Environment Committee
Ecotourism in Egypt View Presentation
The Environment and Travel & Tourism committees co-hosted Mostafa Saleh, vice president for environment & natural resources at Environmental Quality International (EQI), on May 9, to discuss “Ecotourism development in Egypt: opportunities and constraints”.
Saleh said Egypt’s tourism strategy has become more enviro-friendly and sustainable over the past decade. In the 1990s, he said, Egypt ran the risk of becoming a low-cost, mass-tourist destination with the Red Sea coastline and other tourist areas at risk of becoming overdeveloped. In response, however, the tourism industry began exploring alternative forms of tourism that were more sensitive to the environment and local culture, and could also turn Egypt into a high-value travel destination. An emphasis was placed on social responsibility, he explained.
Saleh advised that tourism should stimulate the local economy, reinforce cultural exchange, and safeguard natural and historical assets. He said private investors should ensure their projects are community-based and involve the local population. They should also encourage small business growth, and help link these businesses with the global marketplace.
It is the government’s responsibility to provide basic infrastructure, such as water management and solid waste management, and upgrade any existing public services and facilities in the area in collaboration with the private sector, Saleh noted. The government also needs to develop and enforce conservation measures for natural and cultural attractions.
He concluded by highlighting EQI’s ecotourism initiative in Siwa Oasis – an example of enviro-friendly sustainable development. With the help of locals, ecolodges were built using locally available natural materials. Walls and floors were built of salt, rock and mud; roofs were constructed from palm tree trunks; swimming pools were crafted from natural springs; and furniture was also fashioned from natural materials. The resort operates without electricity, using only candles and oil lamps for lighting.
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