June 2018
Sustainable Ecotourism
Management Plan of WRPA
Contents
Introduction ... 3
The purpose of the Management Plan ... 3
Methodology ... 3
1- Reviewing the last Work plans of WRPA. ... 3
2- Participatory Deliberative planning with all stakeholders. ... 6
3- Involvement of Local Community ... 7
Baseline information ... 7
WRPA Profile... 7
1- Location and official declaration ... 8
2- Ecological aspects ... 8
Outstanding universal value "OUV" of WRPA ... 9
Cultural and/or natural significance which is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity. As such, the permanent protection of this heritage is of the highest importance to the international community as a whole. (UNESCO World Heritage Committee (2013). ... 9
WRPA as World Heritage site ... 9
WRPA as Ramasr Site ... 9
Tourism Profile of WRPA ... 10
Wadi El Rayan lakes ... 10
Wildlife in springs area ... 11
Current situation of tourism in WRPA ... 11
Current tourism activities in WRPA ... 13
Negative Impacts of Ecotourism in WRPA. ... 14
Types of Activities and their Negative Impacts ... 14
Evaluation of negative impacts of tourism activities ... 17
Misuse of new updates ... 18
Key Management Issues ... 19
Management Approach and Governance ... 20
IUCN principles of good governance for protected areas. ... 21
Visitor Management ... 22
Proposed Camp sites and ecolodges in WRPA ... 22
New Tourism Major Hubs. ... 24
Proposed Ecotourism Activities in WRPA ... 24
Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) & Zoning System. ... 26
Tourism Carrying Capacity " TCC" ... 28
Forms of Carrying Capacity ... 29
Physical carrying capacity ... 29
Social carrying capacity... 30
Economic carrying capacity ... 30
Biophysical carrying capacity ... 30
Waste management ... 30
Tourism Services Quality assurance. ... 31
Negative impacts management and monitoring ... 33
Capacity Building ... 34
Recommendations ... 36
Fundraising Unit ... 36
Case study: US National Park Service. ... 36
Donate ... 36
Volunteerism Unit ... 37
Scientific Research Unit ... 37
Clean Up Campaigns ... 37
References ... 38
List of Abbreviations
Abbreviation Clarification
WRPA Wadi El Rayan Protected Area
NCS Nature Conservation Sector
PA Protected Area
IUCN International Union of Conservation Nature
UNWTO United Nation World Tourism Organization
GEF Global Environment Facility
TIES The International Ecotourism Society
Introduction
In 2015, the members of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These constitute two of the most important environment and sustainable development commitments ever made by governments in the international fora, and both recognize the important role of protected areas as a key strategy for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the targets they contain, for example, Aichi Biodiversity Target 11, SDG goals 14 and 15. The global protected areas estate is therefore an important contribution to achieving these commitments.
The purpose of the Management Plan
This is the first Tourism management plan for the site. The issues and objectives of the previous (2010) plan have been reviewed to respond to current risks and opportunities. EIECP III implemented for six months a development plan in WRPA and now the project is finishing these update. So, it is very important and crucial issue to sustain these new updates and manage the resources of WRPA.
Methodology
1- Reviewing the last Work plans of WRPA.
Wadi El Rayan business plan 2007
WRPA Management plan 2009
Integrated Management Systems for Wadi El Rayan Protected Area .
This report was prepared by the project of strengthen management and financing systems for protected areas , a national project jointly funded by the GEF and the Ministry of the Environment and implemented by the Nature Protection Sector NCS. The project aims to establish sustainable financing system for PAs in Egypt with the administrative capabilities available to ensure effective use of the world.
The report reviewed the current assets of WRPA in addition to its administrative and organizational structure and analysis of its shortcomings. Also it reviewed the administrative challenges in the WRPA and proposed some solutions for them and set a general framework for the strategic plan 2013-2023.
2013
Economic valuation of Wadi El Rayan Protected Area 2015
The outcome of the study highlighted the importance of Wadi El Ryan protected area, which is reflected in relatively large value of ecosystem goods and services as well as human ecosystem-based activities in the area.
The valuation begins with providing a conceptual framework for economic valuation of ecosystem highlighting the main approaches of valuing ecosystem‘s goods and services and heritage. This is followed by providing an ecosystem profile of Wadi El Rayan protected area. Thereafter, the methodology for valuing Wadi El Rayan protected area is discussed.
Finally, the main results of economic valuation of ecosystems of Wadi El Rayan protected area either present or potential are discussed.
It was found that the discounted present value of Wadi El Ryan ecosystems is estimated to be L.E. 1684.61 million. Meanwhile, the potential value of Wadi El Rayan Ecosystem is, also, estimated and this found to have generated additional L.E. 211.47 million due to expansion of agricultural activities within the protected area.
Economic Activities and Investment Opportunities Plan for WRPA
The Protected Areas financial sustainability is considered one of the significant issues because of the necessity of providing financial resources that covers the cost of implementing the plans and programmes of Protected Areas‘ management and conservation of natural resources. Despite the fact that the Protected Areas has unique natural, geological and cultural values, in most cases, there is no proper economic use of these resources. This is turn leads to declining the Protected Areas‘ income as well as declining the capacity of the PAs to attract investments. This results in shortage of the financial resources of the PAs and increases its dependency on the Government‘s budgets and funds that is constantly inadequate.
The economic activities plan of the PAs is considered as new good methods in sustainably managing the conservation of Biodiversity. It takes into consideration economic, social and environmental factors and reflects the national and local framework of the Egyptian environment. Consequently, these plans formulate effective tools to enhance the PAs financial sustainability.
The study prepared a management plan for Wadi El Rayan PA for 10 years from 2016 to
2016
2025. The study provide am evaluation for the current activities and prepared a comprehensive view on the future state of the economic activities and investment opportunities within the PA. the study also identifies priorities and management mechanisms for the economic activities in the PA, through setting up the general guiding outlines and some detailed samples for investment opportunities. The study aims at supporting decision makers to run economic activities that make the best use of the Protected Area‘ natural resources and provides information for interested investors.
