27/12/2019
Travel & Tourism News 27/12/2019
Red Sea - strike of diving centers in Egypt
Important information for divers please contact your dive center if they are also participating in this two-day strike
Many diving enthusiasts traveling to the Red Sea are aware that Egypt is extremely inventive in refreshing its empty state coffers with fees raised overnight. Tomorrow, December 28, 2019, a decree is expected to come into effect that was published just two days in advance. From then on, daily fees for snorkelers, scuba divers and according to size are payable for the diving ships. The diving centers and diving centers react to this arbitrary action with a two-day strike, which, when calculated, leaves clear traces in the travel budget.
This unity has never been found among diving centers in Egypt. A two-day joint strike should be a clear sign to the responsible politicians that overnight additional taxes are unacceptable. No diving trips will be organized on December 28 and 29, 2019.
Egypt charges USD 5.00 per day for snorkelers and divers who are brought to a dive site with a boat, regardless of whether they are a Zodiac or a diving ship, boats are charged between USD 10.00 and USD 60.00 depending on their size. In order to be able to start an exit at all, the approval of the coast guard must be present, which must now be registered in advance the amount of divers. And of course it all costs additional fees.
The new surcharges are known as the environmental levy, but there is no concept of how the revenue will actually benefit environmental or marine protection. With this campaign, Egypt is directly targeting the most important and most loyal group of tourists, who have generated a not inconsiderable part of the state's revenue for many years.
As you have to assume, diving tourists, whether only with ABC or with a device under water, are classified as particularly wealthy in the offices. The bases cannot compensate for the fees, they are passed on directly to the guests, which in the majority of cases results in additional expenses of USD 12.00 or € 11.00 per diving day and person. For a couple with 10 days of diving, approximately € 220.00 will be charged at random fees.
There is no doubt that this is unacceptable and so all bases and diving centers ask for understanding for the strike. Anyone who spends their stay in a resort / hotel with a house reef should take the opportunity to dive short distances. Dives without boat use are excluded from the current measure. The bases may try to organize land-based dives, with air-conditioned minibuses for the divers and pickups for the equipment.
An interview with the governor of Hurghada requested by the representatives of the diving centers was initially confirmed for Sunday evening, but has now been brought forward to Saturday. To what extent the tourism minister is involved in this process remains unclear at the moment.
According to the information available to us, all affected German-speaking bases and diving centers that offer day trips definitely participate.
Source: unterwasserwelt https://unterwasserwelt.de/rotes-meer-streik-der-tauchbas…/…
