** Khalifa : The need to accelerate the application of environmental vision in all cities, such as Sharm el-Sheikh, to protect the cultural heritage of local communities
mohammed khalifeh
Mohammed Khalifeh Hillel confirmed the Regional Director of the International Ecotourism Society of Egypt and the Executive Director of the Lotus Bank Tourism Company of Australia
The founder and executive director of the Aurabco Tourism Company in Egypt stated that sustainable tourism was a comprehensive and appropriate tourism pattern for all tourism natural resources in Egypt, adding that it was an integrated approach to the balance between travel and tourism and environmental, economic and social balance.
And according to him, ecotourism is one of the most prominent types of tourism aimed at preserving the environment, focusing on environmental-friendly natural reserves and hotel facilities, and spreading tourism culture to tourists to deal with the environment in their tourism experience.
The Regional Director of the International Ecotourism Society of Egypt commended the State ‘ s approach to sustainable economics and development in general, which had been reflected in the tourism sector, with the insistence of the Ministry of Tourism and the implications for the application of the requirements of environmentally friendly green practices for the conservation of natural resources in all tourist attraction areas of the Republic, which had begun in Sharm el-Sheikh as a first stage, demanding that the pace of implementation of this environmental vision be accelerated in all cities, respectively, in order to protect the cultural and environmental heritage of local communities, thereby developing the eco-tourism product.
According to Khalifa, the Siwa oasis in the governorate of Matarouh is one of the most prominent examples of ecotourism, with hotel establishments applying the standards of this tourism product, including the use of environmentally friendly materials for construction, waste recycling and the generation of electricity from solar panels and other standards. The Ministry regularly dispatches inspection committees on hotel facilities to re-evaluate them in accordance with the criteria for the classification of environmental sustainability certificates in accordance with green environment-friendly practices.
The Regional Director of the International Ecotourism Society of Egypt referred to the increasing demand from tourists for ecotourism-type hotels in the recent Siwa oasis, particularly the global trends towards green transformation and emission reduction, which had recently witnessed international attention, particularly with the holding of the Cop27 Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh and Cop 28 in Dubai. The consequences of climate change encouraged the exercise of such unique experiences and tourism patterns. Visitors and tourists of the Siwah were receiving the excellent tourist experience they deserved in many environmental hotels in the oasis, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the destination of tourism.
The International Ecotourism Society had been established in 1996 in the United States of America and had more than 15,000 active members from 190 countries, holding global conferences and events to disseminate its principles internationally, including tourism awareness, promotion of innovative systems and new ways of preserving the environment, advice and guidance, and the proper and optimal use of natural resources, thus contributing to the sustainability of the tourism industry for future generations, particularly because it was of great importance to the national economy.
The International Society of Ecotourism was not for profit and was working to raise awareness among individuals or Governments about the transfer of cultural expertise and experience in the ecotourism product, emphasizing its role of raising awareness among industry personnel to promote sustainability in tourism and inspiring positive changes in the industry, as well as training and training for developing countries to ensure the operationalization of sustainable tourism practices.
The Regional Director of the International Ecotourism Society added that one of the most important recommendations of the 2023 Shorter Ecotourism Conference was to reach out to official and private stakeholders and civil society institutions such as the Association of Guides of Egypt to disseminate modern ways of preserving the environment through the organization ‘ s training role for tourism workers and the provision of quality certificates approved by the International Ecotourism Organization.