Abu Galum, Egypt | Government is Analysing a Sustainable Development Plan for the Blue Hole Dive Site

The Egyptian Government is analysing a comprehensive, sustainable development plan for the Blue Hole dive site, located within the Abu Galum Protected Area, a stunning 400 - square - kilometres nature reserve on the southeastern coast of the Sinai Peninsula, just north of Dahab, famous for its dramatic contrast between rugged granite mountains and the turquoise Gulf of Aqaba,  while safeguarding its fragile marine ecosystem as reported by Daily News Egypt, replying to the Ministry of Local Development and Environment. 

The Blue Hole, is an iconic, 130 - metre - deep limestone sinkhole which attracts more than 110.000 visitors a year for scuba diving, freediving, and snorkelling.

 World – renowned for its stunning clarity and steep drop - offs, the Blue Hole features “the Saddle”,a shallow, sunlit coral reef opening at just 6 metres deep that allows snorkellers and recreational divers to easily enter the main basin, and the “Arch”, a notorious 26 - metres tunnel situated at roughly 55 metres deep, connecting the inside of the sinkhole to the open, deep Red Sea.  

Despite its extreme depths, the surrounding coral walls and rims are teeming with vibrant tropical fish, barracudas, and colourful coral gardens. The site’s immense depth directly on the shorelines makes it a prime global location for freediving training and record attempts.  

Egypt's Minister Awad reviewed the proposal during a meeting with officials from the Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE) and representatives of an environmental consultancy. 

The official described the Blue Hole as one of Egypt’s most valuable natural assets and one of the world’s top diving destinations, stressing that protecting the site while promoting sustainable tourism remains a national priority.  

Participants consultants noted that the area is home to more than 300 species of coral and serves as an important scientific reference site for marine research, as well as playing a significant role in supporting local livelihoods and employment opportunities in South Sinai.  

The proposed plan is based on four main pillars: 

•    Reorganizing the Blue Hole area and protecting environmentally sensitive areas. 
•    Improving visitor facilities. 
•    Regulating marine activities. 
•    Strengthening the site’s management and monitoring systems. 

The strategy also seeks to alleviate tourist pressure on the Blue Hole by developing alternative attractions within the Abu Galum Protected Area and introducing management measures for the nearby Canyon dive site. 

Link 
https://tvbrics.com/es/news/egipto-estudia-un-plan-de-desarrollo-sostenible-para-el-sitio-de-buceo-del-agujero-azul/

Barahona, the Dominican Republic | Inaugurated a Key Highway to Boost Tourism and Local Trade in the Southwestern Region

President Luis Abinader inaugurated on May 29, 2026 a key highway in the Dominican Republic to boost tourism and local trade by significantly improving connectivity and reducing travel times in the southwestern region, concretely in Barahona Province,  known as “Pearl of the South”, a land that offers a stunning blend of untouched coastal beauty highlighted by spectacular cliffside drives,  rugged, mountainous terrain, ideal for ecotourism, unique freshwater rivers flowing directly into the ocean, diverse national parks, and exclusive larimar gemstone mines.

The “Carretera Enriquillo - El Higüero” highway is a 13.5 - kilometres paved road built by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) that will connect several communities in the south of Barahona and benefit more than 300.000 inhabitants of the southwestern region.

The work connecting the communities of Arroyo Dulce, Cuatro Bocas, El Higüero, El Naranjal, as well as other rural areas of Barahona province, facilitates access to health and transportation services according to the MOPC.

This stretch is a crucial component of a larger 52 - kilometre circuit designed to create faster and safer routes between communities of Barahona city, Bahoruco, Enriquillo, Oviedo, Paraíso, Pedernales, and Polo functioning as an highly efficient, parallel and alternative route for accessing to Barahona and Pedernales helping tourists and locals alike reduce fuel consumption and travel times.

All that was highlighted by the Minister of Public Works, Eduardo Estrella during the ceremony of inauguration of the highway. The official pointed out that the the “Carretera Enriquillo - El Higüero” will reduce travel times and transportation costs for residents and producers in the area.

In addition, the Minister reported that the Inter - American Development Bank (IDB) supports several infrastructure projects executed by Public Works in the Dominican Republic, and announced that in the coming weeks it will begin a program to build bridges in different provinces of the country.

The Minister also announced that the Luperón tunnel in Santo Domingo will soon be inaugurated, a work that seeks to reduce traffic congestion and improve access from the southern provinces to the capital.