Conservation Challenges inside Protected Areas of Egypt "WRPA"
In the scope of Nature Conservation Sector development and within the framework of support and standardization of monitoring programs inside Protected Areas (PA) and as a complement previous studies on threatened species in St. Katherine, Siwa, and Elomayed Protected Areas; this study came to identify the geographical range and the current ecological status for main plant communities in Wadi El-Rayan Protected Area in order to determine the effect of environmental factors on the distribution and determine the current status of the protection and its requirements in accordance with the standards of the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The study aimed to assess the current ecological and conservation status for main plant communities in Taba Protected Area according to IUCN criteria in order to produce a series of recommendations for conservation action.
The present study was carried out in April, 2017. Data used for analysis in this study were collected from the fieldwork survey (2017), target PA reports, and previous literatures to minimize the gaps in analysis process to the maximum. Vegetation, threats, Protected Area management effectiveness analysis were done in order to produce a series of recommendations for conservation action for the main plant communities.
2017
2- Participatory Deliberative planning with all stakeholders.
The plan was prepared in participatory and declarative approach as all stakeholders participate to formulate this tourism management plan.
Many meetings were organize in Fayoum and Cairo with the Ecotourism Association in WRPA and QPA that has representatives for all private sector in tourism industry in Fayoum from big establishments like hotels to small and micro enterprises like small cafeteria and restaurants.
3- Involvement of Local Community
The approach of the EIECP III is CBNRM that aims to manage natural resources by local community so the local community is a main partner in preparing this tourism management plan
Baseline information
WRPA Profile
Protected Area Wadi El Rayan
WDPA ID 30006
Designation Multiple Use Management Area
Designation Type National
Year 1989
Management Authority Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA)
IUCN cAtegory VI
Reported Area (km2) 1 759.0
Calculated Area (km2) 1.756.5
Type Terrestrial
Distance from Cairo: 150 Km
Reviewing the last Work plans
of WRPA .
Particapatry Deliberative planning with all
stakeholders.
Involvement of Local Community
SPECIES IN WRPA
Class No.
Species No.
Threatened No.
Critically Endangered
No.
Endangered No.
Vulnerable
No. Near- threatened
No.
Least concern
No. Data deficient
Amphibia 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Birds 143 7 1 1 5 4 132 0
Mammals 36 1 0 0 1 1 33 1
Total 184 8 1 1 6 5 170 1
1- Location and official declaration
Al-Rayyan Valley is located in the Western Desert south-west of Fayoum about 40 kilometers from Fayoum city and 150 kilometers from Cairo and extends between the lines of length 29 degrees and minutes and 29 degrees and minutes and 30 degrees 30 minutes.\
It was declared in 1989 by the Prime Minister's Decision No. 943 of 1989 and amended by Decree No.
2954 of 1997 to protect the unique geological, biological and cultural resources of the region. The protected area covers 1759 square kilometers in the southwestern part of Fayoum, Wildlife has its own features. The site is of particular historical significance as a major crossroads that has been used for many centuries on a site between the Nile Valley and the Western Desert oases. Remains of human settlements from the Egyptian and Greek Roman periods were also found in the area. The reserve consists of 1,650 square kilometers of dry land and nearly 109 square kilometers of water. It includes the first flat lakes, the second surface and the birdlife sites beside the important sites for both tourism activity and biodiversity conservation. The reserve is characterized by diversity in natural resources and economic and human activities. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the reserve falls under category VI because of economic and human activities within the reserve.
2- Ecological aspects
Wadi El -Rayan area is characterized by its integrated desert environment, consisting of sand dunes, natural springs, large water bodies and a different botanical life, different wild animals and important and various sea fossils. The area of El-Rayan lake is a calm natural environment and free of pollution.
Wadi El- Rayan consists of the following important areas:
Waterfall Area: this area was formed due to the gathering of farming drainage waterfalls. It is a place for various sea sports.
The area of Oyoun El-Rayan: consists of long dense movable sand dunes. It has four natural sulfuric springs. It is characterized by the existence of plant groups that contain 15 species of desert plants and about 15 types of wild mammals like the white deer, the Egyptian deer, sand fox, red fox and others, and 16 species of reptiles, and over 100 species of resident and migrating birds.
The Area of El-Rayan mountain El-Mashgaeega Mountain: It includes deep canyons known as split rock. It is one of the favorite places to see a panorama of Wadi El Rayan and picnics.
Wadi Al-Hitan: It is an Area of fossils in the western north of Wadi El Rayan protected Area, it dates back to 40 million years. These fossils of petrified primitive whales skeletons, shark teeth, shells and other sea animals that are considered as an open museum. The roots of Mangroves preserved in soft rocks.
Outstanding universal value "OUV" of WRPA
Cultural and/or natural significance which is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity. As such, the permanent protection of this heritage is of the highest importance to the international community as a whole.
(UNESCO World Heritage Committee (2013).
WRPA as World Heritage site
Wadi al-Hitan ("Whale Valley"), within the Ramsar Site, was designated as a World Heritage site in 2005 because of "invaluable fossil remains of the earliest, and now extinct, suborder of whales, Archaeoceti. These fossils represent one of the major stories of evolution: the emergence of the whale as an ocean-going mammal from a previous life as a land-based animal" (WH List). Ramsar Site no. 2041.
Most recent RIS information 2012.
WRPA as Ramasr Site
Comprises two main lakes, at different elevations, connected by a swampy channel, one of the most important habitats for certain bird species of national, regional and international importance. The area holds reasonable numbers of wintering birds such as the near-threatened Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) and Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus as well as several threatened species of mammals,
including the slender horned gazelle, Gazella leptoceros. The lakes and springs play a critical role in the life cycles of a remarkable diversity of species, including 29 fish species, 164 bird species, 24 mammal species, 14 reptile species and 38 plant species.
