New Valley Tourism Assessment

CISS EGYPT – INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION SOUTH SOUTH

ECOTOURISM FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW VALLEY GOVERNORATE

ECOTOURISM RESOURCES

ASSESSMENT

THE NEW VALLEY GOVERNORATE

JUNE 2011

Environmental Design Group Architects - Landscape Architects - Environmental Planners

Mostafa and Mohamed Elkhatib www.edgegypt.com

Ecotourism Resources Assessment-New Valley Governorate

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Contributors:

Mohamed El Khatib Team leader, ecotourism planner and trainer

Dr. Wazir Abdelwahab Archaeologist

Dr. Mohamed Basiouny Ecologist, natural resources analysis

Mohsen Rashad Trainer

Hani El Nahlawy GIS expert

Mohamed Nemr Local Tour Guide

Hafez Abdelfattah Architect and head of field work

Doaa Tawfeek Data collection and analysis

Rana Saoud Field researcher and maps preparation

Robert Hart Uhl English language consultant


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Contents BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION

1. Natural and Cultural Profile of the New Valley Oases

1.1 Natural Heritage Resources

1.1.1 Morphology and Topography

Zone 1: Mountains and Escarpment Zones

Zone 2: Sand Dunes

Zone 3: Depressions

Zone 4: The Oases' “Farmlands”

1.1.2 Geology

1.1.3 Soil

1.1.4 Climate

1.1.5 Water

1.1.6 Flora and Fauna

1.2 Cultural Heritage Resources

1.2.1 History and Archeology

1.2.2 Handicraft and Local Culture

2. Socio-economic context

2.1 Economic Activities

2.1.1 Agriculture

2.1.2 Handicrafts and Agro-industry

2.1.3 Industry

2.1.4 Investment projects

2.1.5 Mining

2.2 Population

2.3 Labor force

2.4 Education

2.5 Administrative units

2.6 Infrastructure

2.6.1 Water

2.6.2 Sewage

2.6.3 Electrical Power

2.6.4 Telecommunications


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2.6.5 Health facilities

3. Current Tourism Market

3.1 Effects of Tourism Activities on the New Valley

3.2 Tourist Attractions in the Study area

3.3 Supply and Demand

3.3.1 Current Demand

3.3.2 Current Supply

Desert Safari operators

Accommodation

Tourist facilities

Accessibility

3.3.3 Seasons of Use

3.4 The Target Market

4. SWOT Analysis

4.1 Strengths

4.2 Weaknesses

4.3 Opportunities

4.4 Threats

5. Training Needs

5.1 Staff Training Needs in the New Valley

5.2 Training Needs For Local Guides

5.3 Local architects Training Needs

5.4 Handicraft Training Needs

References


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List of Tables Table (1)

Table (2)

Table (3)

Table (4)

Table (5)

Table (6)

Table (7)

Table (8)

Table (9)

Table (10)

Table (11)

Table (12)

Table (13)

Table (14)

Table (15)

Table (16)

Table (17)

Table (18)

Table (19)

Table (20)

Table (21)

Table (22)

Table (23)

Table (24)

Table (25)

Table (26)

Table (27)

Table (28)

Table (29)

Table (30)

Table (31)

Table (32)

Temperature in the New Valley

Climatological data in the New Valley

Land mammal species in the study area

Reptiles of the study area

Birds of the New Valley Oases

Cultivated land in the New Valley Oases 2009

Main crops

Investment projects in the New Valley Oases 2010

New Valley population 2010

Labor force in the New Valley Oases 2009

Education of the unemployed labor force in the New Valley Oases 2009

Education in the New Valley 1986-2006

Inhabited areas of the New Valley Governorate

New Valley Governorate administrative units

Fresh water supply and consumption in the New Valley 2007-2009

Wells and purification plants in the New Valley 2009

Sewage capacity in the New Valley 2009

Electric power capacity in the New Valley 2007 - 2009

Distribution of electric power by use in the New Valley 2008

Communication capacity in the New Valley 2009

Health facilities and hospitals in the New Valley,

Overall market features of the New Valley

Number of tourist arrivals by nationality 2009

Growth in tourist nights and number of tourists 1989-2010

Average hotel occupancy rates by main destinations of the New Valley,

2009

Tourists registered in Desert Safari packages in the New Valley Oases

2009

Examples of current packaged trips

Hotel accommodation by category 2007-2009

Breakdown of hotel capacity by category and oases, 2009

Hotel room prices in different hotel categories in the New Valley

Eating services and restaurants in the New Valley Governorate

Culture centers in the New Valley 2009


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List of Figures Figure (1)

Figure (2) Figure (3) Figure (4) Figure (5) Figure (6) Figure (7) Figure (8) Figure (9) Figure (10) Figure (11)

Figure (12) Figure (13) Figure (14) Figure (15)

Topography map of the New Valley

Barchan Dunes in the New Valley oases

Geology of the White Desert Park

Geology of the New Valley oases

Soil Map of the New Valley oases

Map of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer

Migratory bird paths in the New Valley oases

No. of factories 2008 - 2010

Administrative units of the New Valley Governorate

Number of tourist nights

Average hotel occupancy rates in the New Valley 2008 – 2010 Number of

tourist nights

Tourist nights and the occupancy rate

Visitors Country of oringin

The tour route map of the Oases Grand Tour, 12 days, by Zarzora Expedition

Number of hotels in New Valley


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BACKGROUND The "Ecotourism for Sustainable Development in the New Valley Governorate" project has been initiated to develop ecotourism in the New Valley Governorate through the sustainable development of its natural, historical, cultural and human resources in order to contribute to income regeneration for the local population. The project aims to preserve and increase the value of the environmental and cultural heritage of the New Valley Governorate while promoting the area as an attractive ecotourism destination for local and international tourists. The main activities of the project are:

1) To prepare maps and inventories for ecotourism resource data bases of the New Valley Governorate, and

2) To provide itineraries designed for tour operators and local guides.

The project seeks to establish ecotourism as a viable way to create several types of economic benefits for the local people. The general objective is to improve the livelihoods of the New Valley population through sustainable tourism development and effective management of environmental resources. Both conventional tourism and ecotourism can contribute to the achievement of these goals. However, one superior aspect of the ecotourism approach is its very conscious effort to maximize local benefits. This includes job creation, increased income, improved standards of living, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation and restoration. The project consciously endeavors to promote the social and economic well being of the local people, economy, and environment. The “Ecotourism for sustainable development in the New Valley Governorate” project is funded by Italian Egypt Debt for Development Swap Program and implemented by CISS, "Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud" to the agreement signed by the two parties. The project will support the Egyptian Tourism development plan. The duration of the project “Ecotourism for sustainable development in the New Valley Governorate” is 30 months starting from January 2010 and the total cost is 3,705,030.00 EGP.


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INTRODUCTION The New Valley oases uniquely combine a spectacular array of attractions including geological features, important biodiversity, remarkable scenic beauty, unique cultural heritage, and living traditions. The New Valley is truly a tourism destination that offers visitors an authentic and memorable experience. Despite the fact that New Valley‟s oases have the potential to attract a considerable tourist market, they have not yet fulfilled this potential. The local population and local government also have concerns regarding the current minimal local economic benefits from tourism. Over the last ten years, the New Valley oases have experienced significant growth in their number of visitors. The growth of tourism highlights the urgent need to study and plan this area as a new destination. A comprehensive and sustainable tourism plan for the New Valley oases is now of the utmost importance to ensure that primarily positive impacts from tourism are established for the people and natural resources of the area. The Ministry of Tourism recognized that the New Valley oases could be one of the best destinations in Egypt for combining ecotourism with more popular forms of tourism. The site potentially offers a significant departure from the conventional tourism development techniques currently being used by tourism facilities in Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Upper Egypt. The ecotourism product that the New Valley oases offer can become economically important to diversify the tourism product of Egypt. The value and strategic significance of the New Valley‟s oases resources can be summarized as follows:

Undisturbed environment and high quality desert landscape scenery

surrounded by beautiful oases. The region has suffered from a minimal amount of human alteration and possesses a distinctive desert and mountain character.

The New Valley oases can uniquely diversify the Egyptian tourism product, where visitors can experience present day desert safari at its best. Tourists can take a trip to the outskirts of the oases for a camel ride, an overnight camel safari amongst the dunes, or an exciting four wheel drive journey across the desert.

The main purpose of this report is to collect information, analyze the existing conditions at regional and local levels, and explore the constraints and opportunities related to tourism development within the territory of the New Valley oases. The report provides an overall assessment of the current tourism development in the major destinations of the New Valley Governorate, (Farafra, Dakhla, and Kharga oases) and puts forward the major steps necessary to increase capacity in sustainable tourism development in the area. The study aims to preserve and increase the value of the environmental and social resources of these areas while promoting them as attractive destinations for local and international visitors. This should contribute to the national efforts in promoting and diversifying the existing tourism product of Egypt.


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To conduct this study, several Interviews were carried out with stakeholder representatives from local and national levels. Extensive discussions were conducted with public sector and governorate leaders, including Governorate representatives, the Nature Conservation sector of the EEAA, the Ministry of Tourism, the Supreme Council of Antiquities, investors, hoteliers, artisans, teachers, students, investors, tourists, and local people. Key issues were identified, including the need for a tourism plan, infrastructure and service improvement, marketing support, and environmental education for the investors and local population. The interviewers agreed that more cooperative action by the public and private sector is urgently needed.

Methodology Data Collection The team conducted field surveys throughout the study area. GPS readings were utilized to compensate for the limitations of the available maps (particularly in terms of scale accuracy) and to cross reference with photographic documentation. The study area was surveyed principally with respect to the conditions of its ecotourism resources, categorized as: biotic resources, abiotic resources, culture heritage resources, and existing communities and infrastructure. The survey targeted the following objectives:

To obtain a preliminary assessment of the appeal of the study area.

To assess the attractiveness of the New Valley's natural and cultural resources, including heritage and cultural sites, scenic value, landscape formations, geology, wildlife species and habitats.

To assess the opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, trekking, riding and local life style …

To discover potential not previously considered Data Analysis: Analysis of Existing Conditions The analysis of the existing situation reflects the priorities and guides for the development of the study area as an ecotourism destination. The information and analysis of this report is a tool to ensure implementation of the strategic priorities in the field of sustainable tourism. It requires working in partnership with the interested parties such as: governmental organizations, NGOs, businesses, and local communities. The market analysis identified issues in the existing market pertaining to current demand and supply, the tour packages currently offer by tour operators, the salability of these packages, prices, and the relative advantage of the ecotourism resources of the New Valley. The attractions in the study area are classified and divided into three categories: primary, secondary, and supporting attractions. This classification helps identify the candidate sites for tourism development/activities with careful distinction between sites for development and sites for visits only. The successful assessment for the current tourism situation in the New Valley depends on a detailed analysis and full understanding of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing the development of tourism in the area.


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Natural and Cultural Profile of the New Valley

Oases Essentially, the “products” that ecotourism offers are the unique collections of natural and cultural resources offered by a particular area. Therefore, environmental information plays two vital roles in ecotourism planning. First, an environmental inventory of natural attractions is essential for determining an area‟s potential for becoming a viable ecotourism destination. Second, environmental information concerning the sensitivity or vulnerability of different areas to human activity identifies critical environmental management issues that need to be addressed in order to achieve sustainability. The diversity of the New Valley‟s resources provides huge potential for combining different types of tourism products in the same area. It hosts a unique blend of fascinating landscapes in this desert region where oceans of sand and the lush green of oases meet. The variety of resources offers a good opportunity to diversify the tourism product of the New Valley to include different types of unconventional tourism packages such as: ecotourism, rural tourism, scientific tourism, and desert safari, along with more popular forms of tourism. Amateur archeologists and paleontologolists, enthusiasts, and adventurers could all find an aspect of the New Valley to enjoy and discover. From Pharaonic temples, Roman forts, Christian cemeteries, Islamic medieval cities and tombs, to sensitive ecosystems and unique landscape, visitors will undoubtedly have many opportunities for both activity and discovery in the New Valley. The project team has carried out extensive field work and literature reviews to catalogue the unique features of the New Valley oases. These include:

1. more than ( 40 ) ancient heritage sites, 2. more than ( 10 ) cultural sites, 3. a variety of geological feature sites, 4. a variety of critical wildlife habitats, 5. and a rich diversity of wildlife species, including more than (24) bird species,

(13) native plant species, and (9) land mammal species

1.1 Natural heritage resources The desert ecosystem has always had a romantic appeal due to its natural beauty, amazing landscape, remoteness, and extreme living conditions, and has become an attractive ecotourism destination. Since the natural environment of the New Valley oases is the foundation upon which tourism experiences rely, the environmental characteristics that are unique to the New Valley oases need to be defined and understood in terms of complete ecosystems and key habitats. Successful tourism development will, therefore, depend upon sustaining the area‟s environmental integrity and preserving its cultural resources. The New Valley oases contain almost all the main land form features of global desert regions including, the Hamadas (rocky desert), Ergs (sandy desert), and Regs (gravel desert), as well as the desert oasis. The following are the main ecological zones and key habitats in the oases and are distinguished by the ways in which topography, climate, and geology influence the development and prosperity of plant and animal populations within each zone. Each of these ecological zones requires a


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specific tourism development plan and particular environmental management techniques in order to most effectively protect each area's unique conditions. 1.1.1 Morphology and Topography

The New Valley is best characterized as a land of extreme contrasts. Most notably, it is one of the world's most arid regions, but within it one can find green agricultural land covering large portions of the region. High mountain peaks offer stark contrasts to the expansive sand dune fields that border the oases. The abundance of water harvested from the Nubian aquifer, and the groves of palm trees, walled fruit plantations, fields (rice, wheat, and corn), vegetable gardens, springs, and wells contrast sharply with the hyper-aridity of the surrounding desert and its scarcity of biological species.

The topography is a maze of cliffs, depressions, escarpments, plains, dunes, and oases. Contrasts such as these have the potential for providing genuinely unique ecotourism experiences.

The New Valley is home to one of most spectacular landscapes in the Great Sahara Desert of North Africa: the White Desert. There one can find numerous, bizarrely- isolated hills, earth pillars and strange-shaped hillocks sculpted by the weathering action of blown sand and rain. There is the roundish Gebel Edmon, stone and clay hummocks on the western gateway of Dakhla Oasis, the sculptured landscape of the White Desert, the rock of the infidel army on the road to Ain Dallah, as well as the curious huge globular masses of Wadi el Battikh (Valley of Water Melons) on the road between Kharga and Asyut. All of these natural and sculptured landscapes are unique features for nature photographers and provide scenic value for the ecotourism experience.


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The White Desert is one of the most attractive landscapes in the New Valley. It is characterized by strangely shaped chalk pinnacles, mounds, and ridges, sculpted by the erosion force of the desert winds. They rise out of a flat limestone platform, which is covered by fine sand. The combination of dazzling white chalk, golden sand and brilliant, blue sky makes this one of the most stunning and impressive sights even in a land as full of superlatives as Egypt (GEO ExPro, 2006).

