Eritrea's Coastal Marine and Island Biodiversity Conservation Project

- Despite the harsh environmental conditions the Soemmerring’s gazelle is widely distributed in the coastal plains including Dahlak Kebir Island.
Soemmerring’s gazelles that are found in the Dahlak Kebir Island are referred to as a ‘dwarf’ mainly because of their smaller size as compared to their
mainland counterparts, which is attributed to environmental stresses and water and food limitations.
- The Danakil Depression, proposed also as a Protected Area, extends over the NRSR and the SRSR, and includes volcanic lakes. Desert safaris could
be organized including visits to Afar camps and exposure to Afar life style. Accommodation could be developed in adapted Afar Burra’s and Rashaida
Bedouin tent camps in and nearby Danakil. Oryx (Oryx beisa) also used to occur in the Danakil area, but disappeared as it is suspected they were
hunted during the liberation war, and could be reintroduced.
- Adulis Archeological Site is the oldest port on the Red Sea, and this archeological site, presently completely covered by sand and sediment, needs to
be investigated, and information and relevant facilities available for visitors.
- The old prison of Nokra Island, near Dahlak Kebir, is abandoned but has intact buildings of historic and architectural interest. The site will be
investigated for historic value and feasibility for preservation and perhaps tourist facility use.
- The city on the island of Massawa has an historic and architectural interest, with a mixture of Turkish, Egyptian and Italian Moorish style buildings.
Rehabilitation is needed and there is a proposal for proposing the island as a cultural site under World Heritage UNESCO classification. With the
improvement of the facilities and infrastructure on the Island of Taulud and the development of the city on the mainland including the international
airport, the city of Massawa has an important potential for national and foreign tourism. The relocation of the commercial harbour facilities and the
creation of a marina are part of this overall improvement, as well as the declaration of the nearby Sheik Seid Island (also Green Island) as a marine and
terrestrial protected area for public awareness and education on the marine and coastal environment.
7.3. Tourism Infrastructure
The majority of the tourist oriented activities along the coastal area are presently within the Northern Red Sea Region (Zoba). The present tourism
activities within this vast region includes the development of recreational centre on Dissei Island, the opening of a new hotel in Ghel’alo, the building
of a resort hotel (Millennium Beach Hotel) at the Gurgussum area, and the maintenance as well as expansion of Dahlak Hotel in Massawa, together
with the rearrangements of the coastal areas of Massawa and Taulud islands for the development of a large resort and a marina. This complex will
allow activities such as visiting the islands for recreation and diving. The regional tourism office in Massawa regulates and incorporates all the tourism
and tourism related activities through out the region.
The Southern Red Sea Region is far from the capital of the country and the road network from Massawa to Assab is not completed. The development
of tourism is therefore delayed except some minor activities South of Tio and in Assab. Other options for the future include Beilul, Barasole and Tio.
State of the Coast Eritrea, 2006-2007 49