In Egypt, Ras Hankorab, a Pristine Red Sea beach 850 km southeast of Cairo, lies within the protected Wadi Al-Gemal National Park. Known for its untouched beauty. Now, a secretive tourism deal threatens its fragile ecosystem. teleSUR
00:00In Egypt, Ras Hanqorab, a pristine Red Sea beach, 850 km southeast of Cairo, lies within the protected Wadi al-Gamal National Park, known for its untouched beauty.
00:12Now, secretive tourism deal threatens its fragile ecosystem.
00:16In the heart of Egypt's Wadi al-Gamal National Park, where endangered green sea turtles swim alongside snorkelers in turquoise waters, and nest by moonlight on untouched sands, a controversial tourism project is casting a long shadow over one of the Red Sea's last wild shores.
00:37Ras Hanqorab beach, located over 850 km southeast of Cairo, has long been a sanctuary for biodiversity and a hidden gem for eco-conscious travelers.
00:52Its coral reefs are considered among the world's most resilient to climate change, and its night skies, free of artificial light, offer a rare view of the Milky Way, but this fragile balance is now at risk.
01:07The importance of Hanqorab beaches is that they contain significant ecosystems of utmost environmental, economic, and scientific importance.
01:18They also contain some endangered species, mainly turtles, therefore, any development is only appropriate within a limited scope, without impacting the existing marine ecosystems.
01:28In March, construction equipment unexpectedly appeared on Hanqorab's hands, sparking alarm among conservationists and park staff.
01:43What followed was a wave of public outcry, culminating in a petition signed by thousands under the banner Save Hanqorab.
01:50The outcry uncovered a previously unknown contract between an unnamed government entity and a private investment firm to build a resort inside the protected park.
01:59The deal had bypassed Egypt's Environment Ministry, the authority tasked with managing Wadi al-Gamal since its designation as a protected area in 2003, faced with mounting pressure.
02:11The environment ministry opposed the project, and construction was temporarily halted.
02:16The heavy machinery was removed, but concerns remain.
02:26Unfortunately, recently, the focus has begun to be on the investment aspect of the reserve more than on preserving it as an important natural and environmental resource.
02:35The project appears to have been approved by a government body that does not have jurisdiction over the protected reserve.
02:50Despite efforts by Maha Abdel Nasser to obtain details from the Environment Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office, no answers have been given.
02:58Officials have been unable to name the investment company behind the deal, and no environmental impact assessment has been made public.
03:10Today, visitors arriving at Ras Hanqorab are met with a new gate bearing the name in Latin letters.
03:16The entry now costs 300 Egyptian Pounds around $6, five times the previous fee, with no indication of which authority is issuing the tickets.
03:26Where once there were only a few umbrellas in broken restrooms, there are now functioning toilets, sun loungers, and towels.
03:33A coffee and restaurant are said to be in the works.
03:37Yet the sense of legal and environmental uncertainty hangs heavy over the bay.
03:41For now, the turtles still return to nest beneath the stars, but for how much longer remains unclear.
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