The topography of the area is full of unique features. The following morphological zones are among the major physiographic features of the New Valley.

Zone 1: Mountain and escarpment zones The mountain and escarpment zone of the New Valley oases is strikingly beautiful, with unique geological formations and phenomena. This area is similar in many respects to the rest of the Daffa plateau region that stretches across the northern portion of the area. Within these plateau, a ridge with cliffs and networks of wadis (dry water channels) has carved systems of dramatic and colorful escarpments. This zone begins at the uppermost ridgeline of the mountains/escarpment and extends to approximately three meters above the floor of the depression. Although rich in mineral deposits, the escarpment is austere and unable to support much life as vegetation cannot survive the extreme temperatures, unstable soils, and aridity of the upper elevations. Despite the scarcity of food for animals, the rocky outcrops of cliffs, ridges, caves, ledges and boulders provide shade, an extremely important commodity in a hot desert environment, for the few animals that thrive in this zone. It acts as day-time shelter for certain nocturnal animals, such as bats and horned vipers (Cerastes cerastes.) This zone also offers secure nesting sites for the Spotted and Crowned Sand grouse, the Rock and Laughing Dove, the Little and Pharaoh Eagle Owl, the Crested and Greater Hoopoe Lark, the Pale Rock Martin, and the Brown-necked Raven. Over much of the Sahara, rocky outcrops such as those in the New Valley Oases, provide the only shelter available for migrants on their long trans-Saharan journey. Thousands of migratory birds descend to rest under any object that provides some shade. In the relative cool among these rocks lie creatures such as the horned viper, awaiting the next reckless migrant to come their way (Baha el Din 1999). The mountains also serve as migratory routes and safe havens from predators for animals such as the slender-horned Gazelle Leptoceros gazella.

Zone 2: Sand Dunes Sand dunes are one of the most distinct ecological and morphological features of desert ecosystems. The sand dune zone is comprised of fine sand formations comparatively richer in water than the rocky desert of Zone 1. In hollow inter-dune valleys, evidence of moisture is found at a depth of only of a few centimeters; it's found at approximately 80 cm on the slopes. However, the mobile and abrasive nature of sand dunes means that few organisms can inhabit them, though there are a few annual plants in inter-dune areas where the superficial stratum remains powdery. The uniqueness of the sand dunes habitat type is illustrated by a host of animals and plants that have evolved special adaptations to life in sandy biotopes and are often confined to this habitat type. The sand dunes act mainly as linking corridors for wildlife between different ecological zones.


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Figure (1): Topography map of the New Valley

The distribution and density of various flora and fauna on the dunes are closely related to their morphology. Faunal diversity is similarly low in such places. Much of the vegetation is therefore confined to inter-dune troughs and sand sheets, where sand often accumulates around shrubs and bushes, forming phytogenic mounds. These represent an important structural component of the desert ecosystem of the New Valley oases and provide crucial microhabitats for numerous invertebrates and vertebrates. Plant cover in the sand dunes areas are rare, and, in expansive dune areas, completely non-existent. The few species that do occur in these sand dunes include: Gracorum Alhagi, Dactylifra Phoenix, Nitaria Ritusa, Tamarix Nilotica, Acacia Nilotica, and Acacia Raddiana. Characteristic fauna of sandy biotopes in the New Valley oases include: the Horned Viper, the Sand Viper, the Diadem Snake, the Saharan Sand Snake, the Sand Gecko, the Long-footed Lizard, and the Nidua Lizard. The mammalian species that do occur in the sand dunes zone include: the Fennec, the Red Fox, the Sand Fox, the Ruppel, the Gerbil and the Lesser Gerboua, the Jackal, and the Slender-horned and Dorcass Gazelle. The bird species include: the Sand Partridge, the Lanner, the Barbary and Sooty Falcon, the Eurasian Thick-Knee, the Hoopoe, the Crested Lark, the White-tailed Wheatear, the European Turtle Dove and the Laughing Dove, the Desert Lark and the House Sparrow.


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Parallel wavy dune Inter-dune plants Formal classification of types of sand dunes began in the 1970s, when scientists could examine photographs of dune fields taken on early space missions. They identified five types of dune, four of which are found in Egypt. (Lonely Planet publications) Parallel Straight Dunes Called seif (sword) in Arabic because they resemble the blades of curved Arab swords, these dunes are formed by wind and are primarily found in the Great Sand Sea and the northern Western Desert. Usually on the move, they will even fall down an escarpment, reforming at its base. There are large belts of longitudinal seif dunes that occupy the floor of many parts of the New Valley. Parallel Wavy (or Barchan) Dunes These are crescent-shaped dunes, with a slip face on one side. They are as wide as they are long and are usually found in straight lines, with flat corridors between them. Motile, like seif dunes, they can travel as far as 19m in one year. They are predominant in Al-Kharga and Dakhla Oases and are also found in the Great Sand Sea. Sand dunes in Kharga are mostly barchan dunes falling into three belts. The western group of the dunes accumulates around Gebel al-Tarif and Gebel al-Sheikh (cutting the Kharga-Dakhla road) and is part of the massive 300 plus kilometer Abu Muharrik belt. Star Dunes Created by wind blowing in different directions, these dunes are usually found alone. Instead of moving, they tend to build up within a circle. They are rare in Egypt but can still be found occasionally throughout the New Valley. Crescent (or Whaleback) Dunes These are hill-like dunes formed when a series of smaller dunes collide and piggyback one another. Distinctive, with sides pointing in different directions, they can be seen in the area between Al-Kharga and Dakhla Oases.

These sand dunes cover large portions of Farafra Oasis, especially in the middle and eastern parts, and stretches for more than 150 kilometers on the road between Farafra and Dakhla.

Extensive sand dune fields occupy large parts of the New Valley oases; some dunes can reach a height of 30 meters in certain areas. The sand dunes bound the western parts of the Dakhla Oasis. The longitudinal parallel Seif dunes, with an average height of 9m, occur on the western side of the oasis. The golden-colored Barchan


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sand dunes stretch along the edges of the depression. The two kilometer wide western field, almost oriented perfectly to the true magnetic north-south, runs for 14 kilometers between Gebel Edmondstone and the scarp. The road to Abu Minqar and Farafra Oasis, often blocked by blowing sand, passes directly over one of the dunes. The view north at this point is spectacular, with dozens of crescent shaped golden dunes marching south from the pink and white scarp over which they tumble to reach the depression floor.

Figure ( 2 ): Barchan Dunes in the New Valley oases

Zone 3: Depressions The New Valley‟s depressions are similar in many respects to the other depressions of the northern portion of the Western Desert. All are largely below sea level, they slope generally northward, and all are bounded by scarps and plateaus. Thus, they often function as basins of internal drainage. The depression ecosystem is bounded to the north by cliffs and a continuous ridge, which represents the southern margin of the El Daffa plateau, a limestone formation with numerous clay pans. Many short wadis dissect this ridge and drain into the depression below. To the south, the extensive dune fields form a natural barrier, extending some hundreds of kilometers and covering large portions of the depressions. The sand dunes are mostly of the longitudinal Seif type, with extensive inter-dunes frequently exposing the underlying Eocene plateau. KHARGA DEPRESSION

The Kharga depression is an elongated depression of some 7,000 square kilometers, stretching 185 kilometers from north to south and 80 kilometers east to west. It lies between latitudes 24° and 26° north and is surrounded by a chain of the cretaceous limestone hills of the Libyan plateau which rise up to 430 meters in elevation. The Libyan plateau separates the Kharga depression from the Nile via 140 kilometers of waterless limestone. The eastern and northern boundaries are sharply defined by


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steep scarps capped by Eocene or Cretaceous limestone. The later fossil deposits occur mainly along the eastern scarp and primarily consist of gravels, silts, and tuffs. The depression is located in an area of large sand dunes, some of which have encroached on inhabited and cultivated areas.

Kharga is the capital of the New Valley Governorate. It is situated 191 kilometers east of Dakhla and 244 kilometers due south of the Nile Valley city of Asyut. Today, the city of Kharga has been developed to the point that is has unfortunately lost most of its ancient oasis flavor.

Kharga Depression

DAKHLA DEPRESSION The Dakhla depression lies between N25 28 and N 25 44 Latitude and E 28 48 - E 29 21 longitude and covers an area of around 2000 square kilometers. It is bounded on the west by sand dunes and on the north by a high limestone escarpment that runs for 200 kilometers east-southeast to west-northwest along the northern edge of both depressions. The 300 to 400 meter high scarp is composed of a top layer of white chalky limestone followed by a mid-section of "greenish and ash-grey leafy clays" (Rohlfs) and has a base of brown and black beds containing gypsum and scattered deposits of fossils. The Dakhla depression is bounded on the east by the Abu Tartur Plateau. Dakhla is the farthest of all the depressions in the New Valley from Cairo. It is located 295 kilometers south of Farafra, and 191 kilometers west of Kharga via the paved road through the New Valley oases. Dakhla has an airfield but no scheduled service. The eastern part of the depression is open to the town of Dakhla, the west is blocked by massive sand dunes, and the south drops over a minor escarpment and then runs free and clear for hundreds of kilometers past the Gilf Kebir and into Sudan. The lowest point in Dakhla depression is 100 meters above sea level. More fertile than

Kharga, 45 percent of the total land area is under cultivation. The oasis is considered one of Egypt's most beautiful, surrounded by pink cliffs and large sand dunes. This is in contrast with the-lush greenery of its orchards of date palms, fruits, apricots, mangoes, and vegetable gardens. Dakhla has tens of natural springs. The spring water is supplemented by deep wells to irrigate additional land under the New Valley reclamation project.


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FARAFRA DEPRESSION The Farafra depression lies at E27 20 - E 28 59 longitude and N 26 18 - N 27 42 latitude between the Bahariya oasis, 176 kilometers to the North, and the Dakhla oasis, 295 kilometers to the south. Farafra is the largest depression in the Libyan Desert, measuring around 200km long and 90km wide, a total of about 18,000 sq. kilometers in size.

The Farafra depression is a triangular-shaped fertile depression with the impenetrable Great Sand Sea bordering the region to the west. Escarpments bound the depression on three of its sides. The eastern scarp, standing 244 meters high, and the western scarp are both steep-sided formidable barriers. The northern scarp, although lower, is actually two scarps, one behind the other. The southern part of the oasis is open. The depression floor comprises a mixture of white chalk and limestone which creates the White Desert, black iron pyrites and marcasite stones which create the Black Desert, scrub land, mud lions, and many seif dunes.

Zone 4: The Oases' “Farmlands” An oasis is a green isolated spot of fertile land surrounded by barren desert and supported by a natural ground water source. Oases lies in lower points in depressions close to the water table, allowing natural springs to form. Oases were vital to ancient trade routes, as cross-desert caravans needed to stop to replenish valuable food and water supplies. A typical oasis is thus characterized by its agricultural environment and its wildlife inhabitants. The oases in the New Valley are usually irrigated by interesting traditional local irrigation systems. The oases of the New Valley are strategically located in small, isolated, shallow sandy depressions located between escarpments and inter-dune areas. They display spectacular erosion formations sculpted over millennia by wind and sand. The oases are usually surrounded by either rocky mountains or sand dunes on all sides. An oasis is typically covered with sand, forming extensive fields of sand dunes with vegetated inter-dune valleys in between. Oases are known for their rich and diverse wildlife, which includes mammals, reptiles, migrant and resident bird species and numerous insect and other invertebrate species. This habitat is a prime location for bird and animal watching, making the farmland of the New Valley a great gathering point for migratory birds on their route between Europe and Africa. Birdwatchers never know what they'll find in the New Valley on any given day.


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1.1.2 Geology

Using remote sensing, geological maps, and field observation, the project discovered that the geology of the study area is simple in places where the area is covered by sedimentary rocks, mainly derived from limestone. The country rocks belong to the

Pliocene, Oligocene, Eocene, and Jurassic ages. It is believed that the depressions

were created at least 1.8 million years ago, probably by the natural forces of wind and water, assisted by upheavals and tectonic action in the Tertiary Period. The escarpment is an Eocene wall of limestone and is extremely steep and difficult to traverse The geologic map of the depression reveals the following features:

EOCENE: The oldest rocks in the depressions are the thick Eocene marine limestone with chert and minor clay beds that form the high cliffs and plateaus overlooking the depressions. The limestone is partially exposed along the Sin El-kaddab scarp and further to the west where it forms most of the plateau Darb El-Arba'in which is also exposed in the Kharga scarps and plateau and in the Farafra and Dakhla areas. It covers most of the central part of the Western Desert.

Paleocene formations are distributed in a band around the whole depression of Farafra, north Dakhla, and north and east Kharga.

JURASSIC: Represented by marine and associated fluviomarine beds. the upper part of this latter section is from the Cretaceous period. It is found to the south of Dakhla and west of Kharga.

UPPER CRETACEOUS: Upper Cretaceous marine sediments of the Western Desert oases have been of intense economic interest due to the phosphate-rich deposits of the Duwi Formation that form part of an extensive Middle East–North Africa phosphate province. The Dakhla Formation (introduced by Said, 1961) marks the Maastrichtian–lower Paleocene sequence exposed at Gebel Gifata in the Dakhla Oasis and spans the interval between the Duwi Formation (of late Camparian age) and the overlying Tarawan Formation (of late Paleocene age) (A. Tantawy et al 2001). Clastics, phosphate and carbonate rocks above Nubian Sandstone are the main components of these sediments, represented mainly by Duwi Phosphate and the lower part of the Dakhla Formation.

Nubian formation: A Coeval with Upper Cretaceous marine beds is defined by a suite of Litho bio-stratigraphic units with Duwi Formation at the top of the basement rock. In Dakhla and Kharga, the Nubian formation is divided into the Quseir Clastic and Taref Sandstone members and overlies a subsurface sandstone section that was formed during uncertain and variable periods within the Mesozoic and Paleozoic eras.

To the northwest of Qasr Farafra is the-Quss Abu Said Plateau, a 10 kilometer wide snow-white limestone plateau of Eocene-upper Cretaceous origin. West of Farafra and separated from it by the Quss Said Plateau is the uninhabited Daliya Depression. 80 kilometers wide, the floor is covered entirely by sand dunes. A major tectonic fold cuts through Farafra in a northeast/southwest direction. There is ample evidence of a dry lake bed or Playa. (Vivian 2000)

Minerals found in the area include: phosphate, ocher, cobalt, nickel, salt, and barytes. There are also black and red clays, the latter containing iron oxide.

The surface soils in the oases mainly consist of sand dunes, Nile deposits and undivided quaternary of the Wadi and Paliya deposits.


