Biodiversity preservation, waste management, and securing water sources are just a few of the principles being applied to convert Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh diving destination into an “green city.”
Egypt’s Ministers of Environment and Tourism signed a tripartite agreement with the South Sinai governor to convert the popular Egyptian diving town Sharm el-Sheikh into a bonafide green city by 2020. The $.25 million deal signed by Dr. Mostafa Hussein Kamel, Minister of State for Environmental Affairs, Mounir Fakhri Abdel Nur, Minister of Tourism and Major General Khalid Fouda, Governor of South Sinai earlier this week lays out a comprehensive plan for implementing a whole series of steps that will protect the country’s crown jewel of tourism. More details after the jump.
Better environmental oversight
Under the terms of the new protocol, a new Technical Committee will be set up to establish the best steps needed to convert Sharm el-Sheikh into a more sustainable operation. At present this Red Sea resort is a valuable source of tourism dollars, but poor environmental oversight has resulted degraded coral reefs. The presence of trash in the water, on the beach and elsewhere is also a huge turn-off for visitors.
A new Technical Committee is responsible for developing management strategies based on the recently signed protocol while a High Committee will be tasked with putting those strategies to the metal to ensure the successful completion of this transition.
A green dive spot
At present, it is expected that by 2020 Sharm el-Sheikh will be a leaner, greener, even more beautiful spot to visit. Among the issues that will be addressed are:
- Carbon emissions reductions
- Creating a permanent, secure water supply (desalination perhaps?)
- Developing a sound liquid and solid waste plan – better late than never we suppose.
- Establishing plans to preserve the existing biodiversity
- Building the diving industry – sustainably
- Incorporating renewable energy into the town’s grid.
Egypt appears to have woken up to the idea that eco-tourism has necessarily surpassed the tired old mass tourism model that eroded so many beautiful and often archaeologically important sections of the country. As more and more cities in the country take such bold moves, the momentum will grow. Then Egypt will be unstoppable! 52% of the funds will be derived from loans and aid, 42% will be privately funded, and only 3% of the tourism dollars being generated.
More on sustainable tourism in Egypt:
Is Troubled Egypt Ripe Enough for Eco-Tourism?
Post-Revolution Development in Egypt Destroys Popular Dive Spot
Romantic Desert Lodge in Egypt Offers Fresh Eggs and Sanity
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
I agree Kat! A better tourism model could have such a profound and long-lasting impact.
Please let there be a positive change here. Especially with regard to tourism.