As It Prepares To Celebrate Its 250th Anniversary, Cox & Kings Announces Middle East As The Hot Destination For 2008.

Against a backdrop of national exhibitions, TV series, and archaeological finds, the Middle East is set to boom over the next 12 months. The world’s longest established travel company and Middle East specialist, Cox & Kings, reveals its hot destinations for 2008 and explains why the Middle East is the place to be next year.

Egypt looks set for a comeback, with Cox & Kings’ bookings up more than 200% on last year. This year, British interest in Egypt’s history has been ignited by the discovery of Hatshepsut’s mummy, the unveiling of Tutankhamun’s mummy at Valley of the Kings, and the new Egyptian Antiquities exhibition at the O2.

Mark Stacey, Cox & Kings’ Product Manager for the Middle East, attributes much of this recent growth to the development of the company’s programme in Egypt. ‘Our 2008 brochure features group tours and private journeys, as well as a number of tailor-made travel ideas throughout Egypt, from the western deserts and Siwa, to Abu Simbel and Alexandria, as well as a full programme of cruises on the Nile and Lake Nasser. Cox & Kings definitely has one of the most comprehensive programmes in Egypt.’

Jordan, too, has seen a dramatic increase in visitors, and holidays pre-booked for the year ahead are double what they were this time last year. Recently voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Petra continues to attract hundreds of visitors, and Cox & Kings is one of the only operators to offer three nights as standard in Petra, on its Splendours of Jordan tour.

New to the programme is Tunisia, and the company has high hopes for the destination in 2008. Stacey says: ‘People tend to think of Tunisia as a beach holiday destination and, although it does have some lovely beaches, it has so much more to offer in the way of history and culture. The country has been occupied by Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs, and it now has some of the most impressive ruins in North Africa.’

Cox & Kings has also seen growth elsewhere in the Middle East, with increased interest in Morocco, Syria and Iran, and steady growth in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

The company’s tours are competitively priced: tours of Egypt start from just £975; Jordan £995; Libya £995 and Syria £1,095.

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WEBSITE: www.coxandkings.co.uk