Egypt kicks off 1st campaign to promote natural protectorates, eco-tourism

CAIRO – 25 September 2020: Ministry of Environment has launched, Friday, “Eco Egypt”, an unprecedented campaign to promote protected areas Egypt, raise awareness about environmental issues and the importance of preserving natural resources.

 

The campaign is launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and antiquities and the State Ministry of Information, and with the participation of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the project to integrate biodiversity into Egyptian tourism (MBDT) funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The launching ceremony took place in Ras Mohammed Protectorate in South Sinai governorate, in the presence of Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, Khaled Al-Anani, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Osama Heikal, State Minister of Information, Mohamed Manar Enaba, Minister of Civil Aviation, in addition to 30 ambassadors, consuls and representatives of foreign embassies in Egypt, in addition to public figures representatives of international media.

 

Yasmine Foad, Egypt’s Minister of Environment, stressed that the campaign opens new horizons for sustainable ecotourism in Egypt as one of the results of the Ministry of Environment's strategy to develop protected areas through developing the infrastructure and services provided to visitors in 13 protectorates across Egypt, with the integration of the local community.

The Minister of Environment pointed out to the political leadership’s support to the protected areas file, which helps in developing and managing them according to international systems to preserve them, maximize economic, social and cultural development, and preserve Egypt's biodiversity in a way that supports the environment and the national economy.

Osama Heikal, State Minister of Information, said during the event that this is a great opportunity to safely say that tourism does not contradict with environmental projects which can attract more tourists and benfit the economy and local communities.

Heikal added that this event is part of the government's tendancy towards collective work and large-scale collaboration, and that the State Ministry of Information is keen on cooperating with other ministries and entities at all times.

 

"We are working on simplifying the language of environmental topics in the media to reach all people in order to create the needed awareness about environmental issues and sustainable development," he pointed out.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Khaled Al-Anani, said that his ministry cooperates with the ministry of environment in many areas to revitalize tourism, which is one of the pillars of the national economy.

 

He added that his ministry encourages responsible and sustainable tourism aimed at preserving the environment.

Yasmine Foad explained that the “Eco Egypt” campaign comes within the activities of the “Go Green” presidential initiative to raise awareness about environmental issues, and provides a true model for sustainable development.

She added that ecotourism can help revive the national economy, especially in light of the repercussions of the Coronavirus pandemic, by maximizing the sustainable use of protectorates, raising awareness of their importance and the importance of large-scale participating in their protection by integrating the local community in cooperation with youth, the private sector and civil society.