Tourism Profile of WRPA
WRPA is one of the most important tourism attractions in Fayoum and Egypt. In the last five years it attracts a huge number of tourists. It comprises the following areas of special tourism significance:
Wadi Al-Hitan
Wadi Al-Hitan, Whale Valley, in the Western Desert of Egypt, contains invaluable fossil remains of the earliest, and now extinct, suborder of whales, Archaeoceti. These fossils represent one of the major stories of evolution: the emergence of the whale as an ocean-going mammal from a previous life as a land-based animal. This is the most important site in the world for the demonstration of this stage of evolution. It portrays vividly the form and life of these whales during their transition. The number, concentration and quality of such fossils here is unique, as is their accessibility and setting in an attractive and protected landscape. The fossils of Al-Hitan show the youngest archaeocetes, in the last stages of losing their hind limbs. Other fossil material in the site makes it possible to reconstruct the surrounding environmental and ecological conditions of the time.
Wadi El Rayan lakes
Wadi El Rayan was initially an arid desert depression located to the southwest of Fayoum, with an average elevation of 43 m below sea level and a maximum depth of 64 m below sea-level. Since 1973, excess drainage water from Fayoum was diverted into the depression, flooding large parts of it forming two large lakes.
The level water surface of first lake is about 5 m below sea level, while the second lake, which lies at a lower elevation, has water surface level of 20 m below sea level. Annually, about 0.25 km³ of
agricultural wastewater discharged into the first lake of Wadi El Rayan. Thereafter, the water flows from the first lake to the second lake via a shallow, swampy canal and a small waterfall (Bahha El Din, 2001).
The lakes of Wadi El Rayan have become recently important wintering grounds for water birds. For example, in January (Winter of 1995) a total of 12,600 water birds were counted in the lake area. The second lake holds more water birds than the first, because of its larger size and its greater isolation. The second lake also supports a substantial breeding population of some species (Bahha El Din, 2001).
Wildlife in springs area
The desert habitats of Wadi El Rayan spring area include a number of Sahara–Sindian biome restricted species. Also, it was estimated that at least four of these species are known or are expected to breed in
the area (EEAA, undated; EEAA, 2013.)
Spectacular landscapes
Wadi El Rayan Protected area enjoys large desert areas with diverse landscape features and formations that could be a good attraction for visitors (EEAA, 2007).
Current situation of tourism in WRPA
In the last 5 years the internal tourism increased significantly in WRPA. The reason of this increase may come from the small distance from Cairo (one day trip), new touristic activities, as well as place marketing on the website and social media. The most of peoples who visit WRPA within the Last 10 years focused on special areas like water falls (connecting canal), Elmedawara area (north lower lake), magic lake, Wadi El-Hitan, etc.
Number of tourists are varied every year but based on Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands to designate of Wadi El-Rayan and Qaroun lakes as new Ramsar sites, (2012) its over than250,000 persons per year and we believe this number is increased significantly these days.
WRPA is one of the most important tourism destinations in Fayoum and Egypt. By analyzing the development of tourists numbers it is noticed that:
The total number of Egyptian visitors increases by 42 ,800 visitors in 2010 to be 57,700 in 2014 then to be 134,950 in 2017.
In the other hand the total number of foreign tourists goes down by 8,450in 2010 go be 4,150 in 2014 and fall sharply to be 250 in 2017.
A. Number of tourists of Wadi El Rayyan PA
Foreign tourists Egyptian tourists
Year
8,450 42,800
2010-2011
6,000 37,700
2011- 2012
5,650 39,650
2012- 2013
2,050 37,300
2013- 2014
4,150 57,700
2014- 2015
3,950 111,150
2015- 2016
250 134,950
2016- 2017
Figure 1: Number of tourists of Wadi El Rayyan PA
B. Number of tourists of Wadi El Hittan National park C.
Figure 2: Number of tourists of Wadi El Hittan National park
0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000
N umber of tourists
Years
Foreign tourists Egyptian tourists
Foreign tourists Egyptian tourists
Year
1,750 1,350
2012- 2013
1,400 2,150
2013- 2014
2,550 6,250
2014- 2015
2,450 8,400
2015- 2016
10,550 15,200
2016- 2017
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000
2012 -
2013 -2013
2014 -2014
2015 -2015
2016 -2016 2017
Egyptian tourists Foreign tourists
Entry and camping Fees
Place Entry fees Camping fees
Egyptian Foreigner Egyptian Foreigner
Wadi El Rayan L.E 2 US$ 2 L.E 10 80 L.E
Wadi El Hitan L.E 5 US$ 3
Current tourism activities in WRPA
Safari Trips: Kosour El Arab, Wadi Elittan, Magic Lake and Gebel Emodawara.
Camping: Kosour El Arab, Wadi Elittan, Magic Lake
Hiking: Magic Lake to Gebel Elmodawara- Gebel Elmodawara to waterfalls- Wadi Elhittan.
Bird watching: lower and upper lake of Wadi El Rayan.
Felucca Sailing: lower Lake of Wadi El Rayan
Sand boarding: Magic Lake, Kosour El Arab, beside waterfalls.
Natural Sightseeing: Kosour El Arab, Wadi Elittan, Magic Lake, Waterfalls, Lower and Upper Lake of Wadi El Rayan.
Negative Impacts of Ecotourism in WRPA.
While tourism and visitation can bring a multitude of benefits to conservation, communities and economies and human experience, tourism in protected areas can cause many negative impacts to the natural environment and local communities. These impacts can be perceived differently, and interact in many complex ways, in the short‐ and long‐term. Protected areas have a mandate to ensure protection of the natural environment, so it is critical to understand potential negative impacts of tourism. Protected area managers should seek to identify negative impacts on the environment early in an attempt to avoid, mitigate, or minimize them. Monitoring is essential to help detect current conditions, document changes over time, and evaluate significance and success in mitigation.
Types of Activities and their Negative Impacts
Different tourism activities cause different biophysical impacts in protected areas. For example, the construction of roads, accommodation, hiking trails and campsites, that support tourism have inevitable environmental impacts that include impacts on the landscape. The operation of tourism also has environmental impacts on habitats, wildlife, water, energy consumption and the air. The environmental impacts of tourism are diverse because of the varied and fragmented nature of the industry; different tourism activities and assorted environments in which it takes place; and the different environmental demands that take place during the product life‐cycle (Spenceley, 2003) (see Figure 5.1).
