SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt: The Pyramids of Giza beat off stiff competition from Victoria Falls, the Serengeti National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro to win the Africa's Leading Attraction award at this year's World Travel Awards. National airline Egypt Air als saw off the likes of South African Airways, Air Namibia, Kenya Airways and Royal Air Morocco to collect the award for Africa's Leading Business Class Airline. The World Travel Awards were held over the weekend at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt's famous Red Sea resort. Abercrombie and Kent received the best travel agency in Africa. The Maldives won the best location for honeymoons, and the Sheraton Miramar Resort in Gouna won the award for the best hotel for honeymoons in Egypt. Over 210,000 tourist experts from across the world choose the award recipients. The experts represent big travel and tourism companies and organizations in more than 160 countries. Voting takes place online. “Egypt is a textbook example of world-class tourism destinations demonstrating an incredible ability to bounce back,” said Graham E. Cooke, the president and founder of the WTA. He continued, “Its phenomenal array of attractions – from the Pyramids of Giza and the temples of Luxor to the diving and beaches of Sharm el-Sheikh – will ensure that tourism remains integral to the Revolution of the new Egypt." “Hosting our Africa & Indian Ocean Ceremony in Sharm el-Sheikh is a celebration of how travel and tourism is serving as a force for good and a catalyst for change,” Cooke added. "This award is very important for Egypt, which aims at tourism promotion in order to put Egypt on the map of tourism. The award gives Egypt's tourist destinations confidence in eyes of tourists." "Sharm el-Sheikh is trustworthy to host this great event. The awards are the results of efforts of the employees and workers in Sharm el-Sheikh," said South Sinai's governor. Over 200 reporters and media persons attended the event.
