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Egypt unveils new model to balance conservation and tourism at Nabq Nature Reserve
The proposal would establish a single entity to oversee tourism, conservation, investment and community development.
Egypt is developing a new management model for the Nabq Nature Reserve in South Sinai that aims to balance environmental conservation with sustainable tourism investment through closer public-private collaboration, Environment Minister Manal Awad said.
Awad chaired a meeting with the Green Sharm project team and representatives of a private investment company to review the proposed Nabq Integrated Investment and Tourism Management Model, which could later be expanded to other protected areas across Egypt.
According to the minister, the initiative is designed to address existing management challenges by creating an integrated destination management system that combines ecosystem protection, community participation, and responsible private-sector investment.
She described Nabq as an ideal location for the model because of its unique marine and desert ecosystems, mangrove forests, coral reefs, and rich biodiversity.
The proposal would shift the reserve from a traditional, conservation-focused approach to an integrated management system that generates long-term economic and social value while preserving its natural assets.
Under the proposal, a single destination management entity would oversee tourism, environmental protection, investment, and community development through a unified strategy.
The Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) would retain responsibility for environmental regulation, licensing, and investment approvals while giving private operators greater flexibility to manage tourism activities.
The model also aims to increase local communities’ participation by integrating them into tourism value chains, creating sustainable employment opportunities, and ensuring they benefit directly from ecotourism development.
Officials also reviewed a three-phase implementation plan. The first phase would focus on institutional development, infrastructure upgrades, and quick-impact projects, including eco-lodges, visitor facilities, and guided nature tours, during the first two years.
The second phase would focus on attracting larger investments and expanding community development programs, while the final phase aims to achieve financial sustainability and establish Nabq as an internationally recognized ecotourism destination.
Awad said the model is expected to provide sustainable funding for conservation efforts, promote lower-carbon tourism, create jobs, improve local livelihoods, and diversify Egypt’s tourism sector.
She added that it could serve as a blueprint for other protected areas, supporting the development of a national network that combines biodiversity conservation with sustainable economic growth.
The minister also called for completing the legal framework governing the model, introducing a digital platform to monitor environmental and financial performance, and developing a unified international brand to promote Egypt’s ecotourism destinations.
