الفهرس 
NTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Egypt is richly endowed with some of the world’s most remarkable ancient monuments and historical treasures which attract large numbers of international visitors. Less well known but equally valuable is Egypt’s natural heritage. The variety and quality of the country’s natural areas are fascinating and 30 of the most outstanding areas which cover 15% of Egypt’s territory have been protected. Tourism is a highly important industry in Egypt, and the growth of ecotourism, offers an opportunity to diversify the tourism base.
Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Egyptian economy. Tourism growth and related investment are expected to continue at an especially rapid pace at numerous natural destinations in Egypt. Such as: Sinai, the Gulf Of Aqaba Coast, the Red Sea and the Western Desert and its oases. However, this rapid growth of tourism, in many instances, threatens the very attractions for which Egypt is famous. Uncontrolled tourism development and unregulated irresponsible tourism activities, pollution from urban and rural and industrial sources and improper disposal of solid waste are among the major factors threatening the quality of the natural environment.
Tourism in Egypt cannot be sustained unless the present rate of deterioration of the natural and cultural resources is arrested. Tourism is an important sector of the Egyptian economy with the potential for rapid growth and job creation. However, its growth must be in an environmentally sustainable manner: a sustainable tourism development (i.e. ecological, socio-cultural and economic sustainability).
Egypt’s protected areas are considered as prime ecotourism destinations and hold tremendous ecotourism potential, based on a rich and biodiverse marine, terrestrial and linked coastal ecosystems, as well as high altitude mountains, deserts and oases; in addition to the existing socio-cultural and archeological and religious features. Hence the growth of ecotourism offers an opportunity to diversify the tourism base.
“Ecotourism” is recognized as sustainable nature based tourism that involves interpretation of the natural and cultural environment and ecologically sustainable management of natural areas. The term “Ecolodge” is an industry label used to identify a nature-dependent tourism lodge that meets the philosophy of ecotourism and is consequently sustainable.
Ecolodge Development is now a newly growing sector of the tourism industry. Ecotourism is already developing rapidly in Egypt: it offers excellent potential to generate foreign exchange, private sector investment, employment, local community involvement and development, maintain and respect cultural identity and other economical and social benefits. It provides as well an incentive for the conservation and wise management and protection of natural resources.
Hence, the thesis demonstrates: Ecotourism Facilities and Ecolodges in Natural Ecotourism Destinations, in Protected Areas, in Egypt as a Sustainable Tourism Development and an Application of Sustainable Design Principles: The Ecolodge as a Sustainable Tourism Development Model in Egypt.
The research demonstrates that the ecolodge development is a Sustainable Environmentally Friendly Nature Based Tourism Development that applies the guiding principles of sustainable design and conserves and protects and maintains the natural resources on which ecotourism is based: the beautiful, unique, biodiverse, yet fragile environments in Egypt. It also benefits local communities, preserves the Vernacular Architecture and the Built Cultural Heritage, respects the local communities traditions, customs and values and their indigenous knowledge of their environment and sustainable use of natural resources, and it involves them in Sustainable Development activities in their environments according to their traditional way of life and traditional activities.
The Protected Areas of Egypt lie in different geographical locations; different ecozones, natural environments, habitats and ecosystems; Bioclimatic Design Regions and have different local communities; different Vernacular Architecture and Built Cultural Heritage that all inspire a different site –specific style of Ecolodge Development. Each location has its own determinants (potential / constraints). This research studies and analyzes in a case study: Al Karm Ecolodge, in Saint Katherine Protected Area, South Sinai, as a Sustainable Tourism Development Model inside a Protected Area, in Egypt. The research is part theoretical and part applied case study.
Other issues discussed in this research is the development of the local community and how to ensure that they are involved in ecotourism and ecolodge activities, while at the same time conserving their cultural and natural heritage. The research also sheds light on the fact that environmental awareness and interpretation of the natural environment are both integral elements of ecotourism and ecolodge activities.
The research discusses Ecotourism and Ecolodges in the Egyptian Context. It also reviews sustainability issues, sustainable development and sustainable tourism development. It describes Egypt’s Protected Areas Network and the potential of Ecotourism in Egypt; the Ecozones and the Bioclimatic Design Regions; the local communities in Egypt’s Protected Areas and the Local Vernacular Architecture; the role and benefits of Protected Areas and the relationship between Protected Areas, Nature conservation and Sustainable Development.
The research discusses the concepts, criteria and characteristics of ecotourism and the relationship between ecotourism, tourism and the environment. It also reviews ecotourism development around the world and the relationship between protected areas and ecotourism. It discusses briefly the negative impacts of mass tourism development (Direct and Indirect Tourism Impacts on Natural Resources) and proposes an alternative sustainable tourism development option: Ecolodges at ecotourism destinations in Egypt. It also discusses the concepts, criteria and characteristics of ecolodges and sustainable development and sustainable tourism development. It outlines the link between ecotourism, ecolodges and sustainable development and sustainable tourism development. It also reviews the principles of Sustainability in Tourism and the contribution of Ecotourism and Ecolodges to Sustainable Development.