Furthermore, the habitat type and its sensitivity to disturbance also have a bearing on the extent of the impact. For example, excessive trampling in rocky areas would tend to have a lower negative impact on vegetation than in a wetland area. Similarly, any impacts from tourism must be considered in light of other background conditions or changes. For example, climate change can stress ecosystems so much that tourism impacts will be exacerbated considerably. In many cases, the impacts of tourism on threatened ecosystems or endangered species are magnified when compared to impacts on less vulnerable parts of the environment.
Tourism impact studies show a broad range of effects ranging from physiological changes in charismatic wildlife, to impacts on soil biota and water quality (Buckley, 2009; Newsome et al ;3102 ,.Spenceley, 2003). A summary of the potential environmental impacts of tourism on different environmental components is outlined in Table 5.1.
Table 5.1. Potential negative environmental effects of tourism activities Area of
impact
Tourism Activities Examples of Potential Consequences Air Transport activity
and facility power
Air and noise pollution from vehicles.
Increased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion, which contributes to global climate change.
Sound Construction or operation of facilities
Noise pollution from vehicular traffic can affect behaviour and breeding success of nesting birds Water Disposal of waste
into water bodies
Introduction of minerals, nutrients, sewage, solid waste, petrol and toxins to the environment.
Contamination reduces water quality and may
lead to potential health hazards to animals
Increase water consumption Geology and
soil
Collection, vandalism, Erosion
Removal of minerals, rocks, fossils and items of archaeological interest, and graffiti
Physical and chemical changes in soil
Erosion and soil compaction, which affects invertebrate fauna
Landscape Formal and informal development
Visual impact of settlements on the landscape
Habitats Clearing for construction and tourism facility.
Increased use of natural resources by facility.
Pollution of local habitats
Decrease and fragmentation of natural habitat (e.g. wetlands) (Burton.)0991 ,
Competition between native and invasive plant species from resort gardens.
Increased fire frequency leading to habitat change.
Destruction of habitats and clearing of lands (e.g.
mangroves)
Overfishing to provide seafood for visitors
Eutrophication and sedimentation
Coastal and beach erosion Pedestrian and
vehicular traffic
Changes germination, establishment, growth and reproduction, species diversity, composition, and plant morphology.
Reduced populations of fragile species and replacement by more resilient species.
Hunting and
fishing Changes in species composition, reproductive
patterns and social behaviour; disappearance of species.
Reduction of habituated animals.
Wildlife Pollution Effects on health including psychological stress, behavioural changes, reductions in productivity due to noise pollution.
Use of waste disposal areas as sources of food.
Eutrophication.
Potential wildlife harassment resulting from viewing and photography.
Behavioural changes: Avoidance, habituation or attraction to humans resulting from interactions.
Physiological Changes: Changes in heart rate, growth rates and abundance.
Species Changes: Changes in species composition, diversity and abundance, distribution and interspecific interactions.
Disruption of feeding: Found in a variety of wildlife species
Effect on reproductive behaviour and breeding
success Development of
highways and trails in natural areas
Species‐specific disturbance caused by roads, buildings and plantations
Barrier effects to carnivores, collisions, increased accessibility to wild areas by poachers
Increase in sun‐loving plant species in travel corridors.
Sources: Spenceley, 2003, citing Anderson, 1995; Bowles, 1995; Cole & Landres, 1995; Gabrielsen & Smith, 1995; Gutzwiller, 1995; Klein et al., 1995; Knight & Cole, 1995; Salmon, 2003; Spenceley, 1997; Sun &
Liddle, 1993; Sun & Walsh, 1998 ‐ and also Buckley, 2004; Francis, et al., 2009; Lin, 2010; Wang & Miko, 1997.
Evaluation of negative impacts of tourism activities
There are much tourism practices and activates that have negative impact on the environment such as:
1- Activities that cause anthropogenic noise pollution or human-caused noise like DJ parties and using loudspeakers it can affect wildlife in WRPA. Anthropogenic noise has been found to alter species behaviors, reducing their ability to sleep, communicate and find food. Also
anthropogenic noise can affect a song bird‘s ability to establish territories or find a mate.
In addition to disturb the tourist that come to the WRPA to enjoy the desert and quietness this is the pursuit of ecotourist that escape form the noise of the city.
2- Color war game is a competition played in summer camps, schools and some social
organizations (such as sororities, fraternities, or small businesses). Participants are divided into teams, each of which is assigned a color. The teams compete against each other in challenges and events to earn points.
Color war game s have a negative extreme impact on the environment as well as these colors change the original color of sand in the protected areas as shown in the right photo.
Misuse of new updates
EIECP III carried out a group of new updates in WRPA waterfalls like the new entrance, gift shop, and new plaza and all these updates have not officially inaugurated yet although some visitors misusing these new updates like what shown in the pictures below one of the visitors climbing the new gift shop and the other visitors are sating on rocks.
Key Management Issues
Introduction & Management plan definition
It is a written, circulated and approved document which describes the site or area and the problems and opportunities for management of its nature conservation, land form or landscape features, enabling objectives based on this information to be met through relevant work over a stated period of time‖ (Eurosite 1999(.
the guide by which Parks Canada manages the resources and uses of a national park. It contains the management objectives and the means and strategies for achieving them. The plan is not an end in itself; rather it constitutes a framework within which subsequent management, implementation and planning will take place‖ (Parks Canada 1987)
a document that guides and controls the management of a protected area. It details the resources, uses, facilities and personnel needed to manage the area in the future. It is a working document that presents a program for the coming 5–10 years‖ (Ndosi 1992).
Figure 3: management planning process. Source: Diane Matar, 2009
This Management plan is following the UNWTO and UNEP (2005), sustainability principles ―refer to the environmental, economic and sociocultural aspects of tourism development; a suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long‐term sustainability. Thus, sustainable tourism should:
a) Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity;
b) Respect the sociocultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to intercultural understanding and tolerance;
c) Ensure viable, long‐term economic operations, providing socioeconomic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income‐earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.‖
In addition to TIES ecotourism principles that consists of six principles. Therefore, those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following ecotourism principles: 1
1. ―Minimize impact‖ through avoiding negative impacts that can damage or destroy the character of the natural or cultural environments being visited.
