Marsa Alam Diving

Marsa Alam increases investor interest in the Southern Red Sea.   by Mark Burns

Once a peaceful fishing village, the Red Sea resort of Marsa Alam is today one of Egypt's fastest growing tourist destinations, a tropical paradise offering an intoxicating mix of palm fringed sandy beaches, mangroves and incredible coral reefs. Previously in the shadows of the more popular resorts of Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh, the increase in tourist visitors to the region has resulted in a considerable increase in demand for property in Marsa Alam over the past twelve months.

The resort of Marsa Alam is situated on the Egyptian coast of the Red Sea, approximately 280 kilometres south of the resort of Hurghada. A hugely popular resort amongst scuba divers, Marsa Alam offers access to some of the Red Sea's most stunning dive sites, made popular by the legendary Jacques Cousteau so many years ago. The southerly location of Marsa Alam, just north of the Tropic of Cancer, also ensures that the resort offers almost year round sunshine, with temperatures averaging around 35 degrees Celsius throughout the warmer summer months.

An increasingly popular tourist resort, Marsa Alam today offers a wide range of activities designed to cater for visitors of all ages and tastes. For fans of water sports, the resort offers a wealth of opportunities including deep-sea fishing, windsurfing and world class scuba diving. Further inland, activities such as the desert safaris or visits to the Emerald Mines can be explored at a more leisurely pace.

One of the main factors behind the recent increase in interest in Marsa Alam, has been the regions increased accessibility via the newly opened international airport. Previously difficult to access, visitors were forced to fly into the airport further north, before driving south for up to 4-5 hours. Today, the new international airport offers easy and convenient access to a number of the major European and Middle Eastern transport hubs including London, Paris, Dubai and Berlin. All of these destinations now offer direct flights to Marsa Alam in less than five hours, considerably increasing opportunities for the package travel industry.

Understandably, the increase in tourist visitors to Marsa Alam, coupled with the regions relatively undeveloped status, has meant an increased level of interest from the major international property developers. Keen to capitalise on the regions anticipated growth, a number of new developments such as the stunning new Marsa Alam Beach Resort have been announced. These developments, launched early in the development cycle of the region, are likely to prove popular, and commercially successful in the years to come.

For investors looking for new and emerging opportunities in Egypt, buying property in Marsa Alam should be given due consideration. Increased levels of tourism, coupled with ongoing improvements in infrastructure mean the region as a whole offers considerable potential for long term appreciation as well as rental return.

About the Author

Mark Burns works for Offplanworld.tv, a UK based real estate consultancy specialising in property in Marsa Alam including the superb new Marsa Alam Beach Resort.
Marsa Alam Diving