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Source: Nature conservation sector EEAA

Figure (3) Geology of the White Desert Park


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Source: Egyptian Geological Survey and Mining Authority

Figure (4) Geology of the New Valley oases


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1.1.3 Soil

The surface soils of the New Valley differentiate in type according to topographic position relative to the central point of the depression. Soils are generally well-drained, slightly saline, calcareous clays on the upper slopes of the depressions, and poorly-drained saline to highly saline clays on the lower slopes. The soil map of the New Valley depressions reveals the following types of soils and their geographical distribution:

1. Soils developed mainly from limestone form the primary soil types of the Daffa Plateau and the cliffs surrounding the depressions. These soil types includes three categories:

a. Stony and loamy sand Lithosols on rough to undulating denuded terrain found on the top of the Daffa plateau

b. Shallow or stony loamy sand - sandy loam soils of the Peneplains with hill remnants and/or sand dunes

c. Sandy soils with stony hill remnants of the Piedmont plains found along the foothills of the Daffa Plateau

2. Miscellaneous soils: found mainly along the cliffs of the escarpment surrounding the oases and formed from rocky escarpments of different country rocks

3. Sand dunes and sand sheets of the Western Desert: the soil of these dunes is very soft and heavy and extends for hundreds of kilometers.

4. Soils derived mainly from shale and formed from the reddish brown calcareous clayey soils of the desert oases

1.1.4 Climate

The climate of the New Valley depression is fairly typical of hyper-arid desert climates. The weather consists of scant winter rainfall, hot and dry days with bright sunshine throughout the year, extremely high summer maximum temperatures and moderately low winter minimum temperatures. The hyper-arid climate of the New Valley is characterized by a brief, mild, dry winter and long warm summer months (May to September) of clear sky, high ultraviolet radiation, and no rain.

According to climate data from the meteorological station in Kharga, the average annual rainfall is 4 mm. But this statistic masks the great variability in rainfall from year to year. In some years, no rain falls, while as much as 44mm has been recorded in one day. Temperatures in the rainless summer average around 28 C but can reach nearly 48.8 C. Five degrees or more below zero is possible in winter nights. High rates of evapo-transpiration throughout the year make the New Valley one of the most arid places on the earth. The prevailing winds are north-west, north or north-east, resulting in the formation of extensive sand dunes.

Temperature

The temperature is almost moderate during the four seasons. The average temperature does not exceed 40.5 ° C in the summer and does not go below 5 °C in winter. The temperature during the year is divided into two periods:

- The hot temperature period is from April to September, with temperatures ranging between 25-35 degrees Celsius, and sometimes rising to between 40-45 degrees Celsius. - The moderate temperature period is from October to March, where temperatures range between 2 and 22 degrees Celsius.


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Source: Egyptian Geological Survey and Mining Authority

Figure (5): Soil Map of the New Valley Oases


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Wind

The wind speed doesn't generally exceed 6 knots/hour throughout most of the year. However, during spring months, the area is subject to the seasonal Khamaseen hot winds, which blow from the southwest, carrying sand and dust from the desert. The lowest wind speeds are recorded during winter, in December and January.

Humidity

The average humidity percentage is around 45% during the year. The most suitable time for ecotourism are autumn-winter-spring months starting from October to April where the maximum and minimum, average temperature are around 27°C and 17°C and the relative humidity are around 50 to 28 respectively.

Rain

Rainfall is scarce throughout the year. Most of the rainfall occurs in winter with averages of 4.1 mm in December and January. Summer seasons are virtually dry.

Table (1): Temperature in the New Valley Highest

Maximu

Highest

minimum

Average Absolute maximum

Absolute minimum

21.2 5.3 21.9 22.6 2,4 January

26.5 8.2 17.2 26.4 2,8 February

24.7 10.7 17.8 28.6 8,6 March

37.2 17.7 27.8 43.8 12,2 April

38.1 22.1 30.2 43.8 14,8 May

40.4 25.2 33.1 45.8 22,6 June

40.3 25.7 33.4 45.2 22 July

40.6 24.3 33.1 45.3 22.2 August

37.9 23.9 30.8 41.8 19.7 September

33.3 20.5 26.8 37.3 17.2 October

25.8 11.8 18.7 28.4 7,2 November

26.3 11.2 18.5 30.6 6,8 December

32.67 17.25 25 36.42 13,25 Mean

Source: Kharga Metrological station


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Table ( 2 ): Climatological data in the New Valley

Daily Humidity

average

Average Evaporation

MM/day

Average wind speed

Knot/hour

60 4.67 3.3 January

44 6.05 3.1 February

38 11.6 10.4 March

28 16.09 6.2 April

28 18.29 6.1 May

32 21.03 6.2 June

38 20.75 5.2 July

39 17.72 4.8 August

45 17.29 4.2 September

50 15.92 8.3 October

66 8.73 6 November

61 8.57 2.8 December

44.08 13.9 5.58 Mean Source: Kharga Metrological station

1.1.5 Water

The main groundwater source in the New Valley is the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer. The water is extracted through hand dug or drilled wells and is used for irrigation and potable water. The Nubian Sandstone, which composes most of the depression floor, is 700 meters thick. The groundwater extracted from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer meets only 7 % of Egypt' water demand. The area of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System is composed of different water bearing strata that are differentiated into two systems, namely the Nubian Aquifer System (NAS) and the Post Nubian Aquifer System (PNAS). The NAS underlies almost all the area of Egypt, Eastern Libya, Northern Sudan and Northern Chad. The NAS comprises the Paleozoic and the Mesozoic deposits and overlies the Pre-Cambrian basement complex. The PNAS occurs to the north of the 26th latitude, overlying the NAS in the north of the Western Desert of Egypt and north-eastern Libya. The PNAS comprises the Tertiary continental deposits in Libya and Egypt and the Tertiary carbonate rocks in Egypt. A low permeability layer belonging to the Upper Cretaceous and the lower Tertiary sediments separates the two systems (Khaled Abu-Zeid). See the Figure No. (6): Map of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer A minimum safe yield from the aquifer has been estimated to be 2 million gallons a day, and is used primarily for watering the cultivated area of the oasis. The salinity is low, and ranges from 2000 to 3000 PPM. The groundwater suitable for agriculture and domestic uses occurs in relatively shallow non-artesian aquifers or in small shallow semi-perched aquifers with slight artesian pressure. Most of the groundwater presently extracted is used for agriculture. The private farms of the old traditional oases are the major users of water from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer (Bakhbakhi 2006). A water source is considered a spring if it bubbles up naturally and only needs to be cleared from time to time, or, a well if the source had to be tapped by a drill. There are hundreds of springs and wells in the New Valley oases. Most of them have been running nonstop, night and day, for thousands of years with no sign of abating (Vivian


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2000). The springs and wells contain iron, magnesium, sulfur, and chloride and their healing waters are good for rheumatism, colds, skin diseases, and kidney stones. Groundwater use has been growing in the last 40 years in the New Valley, resulting in a groundwater table decline of 60 m in the oases. Most of the older free-flowing wells and springs have been replaced by deep wells (Bakhbakhi 2006). Murakami (1995) gives figures according to which yields declined by 40% after a few deep wells had been drilled in the 1950s in the Kharga and Dakhla Oases. However, large irrigation schemes are under development at Al Oweinat (in the southwestern part of the country), in the vicinity of traditional irrigation systems in the New Valley. In 2003 4,200 ha were already under irrigation, and there are current plans to increase this area. When fully developed, the New Valley Project will extract 540 MCM from the Dakhla sub-basin (Al-Eryani / Appelgren / Foster 2006).The New Valley Project has created a new river valley by pumping water from Lake Nasser 310 km to the Baris Oasis. The water is used for agricultural production along the entire route (http://lexicorient.com/e.o/nw_valley.htm). Since the availability of water is a limiting factor for agricultural production, the use of saline groundwater for agriculture and the concomitant change in agricultural practices and crops is currently being discussed as a potential way to increase water supply (IWMI 2004).

1.1.6 Flora and Fauna

Flora The New Valley oases are located in an extremely arid region and are characterized by plant life adapted to extreme conditions. The biology of the area is further augmented by a remarkable diversity of botanical species that surprise visitors with their bright colors and adaptability to arid conditions. At least 13 native desert plant species in addition to agriculture plant species have been recorded in the New Valley governorate. The New Valley contains mainly two types of plant communities including: Desert shrub community: Occurring throughout the area (with minor variations due to soil and moisture conditions), these plants share a number of adaptations that enable them to survive in the hostile environment of the New Valley's deserts. This community consists of sparse desert flora in small patches in the lowlands of the inter-dune and desert plain areas. The desert shrub and sub-shrub plants include: Acacia nilotica, Acacia raddiana, nitraria retusa, Tamarix nilotica, , Phoenix dactylifera, alhagi graicorum, and Desmostachya bipinnata. The plant species in the desert areas includes: Stipagrostis spinosa, Tamarix nilotica, Cornulaca monacantha, Nitraria retusa, Phoenix dactylifra, Phragmites australis, Calligonum commosum, Desmostachia bipinnata, Coculus pendulus, Acacia nilotica, Acacia raddiana, Salsola sp., and Alhagi graicorum. (White Desert Protected Area)


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Source: (UNESCO - IHP-VI 2006)

Figure (6): Map of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer- General map of trans-boundary aquifer.


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Agricultural plants: The agriculture land of the New Valley Governorate covers an area of about 176,747 feddan. The fruit trees in the study area include figs, olive, and palm trees. Other traditional crops such as vegetables and wheat are produced, mostly for local consumption.

Fauna The animal species that do inhabit New Valley desert are exceedingly rare and therefore offer considerable attraction to tourists. A list of 9 land mammals was identified by the staff of the White Desert Park. Several are now very rare or extinct, including the slender horned gazelle, Gazella leptoceros leptoceros. The New Valley population of this sub-species may represent the only survivors in the world and is now probably locally extinct (IUCN, 2000). Other key wildlife species include Gazella dorcas (listed as an endangered species), the ubiquitous Sand fox, Vulpes rueppelli, and the Fennec fox, Vulpes zerda. The main factors of declining mammal populations are loss of habitat, hunting, and the widespread use of rodent poison.

Table (3) : Land Mammal Species in the study area

Status Arabic Latin English

Nationally Critical and Globally Endangered, living in Wadis and rocky areas

Gazella leptoceros Slender-hornedغزال أبيض

Gazelle

Nationally Endangered, living in the Wadis and rocky areas

Gazella dorcas Dorcas Gazelleغزال مصري

Common كبش أرويAmmotragus lervia Barbary Sheep

Common ذئب / إبن آوىCanis aureus Jackal

Common ثعلب أحمرVulpes vulpes Red Fox

Common روبل / ثعلب الرمالVulpes rueppelli Rüppel's Sand Fox

Living in sandy habitat areas, Nationally Endangered

Vulpes zerda Fennec Foxفنك

Common بيوضيGerbillus gerbillus Lesser Gerbil

Common جربوعJaculus jaculus Lesser Gerboua

Source: White Desert Protected Area


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Reptiles: a total 21 species of reptiles have been recorded in the White Desert park. The reptiles adapted to life in extreme arid biome conditions and some are found near springs, inter-dunes areas and wadis where vegetation grows. Perhaps sand dune Lizard is the most widespread type and located in sandy areas and dunes. The Horned viper is the most dangerous species in the rocky and desert areas of the region.

Horned Viper

Birds: the New Valley is a home for more than 24 species of birds. Perhaps the Eurasian Thick-knee bird is the most common and can be found in the sandy and gravel landscape. Large numbers of migratory birds, mostly in the spring and autumn periods, pass through White Desert National Park (White Desert National Park). During the spring and autumn, a remarkable diversity of birds migrates along New Valley‟s oases. This migratory corridor represents a critically important route for birds traveling between the northern and southern hemispheres.

Table ( 4 ): Reptiles of the study area

English Latin Arabic

Saharan Fan-toed Gecko Ptyodactylus siphonorhina برص أبوكف صحراوي

Sand Gecko Stenodactylus petrii ًبرص واسع انعٍه رمه

Elegant Gecko Stenodactylus sthenodactylus ) برص واسع انعٍه

Steudner‟s Pigmy Gecko Tropiocolotes steudneri ) برص ححج انحجر

Tripoli Pigmy Gecko Tropiocolotes tripolitanus ًبرص ححج انحجر طرابهس

Sinai Agama Pesudotrapelus sinaitus قاضً سٍىاء

Qadi El Gabal Trapelus mutabilis قاضى انجبم

Bosc‟s Lizard Acanthodactylus boskianus ) سحهٍت خشىت

Long-footed Lizard Acanthodactylus longipes سحهٍت انكثبان

Nidua Lizard Acanthodactylus scutellatus ) سحهٍت انرمم

Small-spotted Lizard Mesalina guttulata ) سحهٍت صغٍرة انىقط

Red Spotted Lizard Mesalina rubropunctata ) سحهٍت حمراء انىقط

Desert Monitor Varanus griseus ) ورل صحراوي

Ocellated Skink Chalcides ocellatus ) دفان أبو عوٌىاث

Sandfish Scincus scincus ) سقىقور

Audouin‟s Sand-skink Sphenops sepsoides (Audouin 1829 ) دفان

Diademed Sand Snake Lytorhynchus diadema ) ًبسباس جبه

Saharan Sand Snake Psammophis aegyptius أبو انسٍور مصري

Diadem Snake Spalerosophis diadema ) أرقم أحمر

Horned Viper Cerastes cerastes ) أفعى مقروت

Sand Viper Cerastes vipera ) أفعى قرعاء



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Table ( 5 ): Birds of the New Valley Oases English Latin Arabic

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus صقز حوام

Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus صقز الجزاد

Sooty Falcon Falco concolor صقز الغزوب

Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus صقز حز

Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides صقز شاهيه مغزتي

Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus كزوان صحزاوي

Cream-colored Courser Cursorius cursor جليل

Spotted Sandgrouse Pterocles senegallus قطا أوقط

Crowned Sandgrouse Pterocles coronatus قطا متوج

Rock Dove Columba livia حمام جثلي

European Turtle-Dove Streptopelia turtur يمام قمزي

Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis يمام مصزي

Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto يمام مطوق

Pharaoh Eagle-Owl Bubo ascalaphus توهح

Little Owl Athene noctua أم قويق

Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis غزاب الثيه

Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis صزد الثاديح

White-tailed Wheatear Oenanthe leucopyga سرسور / أتلق أتيض التاج

Pale Rock-Martin Hirundo obsoleta سىووو الصخز الثاهت

Bar-tailed Lark Ammomanes cincturus قىثزج الصحزاء موشمح الذوة

Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti قىثزج الصحزاء

Greater Hoopoe-Lark Alaemon alaudipes مكاء

Crested Lark Galerida cristata قىثزج متوجح

Trumpeter Finch Rhodopechys githaginea سميز مصزي



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Figure ( 7 ): Migratory bird paths in the New Valley oases

Dorcas Gazelle: Photo by Khaled Aeafa


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1.2 Cultural Heritage Resources

