Working in the Governorate of South Sinai involves sacrificing time, social life and peace of mind for the sake of the improvement and growth of our country.

Some people think that the Governorate is only Sharm El Sheikh, but the truth is that this improvement includes all cities in the Governorate like Dahab, Taba, Nweiba, Ras Sidr, Saint Catherine, Abuzneima and El Tour.
We have as well 83 bedouin villages and many valleys in the area, which are supplied with services and facilities like schools, medical centers, roads, and fresh water.

H2O: Can your Excellency please highlight for us the entire Governorate’s efforts to protect the marine and the land environment?

The Governorate, with all its many sections, gives special attention to the training of employees in the diving and marine activities field to upgrade their environmental awareness.
Moreover, we work in coordination and cooperation with the environmental affairs authority to renovate, replace and maintain all moorings at all dive sites in the Governorate. Environmental protection is a big responsibility that should be dealt with through coordination between the government, the investors and the NGOs for the sake of the coming generations.

H2O: During your leadership, the tourism industry growth increased tremendously. How was that accomplished in such a short period?

As mentioned before, establishing the infrastructure is the base of any growth for any industry. We now have a well-equipped international hospital as well as two new recompression chambers with the highest level of technology in the Middle East to serve the diving tourist. In addition, the cleaning of the coast, collecting garbage and getting rid of it in a scientific way are major tasks. We enlarged the international airport at Sharm El Sheikh and are building a new terminal to be opened by 2005 to serve the increased flow of tourists. The capacity of hotels rooms has increased from 29000 rooms in 2000 to 60000 rooms in 2004. It is important to mention that the Governorate of South Sinai brings to Egypt 45% of its tourism income.

H2O: What are the Governorate’s future projects?

We are studying a project to establish an international marina in Sharm El Sheikh to encourage incoming yachts to berth there. We are preparing to renovate and improve the Shark's Bay jetty. An international bone surgery hospital is now under construction in the Governorate.
We are also preparing a study about a taxi project to be operated with the latest wireless communication, to provide the best service that suits the quality tourist reputation of the city.

H2O: How is it that the Governorate has succeeded in increasing numbers of tourists to visit its cities several times during the past few years?

We do actually have a constant flow of visitors to all South Sinai cities because of the wide range of various tourism products. Everybody can feel the renovation and the improvement of all facilities and services. For example a week ago, the Governorate presented a medallion to a tourist who has spent all his vacations for the past 16 years in South Sinai.

H2O: Why did your Excellency encourage and support SSDM since it was seemingly such a small idea?

I am totally convinced of the importance of NGOs as well as the importance of grouping the pioneers of the diving and marine activities together. The idea to register the SSDM is mainly to push the development of the diving and marine activities tourism industry, upgrade the performance of the employees in this field and protect the environment.
I have also given instructions that all diving and marine activities centers should be members of SSDM to ensure its active role in cooperation with the Governorate and to guarantee a strong and positive association.

H2O: In your Excellency's point of view, what are the main factors that make the Governorate’s projects succeed?

The main factors of success are the insistence, the seriousness and the coordination of all concerned authorities and ministers. In addition, we follow-up by actually visiting all working fields to be up to date with all growth, in order to avoid mistakes and continuously improve performance.

H2O magazine presents your Excellency its utmost thanks and consideration and wishes your Excellency constant success.