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Since garb shel is a unique village, , it is of utmost importance that the main cultural and natural ecosystems found in garb sehel be conserved for posterity. The conservation efforts will have to be carried out in harmony with a sustainable development framework, which should provide improvement in the living standards of the local populations.
Due to the high vulnerability of Nubian villages, both natural and cultural, any tourism development to take place should be on an ecotouristic nature. No massive tourism activities should be allowed garb sehel, since they would irreversibly damage the fragile natural and human environment. If managed correctly, ecotourism activities should bring many benefits, not only on behalf of the conservation of the village’s’ culture but also in favour of the local inhabitants. Community based ecotourism should also provide important political benefits to Egypt, improving the national image abroad and also generating a constant flux of foreign exchange to the country. It should also provide many opportunities for carrying out good business for the tourism industry and generating many new jobs. It must not be forgotten that any tourism activity, including ecotourism, is a business, and successful operation leading to profit should be sought. A tourism venture associated to a protected area that loses money and fails to produce endurable socio-economic benefits for the locality and the tourism industry, will simply cause more problems for the protected area than already exist.
Sine community based ecotourism is a new phenomenon of complex and interdisciplinary nature, it is very important to develop a strategy for its sound development in the gharb sehel village.
-Conserving the natural and cultural environment,
-Enhancing the quality of life of the resident community,
-Providing a high-quality ecotourism product, which will achieve a world class reputation.
-Producing tangible and intangible benefits to the country of Egypt, as regards gencrating foreign exchang, good business for tourism-related activities and generating new jobs.
Following are the main elements that constitue the community based ecotourism strategy for the Gharb sehel village. Each one of these elements indentifies an issue, a specific recommended action, and a “how-to” approach.
1) promotion of ecotourism culture
Issue: In general, and because of the high ecotourism potential of Egypt, it is now recognized that community based ecotourism development can become an important factor in the sustainable development of the country, providing additional foreign exchange and new jobs, as well as a vital instrument for conservation and rural development. However, since ecotourism is a relatively recent phenomenon. It is still not widely known or understood in Egypt and in Nubia.
Action recommended: A true ecotourism culture has to spread out amongst the different sectors of Egypt society, including Nubian villages, so that all key players are properly involved and benfited from the process, An intensive and extensive training and capacity building programmed is required. Community based ecotourism must be positioned so as to playa key role in the future development of Gharb Sehel and if carried out appropriately, will contribute in attracting considerable foreign exchange to Egypt, sustainable development options for the local population, profitable business for the tourism industry, as well as a very attractive and positive international image to the country.
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How: By carrying out an intensive ecotourism promotional and training programmer, including workshops, courses, and seminars at different levels and among the different sectors (locally and nationally), as well as developing advertisements, publications, TV programmes. The Ministry of Tourism and, together with the private tourism sector all has an important role to play in this field. Also, the local tourism office in Aswan nust be strengthened, so as to actively participate in future ecotourism training activities, raising ecotourism and environmental awareness amongst the local populations, and a practical knowledge of ecotourism operation. Local guides must be trained and licensed.
Already a number of ecotourism training courses have been carried out both in the Aswan mainland and in Garb Sehel village by this consultant (within the framework of this Aswan Governorate Project and also within the work carried out for the World Tourism Organization and Tourism Development Authority TDA). This training programme should continue uninterruptedly at least over the next three or four years, addressed to the different stakeholders in the ecotourism process.
2) Averting threats of mass tourism
Issue: Due to the vulnerability and uniqueness of the landscape, Nile view, and cultural traditions of Gharb Sehel, it is quite clear that if the model of tourism to be followed is not based on a sustainable model (mainly ecotourism), it will be difficult to avoid the temptation of mass tourism practices which would undoubtedly destroy the rich and singular natural and cultural heritage, which is very fragile.
It would be regrettable that through thoughtless, greed-oriented mass tourism the unique character of Gharb Sehel be ruined forever. Also, it has been seen around the world that mass tourism normally does not benefit the local populations (on the contrary, they have frequently had to migrate elsewhere, since they find few job options and the cost of living usually rises dramatically). Mass tourism usually sees local populations as a hindrance and finds ways of displacing them. Also, traditional tourism would nost certainly provoke a clash with traditional Islamic values.
Action recommended: The model of ecotourism has to be urgently implemented in the Gharb Sehel, as a viable tool for conservation and sustainable development, to counter any initiatives towards mass tourism. The economic viability aspects are a key consideration and should be diligently analysed. Ecotourism should not be seen as a means for stopping development. People have the right to develop, and ecotourism gives them the opportunity to advance in z xuxgzinz ld znc participatory manner. The involvement of key private firms will also be vital. Raising the awareness and knowledge regarding ecotourism among the key stakeholders: government representatives, private sector, and local populations, and applying concrete guidelines and mechanisms is vital .
How: Leverage must be applied to obtain full support from the highest political and economic forces of Yemen towards low-impact sustainable tourism in Gharb Sehel, vs.
Mss tourism. The role of EPC is vital in this respect. In the case of this UNESCO/UNDP project, an important contribution is the Ecotourism Master plan includes the identification and classification of ecotourism attractions, zoning aspects, development of ecotourism itineraries, physical planning aspects, and a promotional and marketing strategy.
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