Author: Zeyad Kenawi

Since the late 1960's South Sinai has been a popular tourist destination. Originally the untouched beaches fringed with palm tree's were a major draw for back packers and hippies. The coral reefs and the oldest tourist destination in South Sinai being Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery helped South Sinai to become a popular place for holidays. Since the developments of the resorts in Sharm El Sheikh since the mid 1990's, Sharm El Sheikh has become the most popular and populated tourist resort in South Sinai. Sharm El Sheikh Airport receives around 5 million visitors per year (2011 figures which was a decrease of over 35% on 2010 visitor numbers, pre-revolution). The beach resorts of Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba have also become much more developed in recent years however since the 2011 revolution visitor numbers to these resorts has decreased substantially. Ras Sudr is also a tourist resort area on the western coast of Sinai which has also become affected by the general reduction in tourist numbers. Today the number of visitors to South Sinai is increasing on 2011 figures, however due to unrest particularly in North Sinai and the general problems throughout Egypt  and businesses including tourist hotels, cafe and other related services are still finding it difficult to make ends meet. However recent kidnappings and small incidents have become much published by the media and this continues to put a bad light on the region.  It is still very safe in South Sinai for tourists, despite these problems, especially comparing to other tourist destinations worldwide St Catherine's has been particularly badly effected by the reduction in tourist numbers. Recent warnings from embassies have lead to much fewer visitors to the town, which despite it being the land of Moses and Mount Sinai, people have become more afraid to