South Sinai Governorate
Sharm el-Sheikh attracted 10 million visitors in 2024 to dive 250 coral reef varieties—the SS Thistlegorm wreck is called "the most popular dive site in the world," making living reefs this economy's infrastructure.
South Sinai Governorate transformed Sharm el-Sheikh from fishing village to Egypt's premier resort destination—10 million visitors in 2024 alone. The city's waters feature 250 coral reef varieties and 1,000 fish species, making it the Red Sea's most popular dive destination and departure point for liveaboard safaris throughout the peninsula.
The diving infrastructure is substantial: 50+ hotels, 100+ dive centers, 20+ internationally recognized training facilities. Key sites include Ras Mohammed National Park—the world's second most northerly mangrove forest—and the SS Thistlegorm wreck, described as "the most popular dive site in the world" with its World War II cargo preserved underwater. The Straits of Tiran's four reef systems (Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas, Gordon) offer wall drop-offs with hammerhead shark encounters.
Infrastructure development accelerated through 2024: a 342-kilometer tunnel road connects Sharm to other major areas; ring road construction and dedicated cycling lanes promote low-carbon mobility. The combination of year-round sunshine, calm waters, and marine biodiversity creates competitive advantage that alternative destinations struggle to match.
South Sinai demonstrates tourism's ecological foundation: the coral reefs that attract divers represent living infrastructure requiring conservation investment. Climate change and diving pressure threaten reef health, creating the familiar heritage paradox where success degrades the attraction. Sustainable carrying capacity—not maximum throughput—determines long-term viability.