1.2.1 History and Archeology

There is evidence to suggest that the oases of the New Valley have been inhabited since prehistory, or perhaps from as long ago as 200,000 years. As with the Western Desert and the great Sahara desert of Northern Africa, the New Valley oases were once a savannah that supported all manners of wildlife. In Neolithic times (5500-2500 B.C.), the climate of the oases was similar to that of the African savanna today. Buffaloes, giraffes, lions, elephants, rhinos, zebras, ostriches, and hartebeests wandered the shores of a huge lake in Dakhla, on whose southern bank primitive people had settled to herd goats and cattle. The entire region was a vast hunting ground that supported nomadic tribes. Gradual climate change led to desertification and turned the vast area into the arid expanse seen today. With this breakdown of the environment came massive migration away from the oases. Pharaonic (2686-332 B.C) The ancient Egyptians understood the nature of the desert, which they saw as being synonymous with death and exile. Seth, the god of chaos (and who killed his brother Osiris), was said to rule here. Despite their fears, it is believed that the ancient Egyptians did maintain links with the oases throughout the Pharaonic era, although so far, with the exception of Dakhla Oasis, there is scant evidence for this assertion from before the Third Intermediate Period. But with the accession of a Libyan dynasty (22nd dynasty, 945-715 BC), focus moved to the west and to the oases, with many caravan routes to the Nile Valley. Many monuments in Al-Kharga date from this

period. It is likely that, during the Old Kingdom, Dakhla Oasis had a direct link to the Nile Valley via the Darb al-Tawil and was not dependent on the route through nearby Kharga Oasis. In fact, evidence suggests Dakhla may have been much more important to the Nile Valley pharaohs than Kharga. Hundreds of excavations have told us much about life during the pharaonic era. Archaeologists believe that Ain Asil was the Old Kingdom capital of Dakhla Oasis. During the New Kingdom in Dakhla, settlement moved further west and Mut became the capital. We know from inscriptions on tombs in the Nile Valley that taxes from both Kharga and Dakhla were paid in wine, fruit, minerals, and woven products. We also know that throughout history the oases were difficult to bring under control. So far away from the Nile, and with so inhospitable a journey, few people went willingly to the desert. (Vivian 2000)

Qasr Al Ghawita

Qilaa Dabbaa

Hibis


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Roman Period (30 B.C.E.- 323 AD) The oases enjoyed a period of great prosperity during Roman times, when new wells and improved irrigation led to a vast increase in the production of wheat and grapes for export to Rome. Prosperity was also encouraged by provincial army units, usually consisting of non-Romans serving under Roman officers, which protected the oases and trade routes. For these reasons, the oases were very heavily populated during Roman rule. Roman farms, villages, and cemeteries litter the landscape, with major sites discovered at Asmint, Amheida, Umm Dabadib, Munira, Geb, Sumaryia and Qasr. The Romans grew wheat, barley, and cotton. They had presses for olive oil and wine, and raised chickens and pigs. The New Valley oases became the grain basket of the Roman Empire. Most of the annual supply of grain from Egypt was produced in the oases, an agricultural lifeline from the farthest corner of the Empire. Most Roman settlements occurred along trade routes and around water sources including paliya lakes and springs that are now fossilized. Garrisoned fortresses can still be seen in the New Valley deserts, and Roman temples and tombs lie scattered across all the oases. In Kharga, there are springs at high elevations, and ancient settlements have been found in the passes leading out of the oases. Unlike Kharga, dotted with dozens of Roman fortresses, only a few ruined fortresses have been found in Dakhla. The Kharga fortresses guarded the Darb al-Arbain, the major economic link to the interior of Africa. While the Ptolemaic rulers had soldiers who were generally also farmers living with their families, Roman soldiers lived in fortified camps and outposts. Small detachments rotated to key places on the frontier. The Romans never achieved a sense of belonging to Egypt. No evidence has yet emerged to indicate a heavy Greek presence in the oasis, but several Ptolemaic structures have been found. Christian Period (323-642) When the Romans withdrew from Egypt, the trade routes became unsafe and were a target for attacking nomadic tribes. Trade suffered, the oases went into gradual decline, and the population of settlements shrank. The population grew again, however, when Christians came to the oases and occupied some of the older Roman sites. There are ruins of Coptic churches and communities dating back as late as the seventh century. Bagawat cemetery in Kharga is one of the most important Christian necropolises in Egypt.

Dush

Um Dabadib


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Umm Dabadeb

Qasr El Labkha

Islamic Era (641-1798) By medieval times, raids by nomads were severe enough to bring Mamluk garrisons to the oases. Fortified towns like Qasr Dakhla, Qasr Kharga, Qasr Farafra, Mut, Balat, Qalamun, and Budkhulu were constructed to protect the people from the threat of outside invaders. They were built on the top of hill or a cliff to benefit from natural defensive positions. These Islamic towns were divided into quarters, with gates that were locked at night against invaders. Buildings in these towns, like Qasr Dakhla, date to the Ayyubid Period, 1171-1250. All the domed tombs found throughout the oases have their origins in Islamic architecture and some of the facades, especially in Qasr, are still in their original Islamic style.

Qasr Dakhla

Budukhlu

1.2.2 Handicraft and Local Culture

The New Valley offers a fantastic glimpse of traditional Egyptian lifestyle. With rich and complex ethnic cultural groups (containing farmers from both the oases and from the Nile Valley), most villages in New Valley have traditional handicrafts particularly expressive of the history and traditions of the local people. The abundance of palm trees and clay found in the New Valley has allowed the basket and pottery industry to flourish. Villages such as Bashandi, Lwaa Sobeih, Farafra, Dosh, and Dahus are all craft centers. Most of the handicrafts produced in such places are often linked to agricultural cycles, the strengthening of rural economies, and the indirect stimulation of the production of locally available raw materials needed for craft products. Intensive field investigations were carried out with the craft producers in Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga. Also, many vendors in various locations in the New Valley were investigated during the needs assessment exercise. Investigations with the


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individuals and groups were carried out using the participatory strategic planning methodology. This approach helped the craft producers to effectively propose many ideas focusing on handicraft development in the context of the general economic development in the New Valley. A significant decline in the production of crafts in the New Valley has taken place during the last century. Craftsmanship has ceased to be a public need and has essentially become a tourist industry. Due to the decrease in demand of the handicraft products, many of the craft producers have abandoned their profession. This has led to the loss of many job opportunities in handicraft production. Crafts were once part of the daily activity of the whole family; women and children worked together in the home. Most handicraft activities are carried out at the household level or at the community level, benefiting the social relations existing in such rural areas. Handicrafts play a valuable role in funneling the spare time of the family members in the direction of creative and profitable work. Most of the craft producers in the New Valley are poor and unskilled and live in Farafra, Bashandi, Qasr, Lwaa Sobeih, and Kharga. Women and children make up a large percentage of them. The craft producers are increasingly marginalized due to the social, economical and cultural changes through the last decades. They have no strong resources for financial, human, and social support. The low sales of the products cause low income, causing in turn a drain on the time of the producers and in turn a further deterioration of their income and their skills. Except for the handicraft producers in Bashandi and Lwaa Sobeih, they earn an average of LE 1500 - 2500 per year.

Basketry

Carpet Weaving

The decrease in the local demand for the products is due to the lack of capital, knowledge, and skills to access new markets. Although the local private traders help in linking producers to markets, the sole concern of the traders is to maximize personal profits at the expense of the already marginalized producers. There is an utter lack of participation in representative organizations that could protect handicraft producer interests. Job opportunities created in the handicrafts field are decreasing due to the deterioration of the profession in general. The main weakness of the recent status of the handicrafts in the New Valley is that the products are unfit for sale due to a lack of quality assurance. In addition, the producers' skills in management, production process, trade, marketing, pricing, and


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decision making are very weak. Small investments in quality control and promotion could help improve the success and revival of handicrafts in the New Valley. Some interesting handicrafts can be purchased at Bashendi such as wooden door locks/latches. These are sold out of homes and by women and children in the streets. One can also visit a carpet factory there. Dakhla's old towns of Bashendi, Al-Qasr, Mut, and Balat have craft products that could be of considerable interest to tourists. All such locations will need extensive revitalization before being able to support any significant touristic presence. There are some places that already display handicrafts for purchase in the New Valley oases, including: the Lwaa Sobeih Association for Community Development, the Hayah Association for Development at Farafra, Dohuz Handicrafts, and the Beshandy Carpet Factory.

In Kharga, two factories were established in the early sixties to produce traditional pottery and carpets in the hopes of establishing new industry in the oasis. Through the years, the work has expanded to include a variety of products. Local artists, using modern pottery methods, make not only traditional pots, but candlesticks and flatware. Two types of carpet are made in the carpet factory, knotted carpet and

woven rugs.

The interviews and workshops carried out with local groups revealed that local residents have an interest in arranging various ecotourism activities such as visits to the surrounding desert or “desert nights.” Some residents would like to host tourists who are interested in learning about their customs and traditions; they believe they could entertain these visitors by providing them with traditional food, or by baking traditional bread and serving traditional coffee. The knowledge and skills they wish to offer are based on living in close proximity to nature and on their traditional knowledge. In addition to working as desert guides, residents showed an interest in playing traditional musical instruments, singing traditional songs, and reciting poems. Another artistic skill offered was, as previously mentioned, the production of handicrafts like pottery, carpets, basketry, and palm products.


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Socio-economic context The traditional economy of the New Valley oases relies mainly on irrigated agriculture in household gardens, which support an abundant production of dates, olives and alfalfa. The latter is used to feed the small livestock kept by women in the courtyards of their homes. The cultivated area of the New Valley amounted to around 176,747 feddan in 2009.

The cash economy generally depends on selling the yearly harvest of dates and olives to external buyers. As a result, the cash income of the oases is entirely concentrated in two months of the year, September and October, when external labor is hired for the collection of the fruit.

The traditional homes have been largely replaced by modern buildings, which are more easily maintained, especially after heavy rains, and confer on their occupants improved social standing. The ancient fortified towns of Qasr Dakhla, Qasr Farafra and Budukhlu have all been abandoned.

Government intervention and private external investments support large scale development such as oil and gas production and large-scale agricultural projects, as well as small-scale industry such as the bottling of mineral water and agro-industrial processing plants.

Today's population is a mix of peoples who have traveled to the oasis through the ages. There are elements of Libyan, Nubian, and Sudanese heritage but mainly the people are Berber and Bedouin. Among themselves they make distinctions from village to village: al-Mahub is of Sanusi origin; Balat and Tineida is Moroccan; Qasr is Saudi Arabian; Qalamun, Turkish, and Mut is Asyuti and Bedouin. Sheikh Wali is considered a new village populated by the people from Gedida. (Vivian 2000)

2.1 Economic Activities

The 2005 Human Development Report for Egypt indicates that the average per capita share of the gross domestic product in the New Valley Governorate amounted to 6,295.6 pounds, and ranks 12th among governorates in Egypt in terms of domestic product.

2.1.1 Agriculture

1. Agriculture dominates the economy and comprises approximately 60% of the manpower.

2. The production of crops includes wheat, barley, beans and rice. Orchard products include dates, oranges, apricots, and olives. New plants currently being developed include medicinal and perfume plants. Recent years have seen the introduction of a number of modern innovations: diesel pumps, certified seeds, chemical fertilizers, mechanization, and commercial pest management. Olives, dates, onions, and dried fruit are exported to the Nile Valley.

3. According to governmental estimation of the agriculture state in New Valley area, the agriculture land covered about 176,747 feddan in 2009 which rely completely on underground water. The main problem that increased agricultural production faces today is water availability.


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4. Date palm tree farms make up 7.6% of the cultivated fruit land of the New Valley.

Table ( 6 ) Cultivated land in the New Valley Oases 2009

Total Agriculture land (feddan)

2007 2008 2009

4130 4321 21840 Kharga

55396 57921 102273 Dakhla

92278 96456 42264 Farafra

457 478 10370 Baris

152261 159286 176747 Total

Source: Information Center, New Valley Governorate 2009

Table ( 7 ) Main crops

Unit Area per feddan

Production Productivity

Barley 1000 Ardab 19,122 292,059 15,3

Wheat 1000 Ardab 57,229 806,609 14,1

Date 1000 Ton 13,498 51,949 3

Corn 1000 Ton 5,997 1061,374 38


2.1.2 Handicrafts and Agro-Industry

Women of the region mainly contribute tangibly to the local economy via handicrafts and agro-products. To a large extent they depend on agriculture and animal raw materials. The most important of their activities include:

a. producing carpets and blankets, spinning wool, curing leather, making embroidery and sewing;

b. picking olives, drying peppermint and dates, and producing olive oil; c. Producing palm products and basketry

2.1.3 Industry

For promoting the industrial development in the New Valley, the governorate established two industrial areas to motivate industrial investment. To encourage industrial development in these areas, the lands were allocated to investors at nominal prices, while providing all the required utilities and services. The number of factories in these industrial areas has tripled since 2008.


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Figure (8) No. of factories 2008-2010 2.1.4 Investment projects

In the investment field, more than 440 projects have been established, amounting to a total cost of 2,400 million pounds. More than 108 of these projects are industrial, 265, agricultural, 28 are tourism projects and 39 are service projects. In the last three years, more than 221 projects were established and provided 4,890 employment opportunities. The tourism and industrial sectors are witnessing remarkable growth following the governorate‟s efforts to facilitate investment procedures under the government program to increase investment and employment opportunities in the Upper Egypt Governorates.

Table ( 8 ) Investment projects in the New Valley Oases 2010

Sector Operated projects

Under construction projects

Planned projects

Total

Agriculture 181 46 38 265

Industrial 70 26 12 108

Tourism 15 8 5 28

Services 23 8 8 39

Total 289 88 63 440


2.1.5 Mining

Mining activity in the New Valley is focused in the Abu Tartour area, where phosphate is extracted and exported through Safaga port on the Red Sea. There remain many mineral sources which have not yet been exploited..

2.2 Population

In 2010, the total population was estimated to be around 200,000 capita in the New Valley oases, with 80,000 in Kharga oasis, 72,000 in Dakhla oasis, and 23,000 in Farafra oasis, with an average growth rate of over 2.23% per year.

1. The population density is very low, around 0.4 capita per km2.

2. About 32.5% of the total Governorate population is concentrated in Kharga City and its hinterland.


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The population of the region has certain characteristics that could be summarized as follows:

A high percentage of the population is under 15 years old (32.7% of total population), and a low percentage of the working population is of productive age, compared with the national standards.

There are high educational standards and the illiteracy rate is low: less than 1% of the population.

As for urban / rural distribution, 50.5% of the population lives in urban areas amounting to 101,000 persons.

In 2010, Dakhla had a population of some 71,981 capita; Kharga, 80,173; Farafra, 23,353; and Baris, 11,366.

The average life span in the New Valley is 70.7 years.

The average age of marriage for educated men is twenty-five to thirty and uneducated men from twenty to twenty-five.

