooms in July-August.
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