Egypt’s tourism push puts pristine Red Sea beach at risk

As Hankorab Beach, a pristine spot on southern Egypt's Red Sea coast with crystal clearwatersand flat whitesands, isthe jewel of Egypt’s Wadi el-Gemal National Park, home to one of the country’s last untouched marine ecosystems, Today, the beach, a90-minutedrive fromMarsa Alaminternationalairport,andafour-hour drive from the huge, fast-growing resort of Hurghada, is closed off by a wooden fence, and campaignersarebattlingtohaltitsdevelopment with, according to the original plans, dozens of accommodation huts, a restaurant and a farm.

- Mohamed Ezz

Ras Hankorab Beach, a pristine spot on southern Egypt's Red Sea coast with crystal clearwaters and flat white sands, is the jewel of Egypt's Wadi el-Gemal National Park, home to one of the country's last untouched marine ecosystems. Today, the beach, a 90-minute drive from Marsa Alaminternational airport, and a fourhour drive from the huge, fast-growing resort of Hurghada, is closed off by a wooden fence, and campaigners are battling to halt its development with, according to the original plans, dozens of accommodation huts, a restaurant and a farm. Conservationists warn a fragile ecosystem supporting turtles, the coral reef, sea grasses and myriad species of fish is under threat and locals fear losing a precious natural resource forever. Fighting economic crisis, Egypt has been selling investment licenses in its national parks to developers in the hope of raising income. Projects vary in size and scope.