FURY ROAD: EGYPT’S SPORTS TOURISM BOOSTED BY DESERT CHALLENGE RALLY
The Egypt Desert Challenge Rally and Cross Egypt Challenge designed to boost sports tourism in the region.
The Egypt Desert Challenge Rally has been described as a stimulus for sports tourism in the country. The racing event was held from March 11 to 12 in Fayoum desert, located southwest of Cairo, with 15 Egyptian teams taking part in the first day of the event.
Desert racing has been a popular pastime in the country and greater North Africa for over 40 years. The sport was first showcased in 1982, with the launch of the Rallye des Pharaons (Pharaohs Rally). Although the last event of its kind was held in 2015, desert racing has remained a key draw for local and international fans.
This year’s two-day event featured “racers [putting] their abilities to manage off-road situations and their endurance to the test”, as reported by Chinese news agency Xinhua.
Later this year, the Cross Egypt Challenge will take place. The event has been described as a “series of endurance cross-country motorcycles and scooter rallies conducted through the toughest tracks and roads”. The series is inteneded to boost sports tourism, with operations being supervised by the Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Authority. The event will take place between October 6 and 15, 2022.