Youth marry within their extended families. The child mortality rate below the age of 5 years amounted to 21.3%

Table ( 9 ): New Valley Population 2010

Total Percentage

Male : Female

Percent .Rural : Urban

Families Female Male

65278 51% 49% 81% 15180 32282 32996 urban Kharga

14895 52% 48% 19% 3307 7188 7707 rural

80173 51% 49% 100% 18487 39470 40703 total

4707 51% 49% 41% 1094 2289 2418 urban Baris

6659 51% 49% 59% 1413 3242 3417 rural

11366 51% 49% 100% 2507 5531 5835 total

4640 49% 51% 35% 1151 2348 2292 urban Balat

8567 49% 51% 65% 2209 4368 4199 rural

13207 49% 51% 100% 3360 6716 6491 total

21473 52% 48% 30% 4993 10406 11067 urban Dakhla

50508 50% 51% 70% 12293 25096 25412 rural

71981 51% 49% 100% 17286 35502 36479 total

4904 55% 45% 21% 1114 2227 2677 urban Farafra

18449 54% 46% 79% 4137 8447 10002 rural

23353 54% 46% 100% 5251 10674 12679 total

101002 51% 49% 50.5% 23532 49552 51450 urban Total

99078 51% 49% 49.5% 23359 48341 50737 rural

200080 51% 49% 100% 46891 97893 102187 total

Source: New Valley Governorate, Information center 2010

2.3 Labor force

The labor force of the New Valley, around 71,761 persons, represents approximately 30% of the total population. The average unemployment rate is 14% of the total labor force. Locally, unemployment is the lowest in Farafra, at around 6%, and the highest in Baris at around 20%. The unemployment rate for the labor force with a university degree was at 9% of the total unemployment in the New Valley Governorate.


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Table (10) Labor force in the New Valley Oases 2009

Centers Labor force Employment Unemployment

Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total

El Kharga 21836 7137 28973 19550 5425 24975 2286 1712 3998

Baris 2577 1139 3716 1836 426 2262 741 713 1454

Balat 2610 1640 4250 2156 1245 3401 454 395 849

El Dakhla 19279 8093 27372 17753 7241 24994 2906 852 3758

El Farafra 5187 2263 7450 4841 2118 6959 346 145 491

Total 51489 20272 71761 46136 16455 62591 6733 3817 10550

Source: Information Center, New Valley Governorate 2009 Table (11) Education of the unemployed labor force in the New Valley Oases 2009

Centers

Level of Education Unemployment

rate High Average Above average

Without Total

El Kharga 256 2980 14 616 3866 13%

Baris 292 879 47 236 1454 20%

Balat 10 718 26 0 754 19%

El Dakhla 149 2730 84 415 3378 12%

El Farafra 200 221 16 54 491 6%

Total 907 7528 187 1321 9943 14%


2.4 Education

According to the results of the population census of 2006, the number of illiterate people was 26,446 persons, representing 18.2% of the total population (10 years and over) Table (12) shows a decline in the illiteracy rate from 38% in 1986 to 25.1% in 1996 to 18.2% in 2006. Also, an increased proportion of the New Valley population obtained high school diplomas surging from 30.4% in 1986 to 58.61% in 2006 as a result of the efforts of the Egyptian Government to establish new public schools in all communities, regardless of geographic location or population density.

Table (12): Education in the New Valley 1986-2006

1986 1996 2006

No. % No. % No. %

Illiterate 30000 38 27344 25.1 26446 18.2

Read and write 22000 27.8 18269 16.9 18679 12.87

Pre-university degree

24000 30.4 57390 52.7 85055 58.61

university degree

3000 3.8 5804 5.3 14977 10.32

Total 79000 100 108807 100 145157 100



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There are 274 pre-university education schools and 6,663 teachers offering educational services to 85,055 students, of whom 47.4% are females. The percentage of the population with secondary certificates or higher degrees amounts to 59.92% of the total age group from 18 to 23 years. The governorate has one faculty which is the Faculty of Education – Asyut University. Currently, faculties of agriculture and veterinary medicine are under construction.

2.5 Administrative units

The New Valley Governorate occupies a wide sector in the Western desert of Egypt with a total area of 440 Km2 (about 43.6 % of all of Egypt) . The area ranks as the largest Governorate in Egypt. Administratively, the New Valley Governorate is divided into 4 districts each of them is known as a "Markaz". These are from west to east: El Farafra, El Dakhla, El-Kharga, and Baris. The Governorate has a very low population density (about 0.4 people per km2). The New Valley is also a transit zone for travelers heading from Nile Valley to the Western desert.


Figure (9) Administrative Units of the New Valley Governorate


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Table: (13): Inhabited areas of the New Valley Governorate

Total Inhabited

areas km2

Inhabited area

Urban mass km2

Inhabited area-

Marshes km2

Inhabited area-

agriculture lands km2

Total Area km2

33257 6.68 230.29 89.6 86223 Kharga

600.4 9.98 418.86 171.74 160584 Dakhla

98.7 2.78 7.59 88.33 133627 Farafra

170.04 5.43 131.4 32.91 59664 Baris

120.71 24.87 788.14 382.58 440.98.0 Total

Source: Information Center, New Valley Governorate 2009 The official governmental bodies established under the New Valley Governorate are hereunder listed:

4 Five Markaz People's Council. A formally elected assembly representing the population of the whole oasis. It is constituted by locally elected members, selected by the most influential families along tribal lines and according to relative importance.

5 Five City People‟s Council. A formally elected assembly representing the population of the town. Selection procedures for its members are similar to those for the larger assembly with jurisdiction over the whole oasis.

6 Forty one Village People‟s Councils. Formally elected member assemblies with jurisdiction over each of the recognized villages.

7 141 Satellite villages with Mayors appointed by the Governorate selected from the villagers to head the local administration.

Table (14) New Valley Governorate administrative units

Satellite Villages Cities Ezbets Local units

17 1 8 8 Kharga

21 1 14 20 Dakhla

17 1 12 6 Farafra

15 1 11 8 Baris

70 4 45 42 Total


2.6 Infrastructure

2.6.1 Water

Groundwater is the only available water source for both irrigation and drinking purposes in the oases. So, the planning for future drinking water projects is controlled by the potential of the aquifer and the economics of water extraction. The ground water in the New Valley is pure, absent of any suspended material, and free of biological contaminants as it is extracted from deep and medium layers.


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The households with access to a secure water source in the New Valley governorate represent up to 97.8% of the total households. They obtain it through public water networks for residential use. The ratio between urban and rural areas varies, where it is up to 99.2% in urban areas and 97.6% in rural areas. (The Human Development Report, 2005)

Table ( 15 ): Fresh water supply and consumption in the New Valley 2007-2009

Produced Fresh Water 1000 m3/year

Consumed Fresh Water 1000 m3/year

2007 2008 2009 2007 2008 2009

63.93 72.74 74.63 47.03 64.88 65 Kharga

68.42 75.69 76.10 48.74 52.09 52.75 Dakhla

23.35 23.75 23.95 9.46 12.32 12.55 Farafra

11.50 11.83 12.00 8.47 8.77 8.85 Baris

167.20 184.01 186.68 113.70 138.06 139.15 Total

Source: Information Center, New Valley Governorate 2009 Approximately 167 thousand cubic meter of potable water is produced daily through 111 wells and 55 purification plants. The number of subscribers in the potable water services amounted to 55,735 in 2005. The following are the wells and stations of fresh water in urban and rural areas of the New Valley:

Table ( 16 ): Wells and purification plants in the New Valley 2009

Well Purification Plants

Consumption M3/day

Average/capita Liter/day no. Capacity

m3/day

Urban 25 81520 19 65821 698

Rural 86 87155 36 55291 545

Total 111 168675 55 121112 618

Source: Information Center, New Valley Governorate 2009 2.6.2 Sewage

Currently, there are 14 sewage treatment plants in the New Valley Governorate with a total capacity of 88.920 m3/day. There are three plants in urban areas and eleven in the rural areas amounting to a total length of 371 kilometers of sewage piping. According to results of a census of the population in 1996, 51% of households were connected to sewage systems. This ratio has been increased in 2005 to 65% after the establishment of sanitary drainage projects in Mut City and in the villages of Bashandy and Hendaw. Currently, there is an integrated sanitation project being established in Farafra city. The villages without sanitation plants depend on trenches for disposal of human wastewater. These home trenches are discharged periodically by waste disposal trucks. It is estimated that the proportion of dwellings served by the trench system in most villages is up to more than 95%. The Human Development Report 2005 indicated that the percentage of households with access to sanitation services is up to 98.5% of the total households the Governorate (93.6% at the national level).


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Table ( 17 ): Sewage capacity in the New Valley 2009

Sewage Capacity 1000 m3/day 2007 2008 2009

36.20 36.70 36.9 Kharga

16.30 24.05 24.15 Dakhla

1.30 2.69 2.75 Farafra

1.80 1.85 1.9 Baris

55.6 65.29 65.70 Total

Source: Information Center, New Valley Governorate 2009 2.6.3 Electrical Power

The power plants in the New Valley produce 60 MW provided by the Middle Egypt Electricity Distribution Company. The total electric energy consumed in 2009 amounted to approximately 248 million K.W.H. and the number of subscribers in the household electricity connection services amounted to 60,532 subscribers. The Human Development Report 2005 indicated that the percentage of households with access to electrical power services was 99.1% of the total households in the Governorate (98.7% at the national level).

Table ( 18 ): Electric power capacity in the New Valley 2007 - 2009

No. of persons provided electricity

Total electric power Million K.W.H/year

2007 2008 2009 2007 2008 2009

24906 25367 26135 121.80 123.23 123.55 Kharga

22499 25943 26421 103.60 104.91 105 Dakhla

4009 4621 4985 9.70 9.85 9.9 Farafra

2829 2842 2991 9.10 9.55 9.75 Baris

54243 58773 60532 244.20 247.54 248.20 Total


Table (19): Distribution of electric power by use in the New Valley 2008

Electric power K.W.H Uses

9412578 Residential

2820050 Commercial

8990940 Industrial

69936210 Agriculture

86194112 Governmental

0 Other

262070890 Total


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2.6.4 Telecommunications

The whole area is served by Telecom Egypt Company. There were 52,544 telephone lines in the New Valley in 2009, all of which were being utilized.

Table ( 20 ): Communication capacity in the New Valley, 2009

No. of telephone lines Sector

2007 2008 2009

20080 20080 20080 Urban Kharga

3216 3216 3216 Rural

7000 7000 7000 Urban Dakhla

15800 15800 15800 Rural

3000 3000 3000 Urban Farafra

1648 1648 1648 Rural

1000 1400 1400 Urban Baris

400 400 400 Rural

52144 52544 52544 Total

Source: Information Center, New Valley Governorate 2009 2.6.5 Health facilities

There are 5 hospitals with a total capacity of 626 beds, 30 health units, and 67 family planning centers in the New Valley Governorate.

Table ( 21 ): Health facilities and hospitals in the New Valley, 2009

Public hospitals Central hospitals A,B Specialized Hospitals

No of hospitals

No of beds

No of hospitals

No of beds

No of hospitals

No of beds

1 261 0 0 1 40 Kharga

0 0 1 245 0 0 Dakhla

0 0 1 60 0 0 Farafra

0 0 1 20 0 0 Baris

1 261 3 325 1 40 Total

Source: Information Center, New Valley Governorate: 2009


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3. Current Tourism Market During the last two decades, the tourism industry in Egypt has diversified in terms of attractions, products, and geographic distribution. The original foundation of Egyptian tourism was the world-famous presence of antiquities in the Nile Valley. These ancient sites and their monuments continue to enjoy large numbers of visitors and a variety of tourism products have been created to accommodate them. Antiquities remained the primary tourism attractions in Egypt until the early 1980s. During the last three decades, the Red Sea Coast and Sinai have became the most important tourist destinations in Egypt and the Middle East as the extraordinary diversity of marine life has proven to be a powerful attractor to tourists throughout the world. The result has been a remarkable growth in both tourism development and visitation. In response to the market opportunities created by the attractive natural resources in Egypt, new destinations and new kinds of tourism products have been introduced according to the relative advantages of different geographical and natural resources. New destinations with new tourism products have emerged in different regions, helping not only to diversify Egypt's tourism product, but also to distribute tourism more evenly across the country. The New Valley oases benefited enormously from the new trends in tourism in Egypt as one of the new destinations for ecotourism not only in Egypt, but also in the Middle East and North Africa.

Hot spring – Bedouin Camp

Tarfa Lodge


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3.1 Effects of tourism activities on the New Valley

Tourism in Egypt has long been a driving engine of growth and one of the largest sources of foreign currency. The tourism sector is a significant contributor to GDP and employment, with direct shares of 3.5% and 12.6% respectively. Egypt‟s tourism sector has regained momentum and realized an outstanding performance over the last few years in terms of volume, value-added, and foreign revenues. Tourist inflows to Egypt reached 9.7 million in 2006/07, up by 11.6% from the previous year, and generated a total of US$ 8 billion in revenues against US$ 3.4 billion in 2002/03. Tourist revenues represent about 25 percent of the total national foreign currency income. International tourist nights amounted to 96.2 million nights, with an average length of stay of 9.8 nights per visitor. Over 80% of Egypt's inbound tourists come from Europe. On the supply side, the Egyptian tourism sector has seen numerous developments in different areas, such as marketing, ICT infrastructure, and human resources, in line with the Ministry of Tourism‟s efforts to promote Egypt as a worldwide tourist destination. New tourism niche areas – such as incentives tourism, sports tourism, health and therapeutic tourism, shopping tourism and residential tourism – have evolved as a result of ongoing efforts to upgrade the quality of the sector. Tourism, as an export industry, played a major role in the balance of payments in economic development at regional and national levels. Tourism investments in 2006/2007 amounted to LE4.13 billion, of which 83.5% were private sector investments. The Ministry of Tourism is targeting 14 million foreign arrivals by 2011/12, predicting the generation of 1.2 million new jobs, and aiming to attract private sector investments of LE41.8 billion over the coming five years. Long-term expectations for Egypt‟s tourism sector remain optimistic, and it is believed that Egypt will continue to be the region‟s largest tourist destination. Recreational tourism continues to dominate the Egyptian market, accounting for approximately 86% of all visits.

Tourist expenditure on goods and services generates new incomes and outputs which, in turn, produce further expenditure and incomes in other economic sectors. The effect of this initial expenditure on the economic system on the regional and national levels can be evaluated by the use of the “multiplier‟ technique. The multiplier coefficient is the ratio of direct and secondary changes within the economy to the direct initial change itself. The nature of tourist spending (in hotel services in travel and consumption of goods) will also have a significant effect as will the availability of suitable local products and services. Multiplier coefficients of tourist expenditure range from 1.2 to 3.4.

The New Valley oases is one of the most promising destinations offering an ecotourism product in Egypt but is still only responsible fo 0.4% of the tourist nights and 1.51% of tourists visiting Egypt. Tourism is the fastest growing sector within study area's economy as a new contributor to its GDP and has contributed to the balanced development of the New Valley Governorate since the beginning of the new millennium. From that time, tourism became one of the preferred ways of creating economic activities in the study area, which drained a part of the buying power towards the economically under-developed region of the New Valley oases. Tourism significantly gave the opportunity to enable the local community to benefit from the revenues generated from tourism activities. Over the past few years, tourism


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development has not only improved the image of the study area but has also fed into its economic activities, education system, public services, and even public attitude.

