Red Sea SustainableTourism Initiative (RSSTI) Project, Phase I
PA worked with the Egyptian Tourism Development Authority (TDA) to introduce best practices for future tourism development projects along Egypt's Red Sea Coast, a premier tourism destination area. RSSTI’s program was based on technical assistance, training, and limited equipment purchases, with a primary focus on TDA and private sector investors, developers and managers. PA worked with the Egyptian Tourism Development Authority (TDA) to strengthen its environmental policy, monitoring and planning capacity. We improved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) review process for tourism development in the Red Sea Region and implemented an inspection program to monitor compliance with EIA requirements and TDA construction permits. PA also developed an institutional plan for the Authority’s Policy Implementation Unit and designed an environmental management information system to support planning and monitoring activities.
Red Sea Sustainable Tourism Initiative (RSSTI) Project, Phase II
Under the second phase of the Red Sea Sustainable Tourism Initiative (RSSTI) in Egypt, PA is providing both long and short-term technical assistance in policy implementation and management support to the Tourism Development Authority Agency (TDA). Under this phase, PA assisted the Egyptian Tourism Development Authority (TDA) to develop and adopt a land use zoning policy and management system in the Southern Red Sea Zone. The system allocates and manages land consistent with the differing ecological importance and sensitivities of the areas. PA also developed guidelines for ecotourism development on the Red Sea Coast that included best practices for building design, construction and landscaping, and alternative tourism product development such as deep range activities.
Organization of the “Sustainable Tourism Egypt 2003” Conference
As part of the phase II of the RSSTI project, PA organized one of the largest conferences on sustainable tourism, aimed to bring together Egyptian and international experts and other stakeholders to move forward the country’s sustainable tourism development program. The program’s main goal is to put environmental protection and conservation at the center of Egypt’s tourism agenda for current and future resort development plans. The conference spanned for ten days and consisted in three different events (a pre-conference study tour to the Red Sea Coast, the central conference and a post-conference workshop). Its organization presented the challenge of balancing a smooth performance with a major deployment of security due to the region’s volatile political situation. PA managed to successfully deliver an event that was attended by researchers and practitioners from more than 20 countries around the world, representatives from UNEP, World Tourism Organization, the World Bank and the US government, in addition to high-ranked Egyptian government authorities.
Certified Environmental Hotel Manager (CHEMTM ) training course
PA organized a CHEM training course for environmental officers in hotels and resorts located in the Red Sea Coast region of Egypt. The course served to boost the capacity of Egypt's hospitality and tourism managers to implement environmental programs thereby reducing the negative environmental impacts within hospitality operation. It was designed to equip trainees with the knowledge, attitudes and skills to implement environmental best practices in accordance with regional and international standard. The course successfully certified environmental managers from some of the area’s largest resorts, including international chains such as Marriott, Sheraton, Hilton, Meliá, Iberotel and Movenpick among others.
Environmental management training for remote tourist villages and hotels
For a US government agency, PA organized and conducted a three-day training course for hotel engineers on improved water, energy, and waste management practices in coastal hotels in Egypt. We prepared a training manual entitled Water, Energy and Environmental Management at Hotels and Tourist Establishments. Participants in the course included representatives from the following hotels: Sonesta, Hilton International, Marriott, Helnan, Sheraton, Semiramis International, Inter-Continental, as well as a number of Egyptian-owned and operated hotels Following the training course, PA performed environmental audits on three properties of an international hotel chain in the Sinai Peninsula.
