Contrary to what everyone thinks, this is not cultural tourism which is the most profitable for Egypt, the opposite is scuba diving, which is the goose that laid the golden egg. According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Tourism, the income from diving tourism as well as water sports has exceeded $ 3.5 billion out of a total of $ 9 billion, which means one third of tourist income. "It's not too much, if one takes into account that 60% of tourists who visit Egypt come specifically for enjoying the Red Sea. And more than 80% are diving with all activities that are related, as the snorkling, sea safari and skiing, "says Hilal Karim, president of the Chamber of diving, which was newly created under the aegis of the Union of Chambers of Tourism. According to figures from the ministry, more than three million tourists come to the Red Sea, known as "the paradise for divers." This number is expected to double, especially after the choice of Sharm Al-Sheikh as the best diving destination in the world by the United Nations World Travel Awards, considered the Oscar of the tourism industry internationally.

Although this international award is given this year to Sharm Al-Sheikh, this does not deny that the number of tourists who go diving in Egypt is still considered low compared with other countries, like the Australian coast or islands Maldives for instance, and many other beach resorts.

This shortage is in fact due to the various problems facing those miles and some diving centers across the country, of which 300 are found only at Sharm Al-Sheikh.

This award has been very well invested in the exhibition dive, which was held last month in Dusseldorf, Germany. "This is the first time that the diving industry in Egypt is represented in the largest exhibition specializing in diving tourism to the world. This will be very fruitful for the whole sector, "says Hilal Karim.