Cruise lines increase Nile capacity Harry Kemble
River cruise lines are upping capacity on the Nile as UK customers look beyond Europe for their next sailing. Nile sales had plummeted
in recent years following terror atacks that targeted tourists and the downing of a Russian aircraſt in October 2015. Since then, British airlines have not flown to Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh resort. However, lines such as Uniworld,
AmaWaterways and CroisiEurope are now increasing capacity on the African waterway. Demand has led Fred Olsen
Travel to sign a deal to become preferred sales agent for operator
Sanctuary Sun Boat IV
Sanctuary Retreats’s 32-cabin Sanctuary Nile Adventurer and 40-cabin Sanctuary Sun Boat IV. Speaking at a Clia round-table
event this week, agency sales manager Dave Chidley said: “Te Nile has suffered badly in the past few years; it’s great that river cruise can help.” AmaWaterways’ UK managing director, Stuart Perl, who has
previously touted an Egypt programme, confirmed the line would launch a Nile ship in 2021. “Egypt is coming back strongly,” he said. CroisiEurope will operate a new
itinerary between Luxor and Aswan from 2020. UK sales director John Fair said: “We have ships on the Nile and Ganges next year, and they are selling very well.”
Uniworld has a 42-suite ship,
Sphinx, due to launch on the Nile in January. UK managing director Chris Townson said: “What beter time to travel to Egypt than now? Te security is as good as it can be and the crowds are not what they used to be.” Panellists agreed that demand
this year had risen more strongly for river cruises in long-haul destinations than in Europe. Chidley said Asia was becoming “massive”, adding: “Whether that’s because Europe is a bit sticky, I don’t know.” UK and Irish passenger numbers
on the Nile in 2018 were 5,700, according to Clia. UK passengers had fallen to 3,600 in 2016 – down from 58,000 passengers in 2010 before the Arab Spring uprising of early 2011.
Show flexibility to attract new staff, firms told
Juliet Dennis
Travel recruitment firms are calling on businesses to offer more “competitive and flexible” job packages to atract new staff. Te plea comes as UK
unemployment reaches its lowest level for more than 40 years, squeezing the number of job seekers in the market. Te industry has long complained of difficulties in atracting experienced talent. Travel Trade Recruitment
4 19 SEPTEMBER 2019
sales director Claire Muge urged companies to review their job offers or consider staff who are not the perfect fit. She said: “Companies need competitive, flexible packages to get experienced candidates, or take on those who don’t tick all the boxes and need some training.” C&M Recruitment director
Barbara Kolosinska said: “For candidates, it’s not just about pay, it’s work-life balance and flexibility – ‘wellbeing’ is huge at the moment.” Domex Recruitment founder Jose
Candidates want a work-life balance
Cofone said benefits candidates found atractive included educationals, or smaller perks such as a day off on their birthday. Companies could also use staff as mentors to new starters, he said, adding: “Tere is a shortage of good people and companies have to think outside the box.” Oliver Broad, joint managing
director of RB Collection, said the agency now allowed more time to recruit and considered a broader range of candidates. It took on 21-year-old Rebecca Swain as
a consultant in May. “Rebecca didn’t have as much experience as we’d normally want but she had backpacked round the world and worked abroad as an au pair. She brought a fresh approach and passion for travel,” Broad said. Sunvil managing director
Chris Wright said the challenging recruitment market meant the operator was constantly on the lookout for staff. “If the perfect person came along I would rather be over- staffed than lose someone,” he said.
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Shutterstock
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