Cross Egypt Challenge returns to promote Egyptian tourism

MANILA, Philippines - The recent revolution in Egypt has resulted in a large drop in tourism — an industry vital to so many Egyptians and accounts for 11.4 percent of Egypt’s GDP.

In a bid to promote tourism and travel to Egypt, a team of daring Egyptian riders set out the Cross Egypt Challenge to promote tourism and to prove that Egypt is safe.

Cross Egypt Challenge is a series of endurance scooter rallies conducted throughout the most challenging roads and tracks in Egypt, a breathtaking challenge that is equally fascinating for spectators and riders alike as it combines the best of adventure traveling and extreme sport.

The challenge started in 2011 and the first season was a nine-day ride from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in the north of Egypt to the temple of Abu Simbel on the southern borders of Egypt, with a total distance of over 1,700 kilometers. Fifteen riders from four different countries were able to complete the challenge successfully.

The 2012 season of Cross Egypt Challenge will begin on Oct. 12 for eight days, and will witness a 2,400-km route starting from Egypt’s capital and the home of the famous Tahrir Square, Cairo, then heads toward the coastal city of Alexandria before going west to the city of Marsa Matrouh.

The challenge will then head down to explore the most fascinating oases of the Egyptian Sahara — Siwa, Bahareya, Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga — before arriving at the final destination, Luxor, the world’s largest open air museum.

Only 30 applicants will be selected from all over the world to participate in the 2012 season of Cross Egypt Challenge. Interested riders who are up to the challenge can find guidelines for participation on the Cross Egypt Challenge website, www.crossegyptchallenge.com.

Cross Egypt Challenge is a non-profit initiative aiming to promote tourism, alternative sports, and alternative means of transportation in Egypt.

Ahmad Elzoghby, the official spokesperson of the challenge, said, “It is quite challenging to ride for 2,400 kilometers on scooters, especially if that involves such a difficult track as the one for this year. The Cross Egypt Challenge is meant to bring global media attention to Egypt and to confidently announce that Egypt is safe for tourism.”

To access the initiative website, visit www.crossegyptchallenge.com or the Facebook page www.facebook.com/CrossEgyptChallenge.