The research outlines the theoretical aspects of Sustainable Design Guiding Principles for Ecolodges and describes the relationship between ecolodges and sustainable tourism development and how the concept of sustainable tourism development is applied through Sustainable Design. It reviews the following issues regarding ecolodges: Natural Resources Conservation; Cultural Resources Preservation; Interpretation of the Natural Environment; Sustainable Site Design; Sustainable Building Design (including sustainable building materials, sustainable building technologies and the Ecolodge Architecture and its relation to Vernacular Architecture and the Built Cultural Heritage); Sustainable Construction Process; Sustainable Water Supply Options and Management; Sustainable Energy Sources and Management; Solid Waste Management; Local Community Involvement and Development; Sustainable Landscaping; Environmental Awareness and Education; and Operation and Management.
In the case study, the Applied Part of the research, Al Karm Ecolodge is demonstrated as a Sustainable Tourism Development Model in Saint Katherine Protected Area, South Sinai, Egypt; in addition to a presentation of Saint Katherine Protected Area as a Sustainable Development Model in Egypt. Detailed site visits and field reports with extensive photographic coverage, presentation, description, analysis and synthesis with recommendations and discussion of Al Karm Ecolodge as a Sustainable Tourism Development Model in Saint Katherine Protected Area, South Sinai, Egypt.
The research discusses this alternative Sustainable Tourism Development option in Saint Katherine Protected Area, South Sinai, that is environmentally and culturally sensitive and economically viable. It reviews the experience of developing an ecolodge through the adaptive reuse of an abandoned Bedouin mountain settlement in SKPA, and restoring it and renovating it and turning it into a Bedouin owned and managed ecolodge: Al Karm Ecolodge. It has focused on the use of local and eco-friendly materials; local building techniques and “eco-techniques”, soft sustainable low-tech options so as to minimize environmental impacts and save water and energy, as well as solid waste management techniques and waste water management and reuse. The site planning and building design correspond to the Bioclimatic Design Recommendations in the upland climate, while the architecture is the actual Vernacular Architecture of South Sinai Mountains Bedouins. It has also contributed to the conservation of the natural environment, the preservation of the local cultural identity, the built cultural heritage and sustainable development.
In the Conclusion and Recommendations, the research outlines that Ecolodge Design in different Protected Areas, although they follow the General Sustainable Design Recommendations; however it is a site-by site applied approach. Each protected area and natural area lies in a different Bioclimatic Design Region, a different ecozone (natural environment, habitat and associated ecosystem), has different local communities with their own values, customs and traditional way of life; as well as a different Vernacular Architecture and Built Cultural Heritage, which all inspire a different style of ecolodge development for each Protected Area. Each location has its own site determinants: potential and constraints.
The research therefore proposes Ecolodges as a model of a Sustainable Tourism Development which promotes conservation of natural and cultural resources so that Egypt can enjoy the economic and social benefits of tourism over the long term. A Sustainable Tourism Development will set a national example for protecting environmental quality and maintaining cultural authenticity while at the same time realizing / achieving economic benefits for local areas and local communities and enhancing resource conservation. Sustainable Tourism evelopment follows a process that allows development to take place without degrading or depleting the resources which make tourism possible. The research concentrates on demonstrating that the concept of sustainability and sustainable development is applied through sustainable design principles.
It sets General Sustainable Design Guiding Principles for Ecolodges and Ecotourism Facilities in Protected Areas, and acts a general guide to ecolodge development in Egypt, while applying these guidelines to Al Karm Ecolodge in Saint Katherine Protected Area to outline the specifity and uniqueness of each protected Area, which should be taken into consideration while implementing Ecolodges in other Protected Areas.
Many of Egypt’s natural areas are undergoing rapid change, as they are the subject of intensive development plans, and are already undergoing extensive massive touristic development, that is beyond the carrying capacity of these beautiful yet sensitive and fragile environments. If uncontrolled mass tourism is allowed to continue overrunning many areas of natural and cultural significance. Irreversible damage will occur in these areas, which are the repositories of biological and cultural diversity in the planet as well as important sources of income and well being for all countries. It is then, a matter of global interest to foster the symbiotic relationship between tourism and natural areas.
Hence this research is written within the context of Sustainable Tourism Development. As degradation and destruction of environmental systems and natural resources are now assuming massive proportions all over the world, national areas of fragile beauty and immense value merits protection and conservation.
Sustainable tourism development includes three principles which are the three pillars of Sustainable Development: (i) Ecological Sustainability: i.e. Development is compatible with the maintenance of ecological processes, biological diversity and natural resources; (ii) Cultural Sustainability: i.e. Development involves of local communities in the development of their homelands and is compatible with their cultural values and customs, and maintains and strengthens community identity; (iii) Economic Sustainability: i.e. Development is economically efficient and resources are managed so they can support future generations
This research demonstrates that Ecotourism can be an economically viable alternative for attracting tourism revenue without compromising local community values or degrading the environment. This paper also shows that as ecotourism continues to establish itself in the global economy, and as demand increases for well planned environmentally sound lodging facilities, Ecolodges are the answer to this demand.