Holidaymakers and tourism leaders have organised a gathering in Sharm El Sheikh to show their continuing support for one of Egypt’s most popular tourist destinations.

The event, called “We Love Egypt”, is being held at 10pm on Saturday 12 February at SOHO Square shopping centre, next to the Savoy International Hotel.

The idea came about when UK tourists approached tour operators and hotels wanting to show their support for Sharm, which has remained safe and calm throughout the protests elsewhere in Egypt.

Spokesman for the organisers, Khaled Saleh, said the event offers an opportunity for the resort’s hospitality industry to thank visitors and tour operators for their continuing support.

“A group of visitors asked if they could show their appreciation for the hospitality they’ve received while on holiday and also to show that Sharm El Sheikh is operating normally and lives up to it’s reputation as The City of Peace.”

The programme will begin with a one-minute silence to commemorate the victims of recent unrest elsewhere in Egypt. The programme also celebrates the support of the tens of thousands of tourists who have continued their holidays in the resort, as well as those that are soon to fly out.

Included in the schedule are musical tributes, a video presentation of Egypt’s culture, a folklore display and speeches from diplomats and leading hoteliers in Sharm El Sheik.

The UK’s Honorary Consul in Sharm El Sheikh, Ms. Dawn Bacon, is expected to attend, together with a high representative of the Egyptian government.

A T-shirt with the “We Love Egypt’ logo will be handed out with free drinks, food and prizes provided by businesses in Sharm El Sheikh and tour operators.

Sharm El Sheikh is often called the City of Peace because of the number of peace conferences hosted in the city. The city was developed largely after the Camp David Peace Treaty was signed between Egypt and Israel in 1978.

More than one million UK holidaymakers came to Sharm El Sheikh last year – three times the number in 2000.

Billions of dollars have been invested in hotel developments. The city’s international airport has been expanded to accommodate daily direct flights from Europe, the Middle East and links to cities in Egypt.

The golden beaches and azure waters of the Red Sea are set against the dramatic backdrop of the Sinai Mountain range and the Sinai Desert. The peace and serenity of the resort’s location at the southern end of the Sinai Peninsula marks the confluence of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez, which separates Sinai from the mainland of Egypt. A tunnel passing under the Suez Canal connects Sinai to mainland Egypt.

At the southern border of the city lies the protected Ras Mohammed National Park. Coral reef ecosystems found in the national park are recognized internationally as among the world’s best, due to their diversity of flora and fauna, clear, warm water devoid of pollutants, their proximity to shorelines and their spectacular vertical profile.

The Sinai desert is an attraction with its hidden treasures, historical sites and monuments including the Pharhaonic temple of Sarabit el Khadem, the Pharos Bath   and St. Catherine’s Monastery, reputed to be where Moses received The Ten Commandments.