Link

https://www.arecoa.com/destinos/2026/06/01/abinader-inaugura-carretera-clave-para-impulsar-el-turismo-en-la-region-sur/

Montevideo, Uruguay | Announced an Ambitious Renovation Plan for The National Library of Uruguay with an Investment of $20 Million

The Uruguayan government announced an ambitious renovation plan to rescue and modernize the “Biblioteca Nacional de Uruguay”, the National Library (BNU) located at Avenida 18 de Julio 1790, close to the famous Feria de Tristán Narvaia and the Mirador Panorámico in the beating heart of the capital of the country Montevideo, created in 1815, and representing the legal deposit and copyright library for the nation. 

The project targets three main areas:  heritage preservation, public accessibility and territorial outreach, with an expected investment of $20 million allocated for infrastructure, and up to $10 million for the implementation of a new management model and cultural services, according to Diario La Red, a news agency and digital portal based in Montevideo.

The initiative, called “Biblioteca del Futuro” (Library of the Future), was announced by authorities from the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC), the Office of Planning and Budget (OPP) and the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MTOP).  

Minister José Carlos Mahía highlighted the work done during the last year to recover and strengthen the institution, assuring that the “Biblioteca Nacional de Uruguay” is in better conditions than when this Administration took office. 

The first phase of the project, which will require an investment of close to $6 million investment, will be focused on the recovery and adaptation of strategic areas of the emblematic building, inaugurated in 1964 and declared a National Historic Monument in 1996, focusing on emergency facility repairs, expanding user services, and updating the main façade. 

The works will include the intervention of the newspaper depository, the expansion of accesses and service area, as well as works on the façade and on the Emilio Frugoni passage. 

The “Biblioteca del Futuro” program is structured in three main dimensions:

The Patrimonial Dimension:  Aimed at improving the conservation of the documentary collection. The plan focuses on modernising underground storage deposits to protect the library’s most sensitive treasures, notably the 210 - year - old press collection and heavily prioritising the digitization s vast historical catalogues.

The Public Dimension: The project focuses on the creation of more appropriate spaces for users transforming the building’s layout to be more accessible. It integrates a cineclub, implements AI - driven tools, and connects the library directly to the public through a new access point at Callejón Emilio Frugoni, near the Universidad de la República to make the space a daily study area for students.

The territorial dimension, The purpose is to strengthen the national public libraries beyond Montevideo by establishing a modernised, cooperative network, transforming and connecting 110 public libraries across the country.

Link 

https://tvbrics.com/es/news/biblioteca-nacional-de-uruguay-inicia-plan-de-reformas-con-una-inversi-n-de-20-millones-de-d-lares/

Abu Dhabi, UAE | Expanding its Green Spaces by Planting 5000 Trees During this Year as Part of its Urban Reforestation Plan

Abu Dhabi, the vibrant capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), located off the mainland on an island in the Arabian Gulf,  a centre with a strong focus on oil exports, finance, services and commerce, highlighted by the skyline’s modern towers and shopping megacentres is expanding its green spaces by planting 5000 trees during this year, as part of its urban reforestation plan.

 The Abu Dhabi City Municipality is planting this big amount of trees across walkways, cycling tracks, running paths, trails, and urban corridors on Abu Dhabi Island and the mainland as part of its pedestrian pathway reforestation project according to information from Emirates News Agency (WAM), an initiative that follows an initial phase that successfully planted over 2000 trees in 2025.

Most of Abu Dhabi island’s corridors and trails have already been included in previous afforestation projects, and work is currently being completed on sites that require additional planting, covering some 24 linear kilometres along streets and public parks.

The tree are being placed across 21 locations on Abu Dhabi Island, with approximately 1.800 planted here and another 3.200 planted across the mainland.

Abu Dhabi Municipality is utilising climate - resilient and native species, primarily focusing on the revered Ghaf tree or Prosopia cineraria , along with other carefully selected species such as Cassia, Reem, Poinciana, Pongamia, Flamboyan, Ficus and select fruit trees.

The project aims to provide natural shade, lower ambient temperatures, improve air quality, reduce noise and dust pollution, supporting biodiversity, and foster a healthier, more comfortable environment for residents and visitors, as well as enhancing the overall aesthetics of the city, in line with the emirate’s vision on improving quality of life and  achieving environmental sustainability through the development of green infrastructure. 

Engineer Majed Abdul Al Khatiri, Executive Director of the Operations and Maintenance Sector of the Abu Dhabi Municipality, said that this project reflects the City’s commitment  to the development of sustainable urban infrastructure focused on improving the quality of life.

Link

https://tvbrics.com/es/news/abu-dabi-proyecta-plantar-5000-rboles-en-su-plan-de-reforestaci-n-urbana-en-2026/