Pioneer investors successfully established new lodging facilities and provided desert safari tour packages with considerable promotion efforts making the New Valley a promising ecotourism destination. In addition to private investment, tourism development in the New Valley was facilitated by public investment. For example, the Governorate improved infrastructure by investing in transportation facilities and community buildings, significantly enhancing the ability of the area to attract new visitors and tourists. Air transport facilities in Kharga and Dakhla provide air service. Extensive road improvements along the oases have improved access to the region from Cairo, Asiut and Luxor. These investments are ample evidence of Egypt's commitment to implementing tourism development in the New Valley region. In 2009, the tourism industry in the study area generated LE80 Million, as estimated, with an average expenditure of LE200 per night. The New Valley has begun to establish a unique ecotourism industry that is highly favored by European tourists. According to the latest tabulation, the approximate total value of tourism projects in the study area is currently 110 Million LE. The investments in tourism industry in the study area are expected to double over the next 5 years, coinciding with the launch of several new projects.

Table (22): Overall market features of the New Valley Unit Value

Number of rooms room 924

Occupancy rate % 87%

Number of beds bed 1835

Number of tourists person 155321

Number of tourist nights Thousand nights

407256

Average length of stay day 2.6 Source: Information Center, New Valley Governorate: 2009

Job Creation Tourism development is still generating a lower number of job opportunities than was originally expected. Only 340 job opportunities have been generated over the last three years. According to the population census of 2006, only 484 persons were directly employed in the tourism industry, representing only 0.7% of the labor force. Two main employment categories may be distinguished:

Direct employment in services directly and mainly related to the tourists themselves such as: accommodation, food and drink establishments, travel agents and guides, entertainments, transport, souvenir shops and other miscellaneous services, etc).

Indirect employment extends to the sectors indirectly influenced by tourism, in building and maintaining tourist facilities, supplying consumables (food, drink, etc) and durables (furniture, equipments), the associated retails, catering, agricultural and transportation employment; supporting public utility services and local services. The ratio of indirect employment to direct employment exclusively in tourism services is generally between 0.5:1

Each hotel room adds three direct and indirect job opportunities in the tourism sector and its related economic activities such as the construction sector, the transportation system, and trade.


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3.2 Tourist Attractions in the study area

The significant distinction between traditional tourism and ecotourism is that the primary attractions for the tourist are authentically provided, personal experiences that are unique to a particular area. The tourists' personal experiences include a combination of nature, culture, and heritage-based activities that are further reinforced by accommodations that accurately reflect the ethnicity of the locality, cuisine, amenities, and various personal services that characterize the host community. Overall, the New Valley boasts several appealing attractions related to nature that comprise significant resource bases for developing tourism. These can all attract both domestic, regional and international tourist markets. Based on these resources, several undeveloped types of tourism can be explored such as nature-based tourism/ eco-tourism, and adventure tourism. There is most definitely an active demand for the kind of tourism provided by the study area. The New Valley's history and natural and cultural features are of consi-derable tourism interest. It is a home to a great deal of unspoiled natural beauty. There is off-road driving through desert Oases. Archaeological discoveries date settlements in the study area to around 3000 BC, where numerous ruined Pharaeoh's temples, Roman forts, monasteries and ancient cemeteries, prehistoric settlements and ancient tracks can be seen. Its cultural heritage and retention of its conservative lifestyle may make it unique among the northern Africa great Sahara Desert oases. Most of New Valley major tourist attractions are conveniently located within or around the oases. Appropriate access to the natural resources of this area potentially offers good extension for the existing development and can become economically important to Egypt. The tourist's personal experiences include some combination of nature -based activities that are further reinforced by accommodations that reflect the culture of the locality, cuisine, amenities, and various personal services that characterize the area. The attractions in the study area can be divided into three categories: focal, secondary, and supporting attractions.

Focal Attractions: The focal attractions of the study area refer to distinctive features of its natural resources; they are the basic assets the study area can offer to tourists and are hopefully attractive enough to motivate a tourist to come to visit. The focal attractions in the study area include the following:

The White Desert Park and its magical landscape. Tourists can sleep under the desert stars amid the chalk-rock formations of the White Desert.

The archaeological sites in the desert

o The tranquil old-world ambience and unique culture of the New Valley oases

o Wonders of the ruins of the medieval mud-brick fortified towns that protected the oasis's dwellers from marauding desert tribes.

o Tracing the ruins of Roman forts and the oldest Christian cemetery in the world at Kharga Oasis

The desert adventure and desert safari into the Great Sand Sea and beyond. The desert safari activities include (desert trekking, trails, horse and camel riding, etc.).


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White Desert – Aqabat

Secondary Attractions: The secondary attractions also refer to the natural resources of the study area, but do not possess the degree of distinctiveness of focal attractions. In other words, they alone are not enough to motivate a tourist to visit the study area. They constitute reasons for further interest and added value to the tourist, contributing to richer and more diverse tourism experiences (Ceballous 1997). The secondary attractions in the New Valley include:

- Natural springs: swim in one of the numerous cool and hot natural springs that pepper the oases. The hot waters from the spring are fed into a stone brick pool, a popular bathing place for locals and tourists.

- The geological and geomorphological features of the escarpments, cliffs and sand dunes, which are especially appealing to nature photographers and geologists.

- Wildlife observation in the oases (flora and fauna).

- Direct contact with local communities‟ life styles and local products (i.e, local handicrafts and architecture).

Natural springs

Local lifestyle

Supporting Attractions: The supporting attractions are man-made elements (facilities and services) that serve specific needs of tourists and satisfy practical requirements of tourists. These facilities and services exist only peripherally to the main environmental appeal of the study area and could not exist independently of the focal and secondary attractions. Tourism supporting facilities in the study area include the following: hotels, resorts, tourist housing, museums, retails, and entertainment and recreational facilities.


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Tarfa Lodge

Ethnographic Museum – El Qasr

3.3 Supply and Demand

Tourism activities should be viewed as an inter-related system of supply and demand factors. The demand factors are international and domestic tourist markets and local residents who use the tourist attractions, facilities, and services. The supply factors comprise tourist attractions and activities, accommodation and other tourist facilities and services. Attractions include natural, cultural, and special types of features - such as archaeological sites, springs, natural beauty, historical sites and traditions - and the activities related to these attractions. Accommodation includes hotels, ecolodges, guest houses, and other types of places where tourists stay overnight. The category of other tourist facilities and services includes tour and travel operations, restaurants, shopping, banking and money exchange, and medical facilities and services. These supply factors are called the tourism supply. Other elements also relate to supply factors. In order to make the facilities and services usable, infrastructure is required. Tourism infrastructure particularly includes transportation (air, road, etc.), water supply, electric power, sewage and solid waste disposal, and telecommunications. 3.3.1 Current Demand

There is a lack of objective data on the visitors' characteristics including visitor's age, gender, education, income, expenses, origin, mode of transportation, interests, and purpose of visit. The existing tourism demand in the study area tends to be seasonal, with a peak period during the winter months between November and March. The demand essentially depends on short-stays and one to two day trips as a part of long safari expeditions. Over the last two decades, the New Valley emerged as one of the largest prime Egyptian ecotourism destinations, attracting visitors from all over the world. Based on the rich cultural and natural resources of the region, tourism is emerging as a key potential sector of the local economy. The New Valley oases are renowned for their beautiful scenery, water springs, irrigated fields and orchards, millions of palm groves, olive trees, as well as wonderful landscape. Old communities such as Qasr, Bashandi, Budukhlu, Qasr Farafra, and Mut are famous for their traditional way of life, traditional architecture and urban character. Ancient monuments and archeological sites are another important asset for tourism in the New Valley such as: Hibis temple, Bagawat, Deir El Munira, Qasr


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Zayan, Qasr Ghawita, Dush, Asmant, Deir Elhagar, and Mizawaka. In general, these oases still retain their undisturbed natural conditions. The product image of the study area is based on the desert's natural beauty, antiquities sites, and oasis lifestyle. The green oases surrounded by the Western desert make them one of the foremost ecotourism destinations offering visitors a memorable experience and could potentially be one of the most rewarding experiences Egypt has to offer. All of these resources are enough to establish a new ecotourism destination for the clientele and has the potential to attract a large tourist market, and yet, the type of tourism that the study area currently receives is not fulfilling this potential. The current market depends on international visitors whose needs and interests match the tourism product of the study area. The majority of visitors are foreign visitors coming to the New Valley oases from Luxor or Cairo. Local visitors make up 22% of the total visitations. According to statistics of the Regional Tourism Authority of the New Valley Governorate, the total tourist arrivals was more than 172,000 in 2010, an increase of 11% over the previous year 2009 (about 154,000) against 48,471 in 2000, registering a growth of nearly 350% in ten years. The average length of stay in 2007 was 2.8 days, which increased to 2.9 in 2008. The total number of tourist nights in 2010 was more than 430,000 against 35,000 in 2007 showing 22% growth in the last three years and over 280% growth in the last ten years. The majority of visitors are Europeans, representing 42.5% of the total visitors, followed by Egyptians at 21.7%. Asian-Australians, Americans, and Arab-Africans had relatively equal proportions of visitors with average percents of 12.5%, 11.5%, and 11.8% respectively.

Table (23): Number of Tourist Arrivals by Nationality 2009

Total El Farafra El Dakhla El Kharga Nationality

Nights Tourists Nights Tourists Nights Tourists Nights Touris

ts

87645 41723 11197 12320 37136 14283 39312 15120 Egyptians

47963 16221 19802 5390 11391 4381 16770 6450 Arabs and

Africans

46994 17615 16457 5870 15912 6120 14625 5625 U.S.

51500 18637 19398 6290 16190 6227 15912 6120 Australia ns

and Asians

173154 61105 70389 21580 50232 19320 52533 20205 Europeans

407256 155301 137243 51450 130861 50331 139152 53520 Total

Source: Regional Tourism Authority, New Valley Governorate 2009

Most visitors come in small families or in groups of friends. Foreign visitors prefer to get away from the crowds of the New Valley towns, visiting the more remote areas of the desert and spending the night at a campsite. These individuals are more outdoors-oriented and enjoy activities such as; camping, camel riding, hiking, watching birds, and photographing nature. Most of the tourists visiting the New Valley oases are Europeans coming from Cairo in tour groups and arriving by road. The majority of Farafra's visitors are headed south towards the Dakhla and Kharga oases.


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Table (24) Growth in tourist nights and number of tourists 1989- 2010

Source: Regional Tourism Authority - New Valley Governorate 2010

Figure (10) Number of tourist nights

Occupancy rates by main destinations of the New Valley, 2009 show that Farafra registered a 100% occupancy rate. Kharga came second with 75% and third was Dakhla at 70%. Baris registered only a 32% occupancy rate. See the table (26) Average Hotel Occupancy Rates by Main Destinations of the New Valley oases, 2007-2009.

tourist

nights

Total Foreigners Egyptians Year

Rate number Rate % number

6497 6497 54.7 3553 45.3 2944 1989

12774 11460 53.3% 6108 46.7% 5352 1990

12986 10282 39.3% 4041 60.7% 6241 1991

50847 28910 66.1% 19100 33.9% 9810 1992

19905 6635 64.6% 4285 35.4% 2350 1993

38910 31546 21.7% 6849 78.3% 24697 1994

22740 15494 18.4% 2857 81.6% 12637 1995

93010 18602 39.3% 7311 60.7% 11291 1996

88621 32907 57.4% 18892 42.6% 14015 1997

125253 41751 47.7% 19934 52.3% 21817 1998

152949 50983 42.3% 21585 57.7% 29398 1999

152816 48471 41.0% 19879 59.0% 28592 2000

122191 52593 51.5% 27094 48.5% 25499 2001

139075 58940 50.3% 29620 49.7% 29320 2002

148604 61776 58.7% 36267 41.3% 25509 2003

153223 64910 37.8% 24545 62.2% 40365 2004

185058 71114 70.2% 49931 29.8% 21183 2005

252922 93507 70.4% 65828 29.6% 27679 2006

357340 125870 75.9% 95543 24.1% 30327 2007

457985 154053 78.7% 121163 21.3% 32890 2008

407256 155321 73.1% 113588 26.9% 41733 2009

437785 172034 77.7% 133747 22.3% 38287 2010

1313656 831720 481936 Total

100% 63.3% 36.7% %


June 2011 Page 53

Table (25) Average hotel occupancy rates by main destinations of the New Valley, 2009

2007 2008 2009

kharga

72% 77% 70%

Dakhla

92% 96% 75%

Farafra

80% 90% 100%

Paris

80% 86% 32%

Source: Information center, New Valley Governorate 2010

Figure( 11 ) Average Hotel Occupancy Rates in New Valley 2008 - 2010

Figure (12) Tourist nights and the occupancy rate

The most popular area for packaged safari trips is the White Desert, which is considered one of the most important tourist attractions of the New Valley oases. Tens of desert expeditions set out from Cairo and Bahariya, especially in winter, to the White Desert. There are many opportunities to further expand tourist operations in the White Desert if only the long term protection of the natural environment could be assured. According to the statistics of the New Valley Governorate 2009 (taken from desert safari cars entering the deep range of the New Valley oases) countries of origin of the visitors indicated that the number of French tourists came in first with 791 tourists or 19 % of the total foreign presence, followed by the Netherlands with 456 tourists (10.9%), Germany with 398 tourists (9.5%), Italy with 280 tourists (6.7%), Korea with 180 tourists (4.3 %), and the United Kingdom with 176 tourists (4.2%).