2. ―Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect‖ through educating the traveler on the importance of conservation and respect traditions of host communities.
3. Provide positive experiences for both visitors and host community.
4. Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.
5. Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people
6. Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate through retains a high percentage of revenues in the host country by stressing the use of locally-owned facilities and services.
Management Approach and Governance
Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM)
Community-based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) is a concept that enables nonstate actors, such as local communities, to participate actively in, and benefit from, the management of their natural resources. It is characterized by the adoption of participatory and locally controlled resource management which is formally recognized and supported by the state. It is an inclusive development model that combines growth with equity and environmental sustainability and it offers a vision for inclusive rural futures in PNG.
1 TIES, "what-is-ecotourism ?", http://www.ecotourism.org/what-is-ecotourism (accessed January 10, 2013) .
The concept of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) became one of the leading concepts in African conservation in the late 1980s. CBNRM is a concept used to explain ―the way in which communities organise themselves to sustainably manage their natural resources‖
The decentralization of natural resources to local communities through CBNRM is assumed to increase local power and control over resources. As such, it has the potential to improve attitudes of local communities towards sustainable natural resource utilization. In this respect, the decentralization of resource management to local communities has the potential to achieve nature conservation and rural development. CBNRM is being implemented in most eastern and southern African countries, including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania and Botswana.
Governance
Governance describes who makes decisions and how they are made (Borrini‐Feyerabend, 2008). It applies to decision‐making about day‐to‐day management, as well as to decisions about policies, laws and their implementation. Key issues for governance include ensuring participation of all stakeholders in decisions that affect them, openness about decision‐making processes and their timetabling, informed consent including provision of information about proposed changes and developments along with supporting information for decision‐making, and accountability of the decision‐makers in organisations for their decisions and actions in implementation of those decisions, including implementation of policies and law enforcement. Governance also addresses human rights issues, equity, and application of the precautionary principle in decision‐making.
IUCN principles of good governance for protected areas.
We speak of governance quality when decisions are made while respecting the ―good governance‖
principles developed through time by a variety of peoples, nations and UN agencies. A simple and compact formulation of the ―IUCN principles of good governance for protected areas‖,2 includes:
Legitimacy and voice— i.e. enjoying broad acceptance and appreciation in society; ensuring procedural rights of access to information, participation and justice; fostering engagement and diversity; preventing discrimination; fostering subsidiarity, mutual respect, dialogue, consensus and agreed rules…
Direction— i.e. following an inspiring and consistent strategic vision grounded on agreed values and an appreciation of complexities; ensuring consistency with policy and practice at various levels;
ensuring clear answers to contentious questions; ensuring proper adaptive management and favouring the emergence of champions and tested innovations…
Performance—i.e. achieving conservation and other objectives as planned; promoting a culture of learning; engaging in advocacy and outreach; being responsive to the needs of rightsholders and stakeholders; ensuring resources and capacities and their efficient use; promoting sustainability and resilience…
2 Borrini-Feyerabend, G., N. Dudley, T. Jaeger, B. Lassen, N. Pathak Broome, A. Phillips and T. Sandwith,
Governance of Protected Areas: From understanding to action, Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 20, IUCN, Gland (Switzerland), 2013
Accountability—i.e. upholding integrity and commitment; ensuring appropriate access to information and transparency, including for lines of responsibility, allocation of resources, and evaluation of performances; establishing communication avenues and encouraging feed-back and independent overseeing…
Fairness and rights—i.e. striving towards equitably shared costs and benefits, without adverse impact for vulnerable people; upholding decency and the dignity of all; being fair, impartial, consistent, non discriminatory, respectful of procedural rights as well as substantive rights, individual and collective human rights, gender equity and the rights of indigenous peoples, including Free, Prior and Informed Consent; promoting local empowerment in conservation…
Thus, a ―good governance‖ situation is one in which decisions are taken legitimately, competently, fairly, with sense of vision, accountability and while respecting rights.
Visitor Management
Historically, visitor management in protected areas has been concerned largely with visitor impacts and emphasis has been placed on managing negative impacts. This has involved controlling visitor numbers, attempting to modify visitor behaviour and also modifying the resource. These approaches can be divided into ‗hard‘ and ‗soft‘ categories (Ling Kuo, 2002). ‗Hard‘ visitor management approaches involve physical management, regulatory management and economic management. ‗Soft‘ approaches make use of education and interpretation. While the approach of managing impacts has its merits, and has met with some success, it has tended to assume that the visitor is ‗guilty until proven innocent‘
(Mason, 2002). Such an approach has also tended to ignore the role of visitor experience in relation to visitor management. This paper critically evaluates a number of ‗hard‘ and ‗soft‘ approaches to visitor management, focusing specifically on interpretation and codes of conduct in protected natural areas in New Zealand, Australia and Antarctica. It argues that the traditional approach of managing visitor impacts should be supported by a far greater emphasis on managing visitor experience. It proposes that placing emphasis on managing visitor experience should allow a more holistic perspective to be employed, in which the visitor can be put within a context that includes both the destination community and the environment visited. Such an approach, it is argued, should not only lead to better informed and behaved visitors, but a reduction in negative visitor impacts.
To deal with the pressure on Waterfalls and to sustain its management there were many proposed solutions :
1- To reduce the pressure through creating new attraction sites for visitors that will have new eco- friendly activities and tourism services. A meeting with CEO of Ecotourism Association in Fayoum Mr. Hnai Zaki, Dr. Mohamed Sameh the director of WRPA and Dr. Yousria Hamed the Manger of EIECP to discuss the new proposed sites for camps, ecolodges, sites and activities.
Proposed Camp sites and ecolodges in WRPA
The project in cooperation with the Ecotourism Association in Fayoum proposes some places are suitable to be a camping sites and ecoldges as following:
Camp sites: there are 3 proposed camp sites as shown in the map.
