Le Grande Final

Ritzy's Weekly Eye Part III - the grand final: “Same Sharm, Same Charm.” You know they’re out of business in Sinai when the Weekly dedicates the whole monthly travel supplement to promote a prime destination. Says Rasha the writer: “Life is returning to normal – and getting cheaper…” That will please the travel operators here and abroad who has been moaning all month and week about how business is dead, stone dead.

“It was as if nothing had ever happened. Tanned bodies relaxed on the soft sand, grinning two-year-olds tickled by the mild waves washing their tiny feet… silent spellbinding underwater world.” Rasha is a pioneer in a blasted paradise that Europeans won’t go near.

“Safer now than ever… discounts up to 15 percent…” Well if the number of increased security troops define safety and bargain prices equals a good holiday, why not head to another city promoting itself as a tourist destination, like Basra?

Follows a desperate attempt by Hilton Sharm Dreams to sell its time-share units; you get two free nights in a double room. “We ask that you and your spouse spend approximately 90 minutes with us to learn more about ownership at our beautiful resort.” The big question is: Can you endure a weekend with time-share reps. and other “free-riding” cheapies?

Thought not. So let’s look at the statistics instead. The Weekly has a new PR from the World Tourism Organization. Eh, don’t bother. Worldwide tourism will not go down; Egypt will not suffer too much but Sharm will suffer a great deal; that’s what is says between the lines and you read it at Miss Mabrouk a month ago – without the cuts.