In 2008, over 12 million tourists visited Egypt for their holidays. Until the credit crunch, this North African country's tourism industry was rising year on year. Even with a world struggling with a tough economic climate, Egypt is well setup to weather the storm and looks like coming out of the other side stronger than ever.

Egypt is an especially desirable destination for European travellers with flight times from the UK at around five hours, all year round sun and a distinct lack of rain. With European holidays becoming fairly expensive because of the strength of the Euro, Egypt looks very desirable, especially to British travellers because you get a lot of Egyptian Pounds to your British Pounds.

Egypt is probably most well known for the Pyramids of Giza and the tombs of the Valley of the Kings and Queens. However, there are many faces to Egypt, some well known and some kept as a special secret.

Cairo, Egypt's capital and the largest city in Africa, is the base for many people's visits to the Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza. This colourful city, situated along the banks of the Nile, is known as the 'City of Minirets' and is a vibrant place with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Amongst the many bars, cafes and bazaars, there are still many reminders of Egypt's ancient civilization. It is also home to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities and the treasures of the country's most famous pharaoh - Tutankhamen. Many holidaymakers will spend a long weekend in Cairo and then move on to experience more of what Egypt has to offer.

After a visit to the bustling capital, a break is in order. There are many popular Red Sea resorts around Egypt's coats. The most famous are probably Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada and El Gouna. Each one offers excellent family friendly hotel facilities as well some beautiful sandy beaches and world-class scuba diving and snorkelling. One place that might not be on everybody's radar is Ain Soukhna, which means 'hot spring' in Egyptian, and is just two hours from the Pyramids of Giza. Ain Soukhna is also the closet beach to Cairo and is a great alternative to the capital if you need a beach break, but still want to be a short trip from the famous monuments of Giza.

For a different holiday altogether you can take a Nile cruise and enjoy a luxurious journey down one of the world's most famous rivers. Sit back in luxury aboard one of the many vessels that take tourists to a mix of well known and lesser known temples and sights. On average, cruises last around five to seven days and start from a number of destinations depending on the boat you choose. Most trips will either start or include a trip to Luxor, where you can visit the famous Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens.

Egypt holidays offer travellers a lot of options and it can be hard to fit in everything you want to do in one trip. This is why many people will return to this African country to enjoy the many experiences it has to offer.