The Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety has mandated that each diving safari yacht be staffed with six certified crew members.

However, the sector grapples with a severe lack of qualified workers, threatening operations continuity.

Workers revealed that over 1,200 qualified personnel are needed to support more than 200 safari yachts and 2,000 marine activity boats in the Red Sea.

Currently, only 88 individuals have the necessary qualifications, which risks halting several marine activities and jeopardising jobs within the industry.

Lack of training
 

Workers further emphasized the lack of access to training programmes.

Despite years of practical experience, many workers struggle to meet licensing requirements because the authority has not conducted qualifying courses since 2023.

They expressed frustration that previous agreements with the authority, dating back to 2007, to establish tailored training mechanisms for the sector have yet to be implemented effectively.

In addition, they highlighted that the current qualification standards are deemed incompatible with the unique operational nature of the Red Sea and South Sinai regions, further complicating compliance for seasoned workers.

Thus, they urged the authority to revise the qualification criteria to better align with these operational realities.

Furthermore, they recommended collaboration between the authority and private sector companies to expedite training processes and address the labour shortage.

Consequences
 

Meanwhile, companies face mounting difficulties in fulfilling their commitments to travel agents and tourists, and the shortage of skilled workers adversely affects the quality of services provided during diving and safari trips.

Consequently, the sector risks incurring substantial financial losses, including potential compensation claims from dissatisfied tourists.

Some industry representatives warned that failing to meet legal requirements could result in reduced operations or a complete activity halt.

This crisis can pose a significant threat to Egypt's safari diving tourism, a vital sector for the country's economy, which attracts thousands of tourists annually from around the globe.