Tourist bookings to Egypt have dropped since last month's attack that killed 18 people at a Sinai resort but the tourism minister said on Monday he hoped to attract an extra one million visitors in 2006.

Tourism Minister Zoheir Garrana said between 1 and 2 percent of existing hotel bookings had been cancelled since the attack at Dahab on April 24 and Egypt could lose out on some last minute holiday bookings in the short term.

"We have a target to attract an extra one million tourists a year. I think we are going to achieve this figure in spite of what happened," he told Reuters in an interview in Dubai.

As the largest operator of hotels in the Middle East, InterContinental Hotels Group now boasts 12 properties in Egypt and seven InterContinental hotels in the area, with the opening of this luxury five-star resort hotel.

The resort, situated on the northernmost tip of the Gulf of Aqaba and located 35km from Taba International Airport, rests on a prime water front location boasting sandy white beaches, turquoise waters and stunning desert scenery securing it as a year round destination.

The Egyptian resort town of Dahab is still reeling from the triple bombings that killed at least 23 people late Monday.  Most of the casualties are Egyptian, but some of the dead are reported to be foreign tourists, including a German child and a Russian.  Egyptian authorities are sifting through the evidence to try to find the attackers.

A band of young men started a spontaneous protest in the streets of Dahab as shopkeepers cleaned up after the deadly blasts. "We love everyone", they chanted, a testament to Dahab's famously laid-back, bohemian atmosphere.

Three bombs, containing gunpowder and nails, killed at least 23 last night and left over 60 more injured.

Security experts in Egypt believe the devices were fitted with timers before being planted, rather than carried by suicide bombers. It's not yet known who was behind the attacks.

The three near simultaneous bombings struck the busy Red Sea resort city of Dahab, at around 7.15pm local time last night.

Preparations are underway for the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting on the Middle East, which is due to convene in Sharm El-Sheikh next month. The high-profile event which takes place in Egypt for the first time will be held from 20 to 22 May.

A state-of-the-art conventions centre has been constructed in Sharm El-Sheikh in anticipation of the event. The centre which was built within the span of less than eight months will accommodate some 1,500 or so global leaders who are expected to attend. The theme of this year's meeting is entitled "The promise of a new generation" and brings to the fore for debate and discussion a variety of political, social and economic topics related to the Middle East.

Hed Kandi comes to Pacha on Saturday 22 of April 2006, for their 1st time in Egypt. This is a truly sexy stylish night of great hip and happening music. Hed Kandi cool deco, and disco divas, they very name conjures up imagines of Kandi Art, hot stylized babes and fresh funky vibes; Hed Kandi is not just a label but dance legend.

Get groovy with Phil Faversham one of Hed Kandi's resident DJs, and move the beats to their clever compilations 'Beach House' sun drenched summer listening, 'Twisted Disco' - deliciously dark and dirty disco, and 'Nu Cool' released in Jan 2006 by Phil.

A world of its own

Extreme landscapes have always had a special allure for mankind. The Sinai Peninsula boasts such a landscape. It is the geographical link between Africa and Asia. The Pharaohs already sent expeditions to this area to gather gold, copper and turquoise.

We have set up two surf centres in Dahab, at the foot of mountain ranges shimmering in yellow and brown hues and rising steeply from the turquoise water, where the azure-blue sky contrasts with the deeply lined desert mountains. Here, you can let yourselves be carried away by a surfing vacation with plenty of wind and lots of thrills. A completely different world – and only a 4-5 hour flight from Europe.

The Club Mistral Hilton centre in the lagoon is positioned right inside the Dahab Hilton complex. The wind blows side-offshore here. We call this location our "Fun Park", because it offers as many as three spots in one. Within the lagoon, in front of the centre, there is the flat-water spot for beginners, intermediate-level windsurfers and freestylers. The perfect spot for practising from morning till night. Directly behind the sand bank of the lagoon, the wind is very strong and constant, creating ideal conditions for flat-water blasting, which will appeal to race freaks.
If you prefer more movement under your board, head for
The Club Mistral centre is about 1 km outside the lagoon. Here you will find perfect sideshore conditions. This location is a real insider tip. The temperature differences in the desert ensures thermal reinforcement of the wind in summer, making Dahab one of the windiest spots. What is more, the centres, which have been equipped with great attention to detail, invite you to linger for a while and relax in one of their many sitting nooks.

Delicious meals can be enjoyed in the nearby village. Along the extremely beautiful beach promenade, you will be served traditional Egyptian or Western fare. There, you will also have an opportunity to browse the numerous bazaars. Because Dahab is, overall, not yet very touristy, you will experience the traditional Egyptian lifestyle here. Or visit the Bedouin village of Ras Abu Galum. You can go to superb, deserted beaches and snorkel at the countless reefs around Dahab. Simply let yourself hang loose. You will feel really far away from all civilization when you spend a night in the traditional Bedouin tent or, if you prefer, right under the skies. These starry skies, the unique wind conditions, the locals' hospitality and many other attractions are definitely not to be missed.

Our insider tips:

• Dinner at one of the numerous restaurants in Masbat and Assala, e.g. at the "New Blue Moon" or "El Fanar"
• Snorkelling and relaxing in Eal Garden
• For Friday night, we recommend a trip to the fantastic "Nessima" open air discotheque or to the "Tota".
• A fabulous excursion to the Bedouin camp of Ras Abu Galum, which can be reached by a 2-hour hike from the Blue Hole. There, you can visit a superb, deserted bay for snorkelling.
• A visit to St. Catherine's Monastery and a climb up Mt. Moses.
• Diving at the well-known reefs of the Red Sea.
• A ride through the desert (on a camel or on horseback)

Expeditions into the Sinai Desert, which range from an afternoon or late night meander up Mount Sinai to a multi-day or week trek, are increasingly popular in Egypt. All treks through this relentlessly dry desert east of the Nile must be done with a Bedouin guide. Many Bedouin are excluded from the tourist industry, which is dominated by migrants from the Nile Valley; although as natives of the desert, Bedouin know the terrain and how to safely navigate it better than anyone. If you are having difficult locating a Bedouin guide, try contacting the following organizations for leads: Centre for Sinai is one outfit that seeks to promote knowledge of the local culture and is a good place to look for a guide; and Man and the Environment (MATE) Dahab is an environmental education center that helps arrange treks with Bedouin guides.

domina hotel group is adding one more hotel to its egyptian portfolio.
the domina makadi bay hotel & resort in hurghada has opened its doors to guests on 11th march 2006, making it the 3rd resort for the group in egypt.

located on the southern crest of makadi bay, domina makadi bay hotel & resort is at only 35 km from hurghada international airport and 43 km from hurghada city, 'capital' of the red sea riviera.