Scubareefing
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JEDDAH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), on Tuesday announced the launch of an international tourism project in the Kingdom called The Red Sea.
Envisioned as a resort built across a lagoon of 50 untouched islands, The Red Sea will be situated in one of the world’s last natural hidden treasures, between the cities of Umlaj and Al-Wajh. It will be developed in partnership with the world’s leading hospitality firms.
Situated just a few kilometers from one of the most diverse Saudi nature reserves and captivating dormant volcanoes in Harrat Al-Rahat, the resort promises to be a blissful coastal island retreat set against a backdrop of the ancient ruins at Mada’in Saleh, renowned for its beauty and historical significance.
Visitors will be able to explore hidden treasures, including a nature reserve that boasts a stunning diversity of flora and fauna at the foothills of the dormant volcano nearby.
An array of marine-oriented resort developments will allow for unparalleled scuba diving among stunning coral reefs. The project will form an archipelago that is home to environmentally protected coral reefs, mangroves and several endangered marine species, including the hawksbill sea turtle.
| A Diver | This is great news, although, unfortunately I won't be here to see it. But if hotels and resorts are allowed to build indiscriminately on these islands there will be nothing left to see. You only have to look at the reefs along the shoreline from the south of Jeddah to Yanbu to see the shocking destruction of such a truly beautiful and irreplaceable resource. Not only hotels and resorts have destroyed whole sections of a once pristine reef, but private owners of houses along the shore have done even more to destroy this magical place. Most of these owners dug out whole sections of reef to allow an entrance for boats which are never used, or built concrete structures on top of the reef. Most of these houses are also rarely used, stopping ordinary people from using what should be free for everyone. Then there is the disgusting litter that is just thrown into the sea. There is one area which is covered from 10 m. to 30 m. in plastic tables and chairs and another which is covered in old tiles, cables and chunks of concrete. How could a responsible person allow this to happen?! It should be a criminal act to do these things. There must be very strict laws to stop people from destroying now the northern part of the coastline. Remember that these things don't just impact Saudi Arabia but the sea all over the world. |
| Enda O'Brien | Perhaps this will be another case of "if we build it, they will come" tourist project, but it could just as easily end up as a wasteful Ozymandian "white elephant" instead. I can't see too many international tourists being attracted to a place where getting a visa is awkward and expensive, where women cannot move or dress freely, and where you can't even enjoy a beer at the end of a hot day. If these islands, reefs, volcanoes, etc. are intrinsically interesting and appealing, toursim to them would develop organically, and the government would only have to provide some basic access facilities (i.e., roads, airport, harbours), and enough nature park management to protect the amenity. |
JEDDAH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), on Tuesday announced the launch of an international tourism project in the Kingdom called The Red Sea.
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