Sustainability Tools_Egypt
Barmelgy, H. M., and M. M. EL-Sayed,
"Sustainability Indicators an International Tool as a Local Recipe",
Journal of Urban Research, vol. 11, issue 2090-0694, pp. 1-21, 2014.
AbstractMost developing countries seek international tools to overcome their local problems. Such international tools, being imported and implemented without any attempts to localise them have led to their inability, in many circumstances, to address developing countries local problems. The paper presents a practical research for localising an international tool, aiming to utilise it as an efficient sustainability tool for promoting sustainable tourism in heritage market areas. The paper methodology utilises theoretical studies’ findings in composing an international list of sustainable tourism indicators. Aiming to prove the efficiency of the international tool, the paper conducted a correlated analysis, studying the ability and efficiency of the tool in addressing the local existing problems of tourism in heritage market areas. Although the tool did prove its high predictive ability to deal with existing local problems, still the ability to apply the international tool within the limitation of the local context is a valid threat hindering the efficiency of the tool. The main problem lies in the tool’s long list being composed of 45 indicators. Such comprehensive list would require adequate data resources and special expertise to interpret the data in order to achieve the required efficiency of the tool; which is not available in developing countries. The paper concluded a practical empirical field survey study, aiming to localise the list to match the requirements and limitations of the Egyptian condition. The study targeted a group of experts in the field of sustainability and historical tourism development. Based on the findings of the study the list was reduced to comprise only the 13 most effective indicators. Finally, the paper conducted a correlative analytical study between the final localised list and the existing tourism problems of the area. The findings of the study proved the list to have an expected efficiency rate of around 88% in guiding the implementation of sustainable tourism in heritage market areas.
Barmelgy, H. M., and A. A. Ibrahim,
"Eco-Efficient Resort Planning and Design",
Journal of Urban Research, vol. 13, issue ISSN: 2090-0694, pp. 19-36, 2014.
AbstractEgypt is a country that is endowed with one of the world’s richest and most spectacular environment suitable for different types of tourism. Despite the diversity and richness of those natural heritage resources, the industrial and economic situation of the country is in turmoil. Such a situation leads the country to intensively rely on developing, and extensively using, its resources to satisfy its economic demands and requirements without much care to the environment. Since the eve of the seventies until now, unsustainable forms of tourism development have been initiated upon the natural and historical dimensions of the country’s heritage. Consequently, the country’s resources have been inefficiently consumed to a degree that the country has lost a number of its sensitive sites and resources. The paper deals with one of the natural heritage resources of the country, the coastal areas. Egypt endows more than 2450 km of highly scenic outstanding beaches overlooking the Mediterranean and the Red sea, and has adopted a highly intensive resort tourism industry, both on the national and international tourism markets. The types of resort development that took place have exerted deep negative impacts on the ecological integrity and stability of such highly sensitive coastal areas. The paper provokes the importance to adapt and promote the concept of eco-efficient design for promoting a sustainable form of resort development. Based on theoretical and practical analysis an eco-meter for eco-efficient resort planning and design is innovated. The eco-meter is tested and applied on the case study of Marina al-Alamien Resort, to be used as a guideline for promoting sustainability among existing and future resort designs.
Barmelgy, H. M.,
"Sustainable Development and Sustainability Tools",
Department of Architecture - International Conference Journal (ARCHCAIRO -2004), Cairo, Egypt, 12 February 2004.
AbstractDuring the last century most governments especially third world governments, were concerned with development. This concern overrides those about well being of their citizens and that of their environment which was suffering a great deal of impacts as a result of these developments. Accompanying the highlighted awareness of environmental problems was also recognition of the kind of relationship that exists between development and environment, which was best described as inexorably, linked (Holden, 2000). By the end of the 1980s there was a massive need for an environmentally new paradigm to emerge, one that utilises the global environmental movement of that time. In other words the world was ready to accept the concept of sustainability where sustainability was primarily an outcome of ecological concern mainly with how best to utilise and conserve natural resources at the same time (Krippendorf, 1993 and Hall, 2000). After more than 20 years since the emerging of the concept there are no doubt about the positive contribution it should have, if we can really implement and apply sustainable development, one that could satisfy the needs of the local communities while sustaining the environment for the current and future generations. In other words, professionals should stop the work of lips and start to work together trying really to implement sustainability (Bramwell and Lane, 1993).
Consequently, this paper is to focus on the ability of implementing sustainable development in developing countries. The papers argues the important role that the sustainability tools can have in sustaining the environment and thus putting us a step ahead in the way to achieve the required sustainable development. In doing so, a comprehensive study of the sustainability tools within an analytical comparative framework is to be presented aiming to define the most suitable tool or group of tools for achieving sustainable development within the context of developing countries. Also in an attempt to reach conclusions through the most possible objective approach the opinions of the professionals is to be taken in consideration through a selective multi stratified clustered cross-sectional sample to be interviewed.
