Ras Sidr: Egypt’s Rising Star in Sinai
BY MIRA HAMAMA
![Kite surfing is one of the main attractions in Ras Sidr [Moustafa Mounir]](http://www.auccaravan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/kites-copy-e1431330753882.jpg)
[Moustafa Mounir]
Known for its turquoise waters and sandy beaches, Ras Sidr – one of the many holiday areas in Egypt – has been steadily growing in popularity.
It boasts one of the best locations for wind surfing and water sports in Egypt.
This charming little Egyptian town, which is part of the South Sinai Governorate, is located 200 kilometers west of Cairo on the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea coast.
Tourism industry experts say it could be central to the Egypt’s future development initiatives.
Hisham Zaazou, the minister of tourism from 2012 until March 2015, said that Ras Sidr is a sub-destination that has the potential of becoming as popular as Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Allam.
Zaazou says that tourism can take off in a certain region provided that the Three A’s of tourism – accessibility, affordability and attraction – are met.
“Ras Sidr is a beautiful place and could be marketed as the best location for wind surfing and water sports in Egypt – and one of the best in the world – but it is missing two things: accessibility and high quality assistance,” said Zaazou.
Ras Sidr, as well as other less- known local touristic areas such as Dahab, Castle Zaman, and Ras Shetan, could be marketed more like Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada once these areas put in place the right infrastructure to attract tourism and enable accessibility for international traffic by having an airport built close by.
According to Zaazou, most of the people who currently visit Ras Sidr are either Egyptians or expats living in Egypt; very few international tourists tend to visit the town.
“Only few [international tourists] will go to domestic areas with no airports – the adventurous ones, those who love things out of the weekend track, these are the kind of people who would go to sub- destinations,” said Zaazou
Zaazou stressed that as soon as an airport is built in or near Ras Sidr, its accessibility will allow foreigners from all over the world to visit and experience its unique beauty.
The former minister of tourism also mentioned that Ras Sidr currently lacks hotels, investments, resorts, restaurants, a downtown area, and nightlife.
The lack of these facilities and initiatives severely limits Ras Sidr’s marketability because currently, there is little more to do than water activities and fishing.
“Historically speaking, Hurghada, Marsa Allam, and Sharm el Sheikh started like Ras Sidr. Once they ensured tourist destinations with airports, they started inviting investors and started doing promotion campaigns for attraction and that’s how it worked,” said Zaazou.
General Manager of travel agency Flash Tours Mourad Guindi acknowledged that the fear of terrorism has adversely affected tourism in the Sinai.
“Our customers who go to Ras Sidr are mostly Germans who go to kite surf, but the number of tourists decreased recently due to the worries in Sinai,” Guindi said.
However, he also believes that building an airport nearby could boost tourism to Ras Sidr and other untapped sites in Sinai.
AUC business alumna Caroline Berzi is a Ras Sidr regular.
She has been going to the picturesque town for the past four years, and has become a professional kite surfer.
“RasSidrisalotoffun.Itis not about competition and being the best kite surfer. It is about being free from all electronic devices, free from anxiety and stress caused by our difficult life in Cairo, free to go the direction and speed you want,” said Berzi.
“It is a perfect getaway from Cairo’s claustrophobia. The atmosphere in Ras Sidr is very positive with lots of activities even when the wind drops… you can go kayaking or just chill with locals,” she continued.
What makes Ras Sidr different than more popular destinations such as Gouna and Sharm el Sheikh is the fact that it is not too developed yet.
Berzi says the town has an authentic Bedouin charm to it that’s hard to come by anywhere else.
“I love going there … I don’t feel like I have any social commitments, I wake up very early with the sound of the wind, head to the beach, pump my kite, stay in the water till sunset, then meet my friends for dinner,” said Berzi.
Berzi believes that Ras Sidr is a great potential investment for Egyptian businesses. She says Ras Sidr’s majestic scenery contributes greatly to its appeal.
With already built compounds such as Paradise, La Hacienda, and Concorde, a number of people have already started investing in the area’s beauty.
“The government is already developing and enlarging the Cairo-Suez road as well as the road that leads to Ras Sidr – which will be a two way road instead of the one way that we have,” added Berzi.
Zaazou, Guindi, and Berzi agree that Ras Sidr – and other domestic tourist destinations such as Dahab – will one day be vastly marketed, and appeal to tourists who like a change from the 5-Star experience.
Ras Sidr, with its currently available activities and development plans, has the potential to be the cornerstone of future domestic tourism in Egypt.
