Sinai News

There is more to rumours we heard a couple of months ago. The issue of a 20 km long wall to be build around Sharm el Sheikh is in the world press.
The heart of Sharm el Sheikh, Naama Bay, was hit by three bombs in July 2005, killing more than 60 people. The result is that the Sharm resorts will be fenced allowing entrance to the city through only four electronically secured gates.

Apparently the tourist in Sharm will not feel any inconvenience, the airport lies inside the fenced territory. Already Sharm is a luxury tourist ghetto with millions of tourists visiting the more over 250 hotels every year, many of these are deluxe resorts with names like Four Season and the Ritz. Tourism is Egypt’s bread and butter. Many Egyptians are employed in the hospitality sector.
What impact will the virtual barrier then have on Egyptian people, since without doubt only a selection of local people will have access to the holiday resort?
What about those tourists who feel like to explore and experience the rest of Sinai like visiting the famous Colored Canyon or the beautiful desert oasis Ain Hudra, places like St. Catherine? Will they be discouraged from taking part in any excursions? Already the once famous Bedouin Dinner in Wadi Mandar is banned.
How does it feel to get out from a secluded and secure resort town into the “terrible wilderness” of the rest of Sinai?
Is this the price we have to pay for terrorism? Is this the new kind of tourism we have to expect in future?

Egypt has to secure tourists and investors alike. But would it not be wise to put the same amount of money to be spending on this wall into education and job opening opportunities, which would fight the source of terrorism: ignorance and misery?

On the other hand I personally don’t mind to see some of the tourists in a tourist ghetto for the safety of the Egyptian society. Unfortunately some are completely unaware that they are guests in a still conservative society.

Tourism is also a bridge between cultures. A dialogue between people makes cultural differences indifferent.
Let us hope for the future that both types of tourism are possible in Egypt. Sinai can be a paradise for tourists searching for western comfort and western manners in tropical scenery - and giving a choice for cultural interested and responsible tourists looking for the experience of nature and personal contact to local people. It is not likely that people who prosper from tourism will turn an open ear to the voice of terrorism. More likely is that both local people and tourists will learn from each other – and if it is only a comprehension for the differences in the other.

Last month the Marina in Taba Heights opened. The marina can host up to 50 yachts.
Already Jordanian and Egyptian tour operators are cooperating and offering a Petra Over Day excursion by boat. This is a superb opportunity for Sinai tourist to enjoy a trip to the red rose city of Petra, which is considered to be the 8th wonder of the world.
The city was built by the Nabateans, who were in fact nomads of unknown origin. The Nabateans are first mentioned in the 3rd century BC. 200 years later Petra started to prosper until the first century AD, when the last Nabatean king died and the city became a Roman outpost. The 8th century saw a major earthquake which destroyed Petra. Nomadic Bedouins were using the caves until 1985 when about 200 Bedouin families were relocated and Petra became a tourist attraction.

The boat takes less than one hour from Taba to Aqaba. From Aqaba a 2 hours drive leads to Petra. Here tourists can enjoy a 4 hours guided tour in Petra. After lunch they return to the Red Sea town of Aqaba for a sight seeing tour and shopping opportunities in the bazaars.

The Sinai – Jordan connection promises good business for both sides and a worthwhile opportunity for tourists to add a Petra visit to their beach vacation.

Here is an idea to spend a holiday doing something different. The only Camel Riding School in Nuweiba offers lectures and courses for groups. The camel naturally causes curiosity. At Habiba Village local Bedouins teach about the camel and its nature. Available are intro courses and a 3 day camel riding course with an in length dive into Bedouin culture and a great occasion to learn about the camel and the Sinai desert.
The more adventurous traveler might like to experience the real desert on camel back. Advanced camel treks can last from 3 to 10 days. Here the tourist takes part in the daily routine, collecting firewood, cooking on campfire and of course practice how to care for his camel under the guidance of the Bedouin.
Over the years the once nomadic Bedouins have more or less settled down. Lifestyle has changed completely. Bedouins are still on the tough road of adapting to this new way of life. The camel riding school presents a chance for Bedouins to earn from tourism providing their precious treasure, the ancient knowledge about survival in a hostile desert environment.

I am just back from an Iftar gathering. People of tourism businesses between Taba and Nuweiba came together and this time we also had our Jordanian colleagues coming over from Aqaba. The food was plenty and delicious in a very beautiful setting under the palm trees and the moon shining down on us. Usually we are all too busy and of course too lazy to socialize on a bigger scale. Ramadan offers a good occasion for socializing.

Waiting for Breakfast -

and finally we can eat.

We have decided to create a Sinai Blog to keep you updated with our news and events and let you take part in our daily life. Share with us - and of course we hope to see you here soon as our guest.

We are in Ramadan, so things are a bit slow these days. Ramadan has started on the 4th and will end in the beginning of November. Well, I am fasting, too. No food, no liquid, no cigarettes! It is easy, though it is still hot with temperatures in the 30s. Sunset is at 5.20 when we break the fasting with a delicious meal. Often we share the “Iftar”, the Ramadan breakfast, with friends.
Tourism is slow these days, too, so we had plenty of time to adjust to fasting and a change in diet and a new daily schedule.

With our best wishes
Your Sinai 4 You Team