Ecoldge: there is one proposed ecoldge nearby magic lake.
EIECP III will participate to prepare the architectural ecofriendly design.
Al these new sites must follw IUCN principles. IUCN has identified five biodiversity principles to support all relevant stakeholders involved in the siting and design stages of hotel and resort developments. The principles provide a holistic approach to integrating biodiversity considerations, whilst emphasising the importance of stakeholder involvement.
The principles can be integrated into relevant policy and planning processes, including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures, National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP,) national and local management plans, tourism development plans, and the environmental management strategies of hotel corporations and developers.
The IUCN Biodiversity Principles for Siting and Design of Hotels and Resorts are as follows:
1. Adopt an ecosystem‐based approach in tourism development planning
2. Manage impacts on biodiversity from hotel development and attempt to achieve an overall positive contribution
3. Design with nature and adopt nature‐based solutions 4. Respect, involve and support local communities
5. Build collaboration among stakeholders
The recently published Biodiversity Principles for Siting and Design of Hotels and Resorts (IUCN, 2012b) provides an overview of each principle and case studies to illustrate some of the measures that can be adopted to implement the principles.
The continued prosperity of the hotel and tourism sector depends on the conservation and health of local ecosystems. As such, nature should be recognised as a key element of tourism attraction and resources must be conserved to benefit the tourism and hotel sectors. It is in the interest of all players to ensure that biodiversity considerations are included in decision‐making. Source: IUCN, 2012b
New Tourism Major Hubs.
There two new major hubs for reducing the pressure are suggested a- Near Marzouk Camp
It is proposed that it will have a new fish restaurant for the visitors and fluecca sailing.
b- Beside in the upper lake
Map
Proposed Ecotourism Activities in WRPA
There are recent activities in WRPA like felucca sailing, birdwatching, camping etc..., the new tourism management plan aims to increase the activities that attract the ecotourist segment. ecotourists‘ behavior during the trip must corresponds to the ecotourism‘s principles. Thus, all ecotourists contribute to the local economy by staying overnight in local hotels, eating local food and buying local souvenirs.
So it suggested to that 3 New bazars in WRPA have an activities to help the visitors to know more about the local crafts like pottery and ceramics of Tunis village or Nazla pottery and it can be called "Craft it yourself" this activity will be paid by the visitor.
Activity Activity Description Proposed sites
10 Agritourism It is a form of niche tourism that is involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch.
• Tunis Village.
• Designated new space near
Waterfalls of WR.
5 Astro-tourism and Star gazing
It is an activity whose participants enjoy observing or imaging celestial objects in the
• Wadi El hittan.
• Kosour El Arab.
sky using the unaided eye, binoculars, or telescopes.
• Zwara Ecolodge.
2 Camel Trekking To do hiking with camels. • Around Upper and
Lower lake of WR.
7 Craft it. The tourist tries to experience the handicrafts by his hand under guiding of handcrafter.
• Tunis village.
• New Bazars in Water falls of WRPA
4 Cultural Safari Trips to observe and photograph Cultural and archaeological sites in the desert using 4*4 cars.
• Medinet Madi.
• Kasr Qarun.
9 Ecofishing Trying to catching fish and to participating in cooking it .
• Upper Lake of WR
• Lower Lake of WR 1 Hiking Hiking is an outdoor activity, simply it is
walking in natural environments, the hiking trail is the route through a natural or human- made environment on which the user carries equipment and food in a backpack. Specific overnight stops are provided at the end of each day‘s hike.
Around Upper and Lower lake of WR.
6 Kayaking It is outdoor activity that using a kayak for moving and navigating across water.
• Upper Lake of WR
• Lower Lake of WR 11 Mountain biking It is activity of riding bicycles off-road, often
over rough terrain, using specially designed mountain bikes
8 Sandboarding
It is a recreational activity that takes place on sand dunes
.• Antena site near entrance of WRPA.
• Near Waterfalls and marzouk camp.
• Beside Magic Lake.
• Kosour El Arab
• Garet Gohanm
• Sainat Sameul dunes.
3 Youga and Mediation Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices that help controlling the body and the mind and It is used also as physical therapy technique.
In 2016, yoga was listed by UNESCO as an Intangible cultural heritage
• Zwara Ecolodge
• Tunis Village
• Kosour El Arab
Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) & Zoning System.
Zoning and the recreation opportunity spectrum are models have been applied in protected areas and natural parks management. Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) is one means of controlling conflicts which is a planning framework where zoning is applied on the landscape. It has been outlined in several publications (Clark & Stankey, 1979; Driver et al., 1987; Emmelin, 1997; Manning 1999;
Stankey et al., 1999).
ROS is a tool used to support definition and management of diverse outdoor recreation opportunities. It is based on the assumption that a range of factors (e.g., ease of access, density of use) contribute to recreation experiences, and through arraying various combinations of these factors, distinct recreation opportunities may be defined and managed. Prior to ROS, recreation experiences such as camping had been segmented based upon number factors, influencing ―satisfaction.‖ These factors were conceptualized as a ―continua‖ and it is this notion that remains rooted in ROS (Bultena and Kessig 1969).
More specifically, ROS is conceptualized as a four-tiered framework that links activities, settings, motivations, and benefits. The basis for this system is often described as ―experience-based setting management‖ (Manfredo et al. 1983, Floyd and Gramman 1997), and may be thought of as a type of
―production process.‖ It theorizes that experiences are derived from recreation activities, and that these activities are linked to the settings in which they occur. Settings, in turn, are comprised of three categories of factors; resource, social, and managerial.
Zoning is another basic category of tourism and recreation management (Manning et al., 2011.) Zoning simply means assigning certain recreation activities to selected areas (or restricting activities from
areas). Zoning can occur in a temporal dimension as well as in a spatial sense. It can also be an alternative management prescription, used to create different types of tourism/recreation opportunities.