June 2011 Page 54

Table (26): Tourists registered in Desert Safari packages in the New Valley Oases 2009

Accommodation Nationality

Total other French Nether German Italian Korean British Spanish U.S. Swiss

El qaser Breaks - eldakhla

20 2 8 2 1 1 34

Al Badia - eldakhla 0 2 2

Canadian Mission - eldakhal

0 1 1

AlGilf elKebir 27 4 2 2 35

White Desert 688 651 168 134 136 168 100 98 72 23 2238

El Farafra 0 1 1

Allboukh - el kharga 2 8 4 1 15

Oum Aldbadab 0 2 4 8 14

Ber 6 - el farafra 0 4 13 17

Next to Ber 5 - elfarafra 0 4 4

Archaeological Museum

0 4 4

After Elsalam Ambush about 10 km

0 5 5

Between Elsalam and Al-Zayat Ambush

2 2

Mount Beer elkashf - el kharga

0 2 4 6

Behind Temple Naaddoura

2 2

Desert - Temple Dosh 0 10 3 4 2 19

Abu Menkar desert 0 7 7

Elqaser desert 0 5 5

Desert Sand Sea 16 16

Tenida desert - El Dakhla

0 28 2 30

Desert Farmers - zrah - El dakhla

3 3

El kharga - El dakhla road

1 1

El Dakhla road 0 4 4

Ahmed Mustafa Hotel 0 1 1

Aqua sun Hotel 16 11 27

Al Badia Hotel 30 6 14 27 7 5 1 90

Al badawiya Hotel 6 2 8

Al Ganain Hotel 6 2 1 2 11

Elkharga hotel 29 4 14 19 5 3 4 6 1 85

El dakhla hotel 0 14 14

Alradwan hotel 13 1 1 20 35

Alroad hotel - elkharga 119 10 17 56 10 13 2 11 238

Alroad hotel - el dakhla 46 5 2 1 54

Al Tarfa hotel - El dakhla

11 2 4 6 1 24

El amda atta hotel 6 46 52

Alfarsan - el dakhla 15 3 24 42

Alnujom hotel - el Dakhla

124 3 3 2 32 8 2 174


June 2011 Page 55

Al oaha - el farafra 4 1 2 1 3 4 1 16

Anwar hotel - el dakhla 5 1 6

Hamdallah hotel 24 9 33 4 70

Desert Lodge 80 11 16 16 40 2 9 4 4 182

Sun Rise hotel 0 2 18 6 4 2 32

Mobarez hotel 35 4 12 4 1 2 3 61

El dakhla - el kharga road

1 1

Abu Tartour village 1 1

Al Badia village 60 3 2 12 9 4 1 2 2 17 112

Elshikh waly village 9 1 2 2 14

Elqaser village 0 1 1

Sanhaa village 0 3 3

Kilo 15 after el salam road

0 12 12

El gary Cave 2 2

Balat camp 3 3 3

Mutt camp 3 4 5 3 11 2 25

Al Dahus camp 89 4 83 45 2 15 11 5 3 257

beer mountain camp 6 4 4 16 30

Nasser camp 24 24

House of Mohammed Ahmed Ghanem

0 1 1

total 1529 791 456 398 280 180 176 151 111 101 4173

Source: New Valley Governorate 2010

Figure(13) Visitors Country of Origin


June 2011 Page 56

Zarzora expedition dining tent

Desert Safari tour group


June 2011 Page 57

3.3.2 Current Supply

There is a current lack of objective data on customer satisfaction in terms of type, size, and quality of the existing tourism facilities, current packages/itineraries, current prices, value for money, service quality, safety and security, environmental conditions, health and sanitation, tour guide services, and land transportation.

Desert Safari operators The New Valley is dependent mainly on ecotourism and its related development and activities, such as the integration of desert safaris and ecolodges. This unique combination can be offered as an attractive and marketable package. The tour operators and local guides provide a diverse range of tours, each emphasizing a specific aspect of the safari experience, such as history and archaeology, nature and landscape, wildlife, and physical challenges. These tour packages are very marketable to a wide range of target clientele. The current ecotourism packages in the New Valley combine physically challenging activities and adventures with quality travel arrangements, making it also attractive to tourists who generally do not seek adventures. Tourists, especially Europeans, are willing to pay a high price for a high level of services and the unique experiences offered in these packages, especially as provided from Zarzora expedition and EMECO travel.

Zarzora Mobile camp

Camel riding

Desert Safari packages to the remote areas of the Western desert need organization, reliable equipment, and plenty of experience. There are two categories of entities offering tour packages in the New Valley oases:

1. Local individual guides and experts. Each oasis has its local guides and experts. Many of them operate on low profile budgets making them incapable of having enough equipment to pull off a long-range safari.

2. Desert safari tour operators specialized in ecotourism. This category of

providers has solid experience and international reputations to boot with prices considerably higher than those of the many smaller local outfits. The following are the main tour operators delivering desert safari packages in the New Valley oases and surrounding areas. 2.1 Zarzora Expedition:

Zarzora is one of the most renowned, reliable, and qualified desert safari tour operators in Egypt. They have well organized and experienced


June 2011 Page 58

guides and crew members. They offer a 12 day tour named the "Oases Grand Tour" that begins in Cairo and stops in Luxor; through it tourists have the opportunity to visit most of Egypt‟s oases. The tour route starts from Cairo and snakes through Alexandria, Alamein, Siwa, Bahariya, the White Desert, Farafra, Dakhla, and Kharga before ending in Luxor.

2.2 EMECO Travel Arranges outdoor activities including ecotourism and desert safaris in the Western Desert and combines incentive tourism with ecotourism packages. They are the local tour operator for the event "Race the Planet" that is organized annually in the White Desert.

2.3 Dabuka Expeditions International tour operator arranges multiday safaris into the Great Sand Sea, Gebel Oweynat and Gilf Kebir, as well as organizing camel expeditions and running off-road driving courses.

2.4 Al-Badawiya Offers tailored camel or jeep safaris from three to 28 days. They have tents, cooking equipment, and bedding. They have two hotels in Farafra and Dakhla.

2.5 Egypt Off Road Organizes off-road driving lessons and trips to the Western Desert oases as well as two-week expeditions to the Gilf Kebir and the Great Sand Sea.

2.6 Aqua-Sun Offers long-range desert travel and five programs {including self-drive) of seven to fourteen days, or tailor-made tours.

2.7 Egypt Fun Tours Provides adventure trips to the oases of the Western Desert of Egypt (Bahariya/Farfara/Dakhla/Kharga), originating from Cairo and ending in Luxor & vice versa.

2.8 Raid 4x4 Egypt Provides safari package with duration 14 Days / 13 Nights, from Cairo/ The White Desert / The Great Sand Sea / The Oasis of The New Valley / Abu Muharek Sand Dune/ Whale Valley

2.9 Pan Arab Tours Provides two main packages

Western Desert Trekking, 8 days, combined camel and trekking Safari (Cairo Baharyia, White Desert, Farafra)

White Desert / Oasis / Luxor 8 days, 2.10 Nomad Travel

Provide three main packages

The White Desert Safari Adventure , 3 days

White Desert trekking Safari, combined camel and Trekking Safari, 7 days

Oasis Grand Tour, 7 days, Siwa, Baharyia, White Desert, Farafra, Dakhla, Kharga, Luxor

The average prices for the grand desert tour safaris (12-14 days) vary from 700 to 1200 US$, the medium tours (7-9 days) from 400-700 US$ and the average for the short desert safari tours (3-5 days) from 150 to 200 US$ per person. The prices include: entrance fees to the natural and archaeological sites, ground transportation, tour guides, meals, mineral water, hot drinks, water for personal use, accommodation in tents, and Police licenses.

http://www.egyptfuntours.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81%3Acairo&catid=31%3Ageneral&Itemid=27

http://www.raid4x4egypt.com/sp12.htm

http://www.egyptfuntours.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=136:entrance-fees&catid=31:general&Itemid=207


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The scope of existing interpretive programs provided by tour operators allows only a few visitors to understand the unique contribution this area makes on local, regional, and global levels. Most tourists leave with little understanding of the area's natural significance or little appreciation of the value of the natural heritage sites in the New Valley.

Figure (14): The tour route map of the Oases Grand Tour, 12 days, by Zarzora Expedition

Safari outdoor seating - EMECO travel


June 2011 Page 60

Table (27): Examples of current packaged trips

Supplier Duration Highlights Name & Type

Nile Melody Travel

02 Nights / 03

Days

Jeep Safari Adventure to Bahariya

Oasis, Black and White Desert Western Desert Safari

Fortune tours 05 Nights / 06

Days

6 days Egypt tour features light

and easy Safari and adventure, if

you like the desert and want some

relax, not far away, not to be tiered

Western Desert light Adventure

Fortune tours 14 Nights / 15

Days

Visit the Historical sites in Cairo,

Alexandria, upper Egypt with Nile

Cruise + Jeep Safari Adventure

Classical & Bahariya

Oasis

New Star Tour NST

4 Nights / 5 Days

Western Desert Safari Adventure

Bahariya / Black & White desert /

Farafra Oasis, Dakhla Oasis /

Kharga oasis

Egypt Desert Safari

Mass Travel 07 Nights / 08

Days

Western Desert Safari Adventure

with the famous national park

(Valley of The Whales)

Valley of Whales

Egypt Classic Tours

14 Nights / 15 Days

Daily tour with best rate for

students and who are looking for

budget vacation

Backpackers in Egypt

Nomad Expedition

06 Nights / 07 Days

Siwa / Bahariya / White Desert / Dakhla Oasis / Kharga Oasis

Oasis Grand

TourCombined 4WD &

Trekking Safari

Nomad Expedition

02 Nights / 03 Days

Bahariya & White Desert

White Desert

Combined 4WD &

Trekking Safari

Accommodation Statistics show the very low lodging capacity of the New Valley oases. In 2009, the study area hosted 155,321 guests at 29 hotels and recorded only LE45 Million in revenue. Over 924 hotel rooms are currently operating in the New Valley oasis, including 111 hotel rooms in Farafra, 356 hotel rooms in Dakhla, 417 hotel rooms in Kharga and 40 hotel rooms in Baris. In 2009, the total number of operating hotel rooms was 887 compared with 712 rooms in 2008 and 621 rooms in 2007. In 2000, the total hotel room capacity was only 300 hotel rooms. The hotel room capacity tripled during the last ten years. See Table (29) representing the breakdown of the New Valley Hotel accommodation capacity by category in the main destinations, 2007-2009, and table (30) showing the existing hotel room capacity in the study area in 2009.

http://www.egypttraveldeals.net/OasisGrandTour.htm


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Table ( 28 ): Hotel Accommodation by category 2007-2009

No. of Hotels No. of Hotel rooms No. of Beds Hotel

Category

2007 2008 2009 2007 2008 2009 2007 2008 2009

1 4 4 63 155 155 126 310 310 One star

Kh

arg

a 3 2 2 116 110 110 232 220 220 2 stars

0 2 2 0 38 38 0 76 76 3 stars

1 1 1 102 102 102 204 204 204 4stars

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 stars

4 0 0 87 0 0 174 0 0 Under categ.

2 3 3 79 117 117 158 234 234 One stare

Dakh

la

0 1 1 0 20 20 0 40 40 2 stars

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 stars

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4stars

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 stars

3 1 1 101 20 20 202 40 40 Under categ.

1 1 1 55 31 31 110 62 62 One stare

Fara

fra

0 2 2 0 62 62 0 124 124 2 stars

0 1 1 0 36 36 0 72 72 3 stars

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4stars

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 stars

0 1 1 0 21 21 0 42 42 Under categ.

1 0 0 18 0 0 36 0 0 One stare

Bari

s

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 stars

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 stars

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4stars

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 stars

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Under categ.

5 8 8 215 303 302 430 606 606 One stare

Go

vern

ora

te

3 5 5 116 192 192 232 384 284 2 stars

0 3 3 0 74 74 0 148 148 3 stars

1 1 1 102 102 102 204 204 204 4stars

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 stars

7 2 2 188 41 41 376 82 82 Under category.

16 19 19 621 712 712 1242 1424 1424 Total


Table (29) Breakdown of New Valley hotel capacity by category and main oases, 2009

Category Total no. of Hotels

number of

rooms

number of beds 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars

or less Under

Category

Kharga 1 4 5 10 394 824

Baris 0 2 2 40 80

Dakhla 1 1 6 5 13 345 689

Farafra 0 1 1 2 4 108 239

Total 2 2 11 14 29 887 1832

Source: New Valley Governorate: 2010


June 2011 Page 62

Figure (15) Number of hotels in New Valley

The average room rate for 3 to 4 star hotels varies from one Oasis to another. In Farafra, the rate for half board is 20-50 EU per person in a double room in a three star hotel. The room rates for five stars hotels such as Tarfa lodge reach 250 EU per night. Tarfa lodge provides high-niche clientele the option of luxurious ecotourism. The project team conducted a rapid assessment of hotel room prices in the main hotels of the New Valley in 2010. The survey showed a significant change in the prices from high to low seasons and from one oasis to another. Table (31) shows the hotel prices in different hotel categories in the New Valley.

Desert Lodge – Dakhla Tarfa Lodge – Dakhla

The study area is currently expanding its hotel capacity and several new facilities were under construction to meet the growing demand for additional lodging. Accommodation was mainly of 3-4 star standard with eating facilities with tasteful western cuisine to meet present and anticipated future tourist needs.


June 2011 Page 63

Table (30) Hotel room prices in different hotel categories in the New Valley

Foreigners Egyptians

Category Location Hotel Name

single Double single Double

High season

Low season

High season

Low season

High season

Low season

High season

Low season

108 Eur

78 Eur

144 Eur

104 Eur

330 LE

330 LE

440 LE

440 LE

4 Stars Kharga Pioneer

22 Eur

33 Eur

110 LE

150 LE

2 Stars Kharga Kharga

90 LE 60 LE 70 LE 50 LE 2 Stars Kharga Alradwan

100 LE 70 LE 180 LE 120 LE 100 LE 70 LE 180 LE 120 LE 2 Stars Dakhla Desert Lodge

140 LE

170 LE 100 LE 140 LE 1 Stars Dakhla Al Farsan

90 LE 140 LE 90 LE 140 LE 1 Stars Dakhla Mbarz

155 LE 260 LE 155 LE 260 LE Under

category Dakhla Al Nujom

50 Eur 40 Eur 70 Eur 55 Eur 330 LE 220 LE 2 Stars Farafra Al Badawiya

45 Eur 40 Eur 65 Eur 55 Eur

200 LE

300 LE

2 Stars Farafra Aqua Sun

Tourist facilities: Several new facilities are under construction and some cultural and nature-based ecotourism services are being developed, spearheading private investment in what may become one of the leading and most flourishing sectors of the New Valley economy in the future. The tourist sites, communities and tourism facilities are well connected by a system of paved roads. In addition to basic public services and facilities, the oases have good communication and medical infrastucture.

The tourism-related infrastructure in Dakhla is more advanced than that of the other oases. These modern conveniences have not materially detracted from its rural character and oasis image. Kharga has the infrastructure and facilities to support an increased demand in its tourist industry, but this is limited by a lack of suitable accommodation for tour groups and other visitors except at the Pioneer Hotel. Farafra has a smaller population than the other Western desert oases and its infrastructure is poorly developed. The lack of tourism facilities and deterioration of the environment is preventing Farafra from taking full advantage of the economic benefits of tourism to the oasis. The local government should improve the infrastructure of Farafra oasis to support tourism which would also improve the quality of life for its residents.

Conference and seminar facilities are found in the 3-4 stars hotels of the New Valley including a 70 person meeting room in Pioneer hotel at Kharga, a 150 person conference room in Badawia hotel in both Dachla and Farafra, and the conference room in Desert lodge at El Qasr with a capacity of 100 persons. These hotels provide conference and seminar facilities with a total capacity of 450 persons. The prices for these seminar facilities vary from 1000 to 1200 LE per night.


June 2011 Page 64

There is a shortage of tourist facilities such as leisure, shopping, handicraft outlets, cultural attractions, and friendly welcoming spaces. Both the quality and quantity of the tourism facilities in New Valley are still under an adequate standard for success. The Oases still lack eating facilities for both traditional and Western style cuisine in terms of quality and quantity of the services provided. According to the New Valley Governorate 2009 report, only 7 tourist agencies actively work in the study area. In 2009, the number of operating restaurants, Cafeterias, and coffee shops counted only 18 units. There were only 35 active safari cars in the area.

