A guide for planners and managers - IUCN

306 MARINE AND COASTAL
PROTECTED AREAS
(Figure III-13), has its offices in Sharm El Sheikh and is administered by the
Protectorates Division of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA).
Tourism Development
FIGURE III-13.
The Sinai Peninsula and its protected areas. The first areas to be given protection were (1) the Ras Mohammed
peninsula and the reefs and islands of the Tiran Straits, subsequently (2) coastal waters north from Sharm el Sheikh
up to extreme high water were included within the National Park. Later (3) two further terrestrial areas were
protected from development, at Nabq and at Abu Galum. Most recently (1996), the coastal waters north to Taba
have also been accorded National Park status.
The period since the establishment of the Park has seen a remarkable growth in coastal
and reef-related tourism to the area. Whereas in 1988 there were 5 international hotels
using 5 dive centers serviced by 23 dive boats to cater for ca. 20,000 visitors, the numbers
of visitors and facilities in 1998 included >40 international hotels, 32 dive centers,
240 dive boats, 690,337 visitors (1996) and 16,564 beds (data from National Parks of
Egypt, Governorate of South Sinai and Ormond et al., 1997). To put these figures into
perspective, for example, with approximately 20% of visitors carrying out an estimated
1.5 million dives per year, the area has become one of the most dived tourist resorts
in the world (Medio et al., 1997).