Red Sea Goes Green

Tourists might associate Egypt with the Pyramids and the Sphinx, but the Ministry of Tourism is hoping that the country will also become known as a leader in sustainability. In 2008, a number of new programmes were launched to protect Egypt's natural resources and preserve its cultural heritage.

An increasing number of visitors means that Egypt is more concerned than ever about protecting its environment, even as it works to promote a growing array of diverse tourist destinations. […]

An example of the Red Sea's sudden prominence as a travel destination was its recent appearance on The New York Times' list of "44 Places to Go in 2009." But in an earlier article, the paper had warned that Hurghada, the region's main resort, has already seen much of its natural beauty eroded, and that visitors are better off diving from smaller coastal towns such as Ain Sukhna or Safaga, or even forgoing the region all together in favour of the Sinai Peninsula.

In a bid to reduce the environmental impact of the growing influx of tourists while maximising economic opportunity, the Tourism Development Authority (TDA)Tourism Development Authority (TDA) and Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) partnered in 2005 with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to launch the Livelihoods and Income from the Environment (LIFE) programme. The $20.5m initiative ended in September of last year and focused on three major components of environmental protection in Egypt : integrated water resources management; lead pollution remediation and clean-up in the Qalyoubia governorate; and support for sustainable economic growth in the Red Sea governorate. The Red Sea region in particular received $12.7m, with funding going toward technical support, the implementation of new training programmes and fostering general awareness of environmental issues. More specifically, LIFE helped design community-based solid waste systems in Marsa Alam, Hamata and Shalateen, along with a house reef management system for Red Sea hotels. The partnership also helped the EEAA to designate 14 islands in the Red Sea as protected territory, thus preserving approximately 17,000 sq km of sensitive habitat.

Source - Zawya