SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt: Hotel occupancy rates in Egypt's Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh have reached 61 percent, according to Salem Saleh, chairman of the General Authority for Tourism in South Sinai. Saleh added that the overall occupancy in South Sinai is 60 percent and occupancy in Sharm's five-star hotels is 82 percent. Saleh also said that tourism in South Sinai is active during the current month. Although Arab and Egyptian tourists have left Sharm and the smaller resort town of Dahab, Russian, English and Italian tourists have increased. "Tourists begin to practice their favorite hobbies such as swimming, diving, and going on safaris, particularly after the governorate regained stability and security," said Saleh. Salah expects many tourists will visit the governorate soon, particularly after a tourism marketing campaign by tourist companies.