Zoning is widely used to create and manage a diversity of tourism and recreation opportunities. The basic concept of zoning is at the heart of the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS), a concept and framework that has been widely applied in managing parks and protected areas (Clark & Stankey, 1979;
Brown et al., 1978, 1979; Driver & Brown, 1978; Dearden & Rollins, 2008). Zoning is also used in outdoor recreation to restrict recreation activities from environmentally sensitive areas and to separate conflicting recreation activities. A zoning system conceptually similar to ROS is applied to determine the type of accommodation, transportation and tourist activities, including group size (Bintoora, 2014).
Example: Grand Canyon National Park planning and zoning
The plan relies on several management practices, including limiting use, rules and regulations, and zoning as outlined above. Recreational use of the river is strictly limited to minimise the potential impacts of use on park natural and cultural resources and to protect the quality of the visitor experience.
These limits apply to both commercial (licensed companies) and noncommercial(private individuals) trips. For example, non‐commercial users of the river must obtain a permit and permits are based on a sophisticated ‗weighted lottery system‘, which replaced a previously used queuing system that generated waiting periods over 20 years. This system requires noncommercial boaters to file an application each year with preferred launch dates for the following year, and applications are selected at random.
However, the chances of being selected are enhanced if potential trip leaders have not boated the river in recent years. This is to help ensure that those who are unlucky in the lottery system are more likely to be selected in future years.
For WRPA the proposed zoning system is classified into two zones: (A) and (B) with conservation level , impact level and number of visitors per year as shown in the following table the and map.
Zone code Location Conservation
Level
Impact Level No. of vistrs/
Year Zone A This range includes the sites of
vertebrate fossils of all types in the Valley of the whales
High Visits only - scientific research
15000 Visitor/ Y Zone B This range is located around the
lakes, the waterfall area and Wadi El Rayan
medium Low
Tourism Carrying Capacity " TCC"3
The tourism carrying capacity have to approaches one for development works and the other relating for vistr management .Carrying Capacity Assessment, is a precise technique, was introduced in the 1960s as a method of numerical, computerised calculation for defing land use limits and imposing development controls in an objective way (Clark, 1997).
While In the context of management of tourism and recreation, the carrying capacity of a tourist site could be defined as the number of visitors that the site is capable of absorbing (Butler, 1996). How many tourists can visit an area without threatening the natural resources, or, how many visitors can be put together without spoiling the scenery for other visitors.
The assessment of tourism activities impact in protected areas and the Evaluation of carrying capacity represent a necessary scientific support for visitors management, helping to ensure the sustainable conservation of natural heritage.
Definition
The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO, 1981) proposes the following definition of the carrying capacity ―the maximum number of people that may visit a tourist destination at the same time, without causing destruction of the physical, economic and socio-cultural environment and an unacceptable decrease in the quality of visitors' satisfaction‖. Coccossis and Parpairis (1992). Whereas Middleton and
3 Defining, measuring and evaluating carrying capacity in european tourism destinations” athens 2002.
Hawkins Chamberlain (1997) define it as ―the level of human activity an area can accommodate without the area deteriorating, the resident community being adversely affected or the quality of visitors experience declining‖ what both these definitions pick up on is carrying capacity is the point at which a destination or attraction starts experiencing adverse as a result of the number of visitors.
The majority of definitions contain two aspects: ―a capacity issue‖, e.g. ―how many tourists can be accommodated before some negative impacts occur‖ expressed in numerical terms, and a ―perception of capacity‖ issue, e.g. ―how much tourism is acceptable before there is a decline in visitor satisfaction‖
(Coccossis and Mexa, 2004). The TCC should simultaneously focuses attention, on one hand, on the host destination impacts and population attitudes(Martin and Uysal, 1990) and on the other hand, on tourist satisfaction, two issues interfaced one with the other. In fact, the greater the intensity of tourist use and the level of saturation of the tourist assets are, the more limited becomes the appeal of the tourist attraction, also causing a probable decline of the destination.
Forms of Carrying Capacity
There are number of different forms of carrying capacity referred to in tourism, however the management plan focuses on the four most commonly used; Physical carrying capacity, economic carrying capacity, social carrying capacity and biophysical carrying capacity.
Physical carrying capacity
This is the maximum number of tourists that an area is actually able to support. In the case of an individual tourist attraction it is the maximum number that can fit on the site at any given time and still allow people to be able to move. This is normally assumed to be around 1m per person. ―PCC per a day = area (in metres squared) x visitors per metre x daily duration"
(Mowforth and Munt)
4This is a formula which has been used to calculate the physical carrying capacity.
Measuring Physical Carrying Capacity (PCC)
PCC is the maximum number of tourists that can physically fit into or onto a specific area, over a particular time.
Formula: PCC = A/Au × Rf
Where: PCC = Physical carrying capacity; A = Available area for tourist use; Au = Area required per tourist; Rf = Rotation factor (number of visits per day)
Total area (A) of four beaches of Neil Island, was measured during the field (Table 1). Considering the area of four beaches, an optimum area required per tourist (Au) is 5 m2 and rotation factor (Rf) is determined by:
Rf = Daily open period / average time of visit Rf = 12 hours / 3 hours
Rf = 4
4 Mowforth, M. Munt, I. Tourism and sustainability; Development and new tourism in the third world, Routledge, London
Social carrying capacity
This relates to the negative socio-cultural related to tourism development. The indicators of when the social carrying capacity has been exceeded are a reduced local tolerance for tourism as described by Doxey‘s Index of irritation.
5Reduced visitor enjoyment and increased crime are also indicators of when the social carrying capacity has been exceeded.
Economic carrying capacity
This relates to a level of acceptable change within the local economy of a tourist destination, it is the extent to which a tourist destination is able to accommodate tourist functions without the loss of local activities,[4] take for example a souvenir store taking the place of a shop selling essential items to the local community. Economic carrying capacity can also be used to describe the point at which the increased revenue brought by tourism development is overtaken by the inflation caused by tourism.
6Biophysical carrying capacity
This deals with the extent to which the natural environment is able to tolerate interference from tourists. This is made more complicated by the fact that because it deals with ecology which is able to regenerate to some extent so in this case the carrying capacity is when the damage exceeds the habitat's ability to regenerate.
