Conservationists sound alarm over Egypt’s Red Sea development plans

Egypt’s efforts to boost its economy through Red Sea tourism development are facing backlash from conservationists, who warn the projects threaten fragile marine ecosystems and local communities, Reuters reports.

Tourism is a key economic driver for Egypt, generating around $14 billion last year—more than twice the revenue from the Suez Canal. In an effort to attract more visitors, the government is offering investment licenses in national parks, including Wadi el-Gemal on the Red Sea.

Plans reportedly include building accommodations, a restaurant, and a farm on Ras Hankorab Beach, a protected area home to endangered sea turtles, rare fish, and biodiverse coral reefs. Environmental groups say this area is one of the world’s most ecologically significant marine zones.

“The more development along the Red Sea coast, the more critical it becomes to keep at least this small part untouched,” Sherif Baha el-Din, co-founder of Wadi el-Gemal national park told Reuters. “If development is necessary, we should consider alternatives. But in this case, the best thing to build is nothing at all.”

HEPCA, an environmental NGO, emphasizes the reef’s climate resilience and potential to help regenerate other coral systems. Initially, the Ras Hankorab project was approved under strict conditions by Egypt’s Environmental Affairs Agency, but control has since shifted to a government fund. Authorities declined to comment further.

Local residents say they’ve been excluded from planning and priced out of beaches they once freely accessed. “They didn’t consult us. They didn’t hire us. They just took over our land,” said tribal elder Mohamed Saleh.

Officials, including Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad, maintain that the development is a “controlled expansion” that balances environmental sustainability with economic gain. They argue that eco-tourism and private investment can coexist.

But critics are not convinced. “This completely undermines the principles of eco-tourism,” said environmental lawyer Ahmed El-Seidi. “How can turning protected land over to investors align with conservation? The state has a duty to safeguard natural resources for future generations.”