NAGUI ERIAN CEO of Nile Exploration

P.M. Communications: Can you please tell our readers about the history of the cruising on the Nile?

Mr. Erian: Nile cruising is an ancient custom that began long time ago with the Pharaohs. The Nile is an essential part of the Egyptian life and history. When people think of Egypt, they think of the Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings and the Nile.

The Nile was traditionally used to transport merchandise to Ethiopia and other African countries, but has since been utilized for leisure and cultural tourist travel. It was Thomas Cook who really started developing Nile Cruising in the 1800's. Tourists started travelling from the UK to Alexandria then cruised on the Nile all the way to Sudan.

In the 1960's some Egyptians began building ships and operating cruises between Luxor and Aswan, the same route that is used today. Every year since, there has been an increase in the number of ships operating, but the boom really started in the 1980's. Today there are some 280 ships on the Nile.

P.M. Communications: Following this growth trend, how is Nile Exploration expanding to meet the obvious demands of tourists for this type of travel?

Mr. Erian: Currently we have 4 ships on the Nile complete with first class amenities including entertainment, exercise equipment, restaurants, etc. We also have a new boat under construction, which will have a completely different interior and concept from the other ships. This new boat will be given to an international management company who will manage it and do the marketing.

Another important thing we are doing in relation to growth, which is also very important for the Nile, is that we are trying to convince the Ministry of Tourism to stop issuing more licenses for people to establish cruising companies. This is in an effort to improve the standards of the existing boats, the general infrastructure and the control of the hygiene onboard.

Regarding growth on a regional scale, we would like to restart the long cruises from Cairo to Aswan, utilizing more of the Nile and allowing for longer cruises. Beyond the Nile, we are now trying to make connections to the Red Sea. For example, you could take a cruise from Aswan to Luxor and then drive to Hurghada to visit the Red Sea and explore another part of Egypt during one trip. These new options would greatly benefit the travellers when they come to visit Egypt.

P.M. Communications: If a visitor was considering choosing between a cruise vacation and a typical hotel stay, what reasons would you give them for choosing to cruise?

Mr. Erian: In hotel, the tourist is just a number among thousands of people, like in a factory. Aboard our Nile Cruises, the overall experience is totally different and our staff knows by name each and every guest and provides much better and more personalised services.

Also, upon arriving at the various sites on a Nile Cruise, it may take a mere 20 minutes to arrive to the site. From a hotel you have to take busses or taxis and drive sometimes two hours. The cruise offers comfort and relaxation on a moving luxury ship with fascinating views of the Nile, which are constantly changing from one minute to another.

P.M. Communications: Nile cruses were primarily a cultural experience, but lately you have been introducing a special touch of leisure. How do you ensure that your clients enjoy a luxurious experience?

Mr. Erian: Our strategy is to have a normal sized ship but with fewer cabins. This results in larger public area and also more private areas for the guests, creating a more exclusive experience.

The service and the food we provide aboard our ships are also extremely important. It is not the same when you are cooking for large numbers as when you have a smaller number of guests. We offer a one-to-one cook-to-guest ratio which makes the entire trip more personal.

P.M. Communications: There are many boats on the Nile, what would you say are your competitive advantages?

Mr. Erian: The most important element for our fleet to is to properly take care of the ships. Many companies have 5 stars ships, but they are not always properly maintained. We maintain, refurbish and update our ships regularly, giving us an added edge that keeps our image fresh and our customers happy.

P.M. Communications: In order to preserve the cultural heritage in Egypt it is of utmost importance to educate the tourists and create strict norms of behaviour at the historical sites. What do you think is the best way to tackle this issue?

Mr. Erian: This is a long standing problem that is actually divided into three aspects: the guests, the local guides and the Ministry of Culture.

It is very important for the Ministry of Culture to implement a system to protect the monuments, such as glass protecting ancient hieroglyphics in tombs or a system to reduce humidity in temples to protect these ancient places.

Beyond that, we ask our guests not to touch anything in the monuments and at the sites and we instruct our guides not to point with a stick or any object that could damage the sites. We also tell our guides to go into the tombs with the minimum number of guests. If we arrive with a large group, we always split the group up. At the same time, we offer our guests a more educational and personal experience.

P.M. Communications: The British are the number one tourists in Egypt this year and the fastest growing market at the same time. How important are they for Nile Exploration?

Mr. Erian: I have been working with the British for the past 18 years. I also work hand-in-hand with Thomas Cook, which is a British company. I built our fleet of ships starting with the individual specifications all the way through to design. Our company has won many awards over the years for having the 'Best Ship on the Nile'. These awards take into account construction, safety, hygiene, maintenance, services and the number of guest complaints. These criteria make this recognition even more significant because it means that we are operating well on all fronts.

P.M. Communications: I would like to give you the opportunity to send a final message to the readers of the Telegraph in the UK.

Mr. Erian: We have had a very long relationship with the British and we like each other very much. The British are courageous and resilient. I have been working with them for a long time and they are fantastic people. They are very welcome here in Egypt and on any one of our ships.

P.M. Communications: Thank you very much for your comments.