Environmental carrying capacity is also used with reference to ecological and physical parameters, capacity of resources, ecosystems and infrastructure.
7In spite of specific approach, such assessment of tourism carrying capacity follows the key procedure accepted by the World Tourism Organisation, represented in the WTO definition of tourism carrying
Waste management
Waste management or waste disposal are all the activities and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. This includes amongst other things collection, transport, treatment and disposal of waste together with monitoring and regulation. It also encompasses the legal and regulatory framework that relates to waste management encompassing guidance on recycling.
Waste management in WRPA waterfalls, the cafeterias in the site is dealing with someone who is responsible for taking "lifting" the solid waste "garbage for 100 LE per week for each cafeteria. It is
5 G. Shaw, A Williams, 1997, Critical issues in tourism: a geographical perspective, Blackwell
6 Mathieson and Wall, 1982, Tourism; economic, physical and social impacts, Longman, Harlow
7 Mexa, A. Coccossis, H. 2004, Tourism carrying capacity assessment, Ashgate
noticed there in no cafeteria used waste sorting technique so the project will afford and provide the cafeterias with waste sorting bins.
Liquid waste
All sewage of cafeterias is taken weekly of semimonthly by sewage vehicles managed by Youssef Elsedeik city council.
Energy and electricity and water.
All tourism activities in the waterfalls don‘t have access to electricity they using small generators to get their electric needs. The lack of electricity badly affects the quality of tourism services in the area of waterfalls especially food and beverage services. But in cooperation with PA the local community writing a petition document to ask PA to provide them with electricity. In addition to they don‘t have any water source suitable for the human use.
Tourism Services Quality assurance.
The plan aims to improve the overall quality of products and services within the tourism industry (all tourism-related accommodation, restaurants, tour guides, tour operators, and other tourism-related service providers); raise the levels of demand; promote competiveness within the industry; and, provide valuable and reliable information on quality standards for the tourist and the travel industry. The plan will follow UNWTO methodology as following.
Methodology:
evaluate the current tourism quality standards situation through initial negotiations with government officials and other key stakeholders of the national tourism industry; identify customers‘ needs and expectations (stakeholders, environment, direction, facilities, resources, overall objectives, challenges);
introduce available UNWTO quality products and services (modules); and, provide technical assistance as indicated in the modules below.
Module 1: Review of Existing Criteria for Tourism-Related Accommodation
• Review existing criteria for various facilities and services and evaluate these according to local, regional and global best practices and competitive environment
• Identify gaps and constraints
• Make appropriate recommendations on modifying and/or upgrading the existing criteria Module 2: Establishment and Formulation of New Criteria
• Identify for which facilities/services/sectors criteria need to be established
• Formulate criteria in line with national/regional needs and considering international industry practices and competitive environment
• Prepare initial criteria drafts
• Introduce criteria drafts to industry stakeholders
• Prepare final criteria and support the approval process Module 3: Implementation and Assessment of Criteria
• Establish assessment responsibilities and procedures (pre-post administration, on-site procedures, result reporting)
• Plan assessment/inspection tours
• Accompany national assessors/inspector visits on site
• Guide assessment findings and result definitions
Module 4: Capacity Building of National Criteria Assessors/Inspectors
• Evaluate assessor/inspector capacities, knowledge and expertise levels
• Identify gaps and constraints
• Make appropriate recommendations for most suitable capacity building methods (on-site, off-site)
• Introduce ―UNWTO assessor certification‖ after successful attendance of respective capacity building sessions and/or on-site progress
• Compile and provide assessment supporting tools (knowledge and reference manual, photo library)
• Develop ―Train the Trainer‖ programme
Module 5: Communication of Criteria
• Criteria launch press conference
• Industry workshops for key tourism stakeholders (accommodation sector, owners, investors, tour operators, transportation companies, tourism related service partners)
• Presentations to high schools, hotel and catering schools Module 6: Criteria and Quality Control (Mystery Guest)
• Familiarization of criteria
• Define controlling tools and methods (check-lists, documentation, reports, use of technology, etc.)
• Agree and establish control procedures (reservation, cost coverage)
• Plan time lines and execution
Managing quality of tourism services by Ecotourism Association
The under established ecotourism association will be responsible for mentoring and management of Tourism Services Quality in WRPA and QPA. All cafeterias owner agree in the meeting of Tuesday 15- 15- 2018 that they will use a uniform for cafeteria worker.
Negative impacts management and monitoring
Several impact assessment tools can be used to establish the significance of environmental impacts in a destination and in the surrounding area (Buckley, 2009). These include Environmental Impact Assessments and Strategic Environmental Assessments. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of a specific tourism development proposal within or around a protected area, for example, describes the project or development, predicts key environmental impacts and their significance, facilitates public consultation and participation, suggests appropriate mitigation methods, and documents the process of decision making, monitoring, and post‐project audits
(Bagri, et al., 1998). When applied effectively, EIAs are said to minimise the depletion of natural resources and social disruption (Ceballos‐Lascuráin, 1996). National legislative frameworks usually include provisions for EIAs, and there are often stringent requirements in protected areas. For example, in Mozambique developments in national parks and reserves require a Category A EIA, which is the most detailed, but also is the most costly and time consuming for developers.
Management Plans for protected areas can also be used to address environmental impacts of tourism.
Park management plans specify the type and degree of resource protection and management needed to assure the ecological integrity of the park and the management of its cultural resources; define the type, character and locale of visitor facilities, activities and services(Parks Canada, 2013). Management plans can provide context for tourism, including which are the areas of the protected area are zoned or allocated for commercial use.
On a broader scale, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is the formalised, systematic and comprehensive process of evaluating the environmental effects of a policy, plan or programme and its alternatives. In protected areas, SEAs can be used to assess the overall impacts of all tourism developments and activities within a protected area, and, for example, as a preparatory planning tool for tourism concessions (Therivel et al., 1992). Whereas EIAs are used to assess environmental impacts that may result from individual projects (e.g. one hotel development,) policies relating to multiple projects, with cumulative, synergistic, induced, global or regional effects require the more strategic SEA