Major infrastructure facilities have been improved and implemented to serve the growth of tourism in the New Valley, including cultural centers and museums. In addition to Kharga Museum, there are two ethnographic Museums in Qasr and Mut. Two privately-owned museums have been established in Farafra and Dakhla oases. The first is "Badr" Museum in Qasr Farafra and the second is the "Heritage House” museum owned and managed by two local residents, at kilometer 35 of Mott- Farafra road at the entrance of Qasr Dakhla. There are three culture palaces where tourists can witness performances by local artists. The culture palace of Kharga contains a theatre for 300 persons, a fine arts hall, a library, a hall for children's art, and an exhibition for handicrafts.

Pioneer Hotel Cafeteria


June 2011 Page 65

Table (31): Eating services and restaurants in the New Valley Governorate Restaurant Name Services Address

Kh

arg

a r

esta

ura

nts

Pizza Ibn al-Balad (meals E£6-20) Serving fiteer

(Egyptian pizza/ pancake). one of the most popular places to eat.

Midan Sho'ala

Al-Ahram

(meals E£8-20) Serving roast chicken and kofta accompanied by modest salads and vegetable dishes.

Sharia an-Nabawi

Wembe (meals E£8-24) Serving the usual Egyptian comestibles: grilled meats,

Midan Basateen;

Palm Restaurant Pioneers Hotel

Serving buffet dinner €10) and a la carte selection of Continental dishes.

Sharia Gamal Abdel

Nasser

Mu

t R

esta

ura

nts

Anwar Restaurant

(meals E£2-15) Serving ta'amiyya

and fuul, in addition to the more substantial chicken-and-rice combo.

Sharia Basateen

Ahmed Hamdy's

(meals E£2-15) Serving delicious chicken, kebabs, vegetables and a few other small dishes inside or on the terrace. .

On the main road into town

Abu Mohamed Restaurant

(meals E£2-15) Serving meal includes good vegetables with kebab or pigeon and local dessert basbousa

Sharia as-Sawra al-Khadra;

Dawia Restaurant

(meals E£5-12) Serving Egyptian foods, fried burgers and pasta.

Sharia as-Sawra al-

Khadra;

Said Shihad (meals E£6-15) Serving grilling meat ( shish kebab)

Sharia as-Sawra al-

Khadra;

Coshary (meals E£2) ta'amiyya or fuul Sharia as-Sawra al-

Khadra

Qalamuni Cafeteria (dishes E£2-10) Serving ta'amiyya or fuul

Midan al-Gamaa

Qasr

Dakh

la Desert Lodge (meals E£50-100) Serving open

Buffet and a la cart On the top hill of Qasr Village

Homda (meals E£10-20) A simple restaurant and coffee shop serving Egyptian cuisine cheap meals

At the enterance of Qasr village

Fara

fra r

esta

ura

nts

Samir Restaurant With outdoor tables serving kebabs, (dishes E£8-20)

Aqua-sun restaurant

(meals E£20-45) Serving fresh organic ingredients, and dishes are a choice of the usual Western and Egyptian staples

Close to beer Sita

Al-Badawiya Safari & Hotel

(meals E£25-50) Serving freshly made including pasta and simple three-course meals, using organic vegetables from its own farm.

Gamal

Abdel Nasser Street

Hussein's Restaurant

(dishes E£5-9)

Assam Restaurant (dishes E£6-15) for simple outdoor seating and grilled meats.


June 2011 Page 66

Table (32): Culture centers in the New Valley 2009

City Village Culture House

Culture Palace

Public library

ElKharga 2

Almunira 1

Nasser elsawra 1

Bulaq 1

Sanhaa 1

east Bulaq 1

Abu Tartour 1

Baris 1

Baghdad 1

Mutt 1

Tnida 1

Almasra 1

Rashda 1

Alqaser 1

El Gedeeda 1

Balat 1

Farafra 1

total 12 3 3 Source: Information center, New Valley Governorate: 2009

Accessibility Kharga and Dakhla have airports capable of accepting different size aircraft, but so far, both serve only domestic traffic. Neither of the airports has been upgraded in years. Kharga is the only oasis with scheduled air service; and, with the completion of the new Luxor route, it's more easily accessed than other towns throughout the New Valley. PASS Petroleum Airlines Services is currently providing two flights from Kharga airport to Cairo and vice versa with average capacity of 5000 passenger per year. The schedule of air flights to Kharga needs to be increased by at least one flight per week, since under present circumstances, tourists that come by air, and plan to return that way, must stay in the area 3 or 4 days before the next return flight. Currently, Dakhla Airport is not receiving scheduled commercial flights from Cairo. If Dakhla could have scheduled air service, there is an opportunity to increase tourist visitation as well as serve community needs. The potential resources of Dakhla need to explore the opportunity of upgrading the air field to receive direct chartered flights from Europe; and, later, scheduled service when the demand is great enough to warrant it. The New Valley oases can be reached by traveling over paved road from Asyut in about three hours and from Luxur in about four. It can also be reached from Cairo to Farafra on the paved, 570 kilometer road. Desert adventure excursions occasionally make the trip between Cairo to the oases off-road on desert tracks. Kharga is served by the paved road link with Farafra and Dakhla from the west which turns north at the oasis to Asyut.


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3.3.3 Seasons of Use

It is critically important to accurately define the seasons of operation in the study area. The seasons of use are normally defined as high, low, and shoulder seasons. The high season consists of the months that are most attractive to visitors. The low season is the least attractive time for visitation. The shoulder seasons are defined as brief time periods in which a specific tourist market may be attracted to the region. The duration of the seasons has a direct effect upon the investor‟s ability to realize a positive return on their investment. Obviously, maximizing seasonal use of tourism facilities should contribute to increasing return on investments.

To improve the tourism industry in the New Valley, the shoulder and summer seasons need to be developed and enhanced. Under these two seasons a number of development opportunities exist and have the potential for increasing overall visitation, length of stay, and tourism revenues.

High Season: The high season in the New Valley would extend from November to the first week of March. The most popular months for tourism in the New Valley have historically been December and January because of the favorable weather conditions.

Low Season: As a result of the hot temperature during the summer months (from the beginning of May through mid-September) it would be hot to conduct tours through the desert areas around the New Valley oases. The ambient temperature of the oases averages from 40 to 45°C from late July to the end August.

Since it is safe to assume that the severe heat conditions will generally result in the seasonal use of the New Valley area, it is important to try to combat this seasonal flaw by conducting day trips during early morning and late evening hours, especially since the severe heat and lack of sufficient annual occupancy might result in operational costs greatly exceeding revenues. Shoulder Season: The very brief shoulder seasons would be springtime, defined as approximately Mid March through mid- April, and early autumn, defined as late-September through October. During both of these time periods there are there are a few days of tolerable heat that would allow tourists to enter the desert for a short distance to view a few heritage sites. The shoulder season periods may be particularly attractive to landscape and nature photographers who wish to take advantage of the extraordinarily pure light, tolerable temperatures and the absence of other people in the area.

3.4 The Target Market The target market that would be attracted to the New Valley Oases is complex and diverse. This market comprises several distinct categories of persons pursuing various recreational activities characterized by levels of expenditures and visitor behavior. The targeted travelers are not necessarily ecotourists and not every person is interested in a product or service that is geared towards ecotourism. Generally, ecotourists are individuals who can appreciate the experiences, respect the environment and culture, and are open to the adventures offered by unfamiliar


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circumstances. It is essential to define what types of people would like to purchase the New Valley‟s ecotourism product. It is also important to consider that there is a range of visitors at sites: from the very young to the old, from the physically able to those with restrictions of mobility. Visitors also may have varying levels of knowledge of the local language. Some tourists seek a backcountry form of tourism that allows them to commune with nature in a solitary way. It is therefore important to first begin to understand the motivations behind visitation. The market plan must provide visitors with different experiences to meet different client profiles. The market strategies should understand the nature of the potential visitors to the New Valley oases and their responsibility to develop tourism products that provide visitors with different experiences. The first step to establish and promote tourism programs in the New Valley oases, is to understand the demographic profile of the tourists and to meet their needs with the New Valley Oases tourism product. A demographic profile of the potential tourists would require special research to identify the characteristics of the demands, including expenditure, trip duration, education, age, gender and party composition. Once the characteristics of the potential customer are determined, the next step would be to tailor the promotion efforts and establish contact with the target market in a manner that would appropriately market the New Valley tourism product.

The third step is to assess and observe competitors‟ products, target markets and the respective business environments in Egypt and the Middle East. The target market that would be attracted to the New Valley oases attractions is complex. This market comprises several distinct categories of persons pursuing various recreational activities characterized by levels of expenditures and visitor behavior. In summary:

The high-end ecotourism market is characterized by persons possessing higher education status, considerable discretionary income, and an inclination for recreational activities conducted by well-trained guides and naturalists.

The mid-range ecotourism market is typified by persons who have a substantial desire to pursue their specialized, nature-based recreational activity. For example, this individual typically saves their scarce financial and time resources to participate in nature-based activities in unique and remote locations.

The low-end ecotourism market is those persons whose primary motivation is to inexpensively experience nature. This market segment is generally characterized by young people with few financial resources, but with a willingness to “rough it” via such activities as camping, hiking, backpacking, and riding. Successfully attracting this market segment can potentially lead to potential long-term visitation.

In summary the potential clients to the New Valley Oases may be characterized by the following:

1 Expatriates living in Cairo who seek a weekend trip, day trips and short vacations close to their homes.


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2 Overseas clients to Egypt who combine the New Valley Oases with one of the recreational tours around Egypt. It can best be combined with beaches outdoor recreation at Marsa Alam, and historical-culture tourism in Luxor.

3 The ecotourism market with age range 30-60 years with high educational attainment, high income, seeking outdoor activities conducted by well-trained guides and naturalists.

4 Tourists who seek to appreciate the natural beauty of the region (wildlife, oasis, desert and local culture).

5 Scientific excursions and missions for researchers, and universities


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SWOT Analysis Because of its unique natural and recreational attractions, the study area offers significant opportunities for tourism development. Nature in the New Valley also, unfortunately, presents substantial concerns and constraints for tourism development. Environmental hazards such as occasional flash flooding, climatic extremes, and sand storms create significant operational challenges.

The desert environment in the New Valley also faces a number of environmental concerns that may adversely affect the attractiveness of the study area. If allowed to continue, the problems (namely pollution of the desert) could greatly reduce the marketing potential of the study area and irreparably damage its main natural assets. Most of these environmental problems, however, can mitigated or reduced to a manageable limit. With careful planning and consideration, all of these challenges can be successfully accommodated. The information presented in this chapter has been assembled to provide valuable information for decision makers, public officials, tourism developers, and environmental managers, with some essential information about the potentials and constraints of the tourism development in the New Valley. The following is a SWOT analysis of the New Valley's tourism resources.

4.1 Strengths

Natural Beauty The New Valley‟s resources include remarkable scenic beauty and unspoiled natural environment. It is a vast wilderness area that offers valuable opportunities for tourism development.

History and Culture Heritage Resources The cultural resources of the New Valley are valuable attractions which would definitely be appealing to tourists interested in visiting this region.

Accessibility Tourists will be able to access the New Valley from two major transport centers.

Cairo in the north and Luxor in south offer internationally-renowned destinations with air service that enable easy and convenient access for large numbers of tourists. Additionally, the area has advanced and safe road networks, as well as two airport fields in Kharga and Dakhla. It would be time-consuming for foreign tourists to visit unless they arrive and depart by air.

Willingness of the host community The interviews carried out by team members with the local residents showed support and willingness from the local community for tourism development.

Remoteness of the terrain The remoteness of the terrain is a relative advantage for the type of tourism product that the oases offer. The New Valley is a remote and unspoiled destination, located away from any major population centers. These circumstances provide a memorable and authentic experience for the desert safari adventure.


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Willingness of the local community

4.2 Weaknesses The main weaknesses facing tourism development in the New Valley oases have been identified as the following: Gradual fading of local culture and architecture Due to inadequate safeguards, the local culture, architecture, and traditional handicrafts are gradually fading out and disappearing. Modern buildings, have largely replaced the traditional houses. The ancient fortified towns of the New Valley oases have been all but abandoned. The traditional architecture in old towns is an unused tourist asset in its present state. The unclean, unhygienic condition of the surrounding area detracts from the attractiveness of these towns. The cultural environment of New Valley oases is also being spoiled by unwise behavior. Most of the tourism is now driven by external forces which tend to have a low appreciation for the local culture. These entities pursue the same unsustainable tourism development models as in other parts of the country;

Solid waste management Solid waste management represents a growing environmental concern in the New Valley oases. The rapid desert safari activities taking place have introduced new patterns of consumption and increased the quantities of solid waste generated in the desert areas. Managing the vandalism, theft, careless damage, and littering in the Western Desert is a serious problem. A viable solution has yet to present itself. The major source of general litter along the desert area comes from the desert safari tours and mobile camps. Typically, waste generated by the tour groups (particularly plastic bags and plastic bottles) is dumped in the desert areas without proper treatment. Garbage from these sites was observed in many areas during the project's field surveys.

Intrusive security management Security restrictions are currently a major challenge in developing ecotourism in the New Valley. After the kidnapping of a tour group by a militia from Chad in 2008, all tour groups must be accompanied by police protection. Large numbers of tourists visiting the New Valley in safari tours found their visit hampered by the police. For most visitors, this oppressive presence is enough to cancel a visit altogether. Both international and local tour operators complained about the intrusive security management.


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Security issues need to be resolved in order to realize the region‟s tourism potential and the introduction of less intrusive security management is needed. Military permits, which are available locally for short desert treks, must be procured in Cairo for longer trips and sometimes take require inconveniently-long wait times before being issued.

Sand dune movement Movement of the sand dunes threaten the agriculture lands, urban and rural communities, and regional roads. Dunes move an average distance of between 20-100 m per year, in the direction of 30 degree to west in Farafra and in the north-south direction in Kharga. The main areas threatened by sand dune movement includes:

a. Kharga- Asyut road b. Kharga – Baris c. West of Kharga area d. Gadida Village in Dakhla e. West of Qasr area (West Mawhub) f. Abu Minqar area g. The sand dune field east of Farafra

Climatic Extremes Climate is perhaps the largest issue in terms of visitor safety and comfort. For most of the year, the New Valley area is exposed to intense sunlight and, during certain seasons, intense heat and storm. Given the extremity of heat and the scarcity of water, visitor safety is a major concern. During the September to March period it is possible to safely conduct tourist activities by means of adequate preparation and supplies. During the summer months, it would be dangerous to expose tourists to the climatic conditions of the New Valley area. The intense heat conditions, can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. This heat prevents tourists from staying in the desert areas during the months of May through September. Human resources and local work force Neither the number of the population, nor the educational or training conditions, can offer a satisfactory economic base considering the vast acreage of the region, a matter that could lead to possible in-migration with application of development programs. One of the main challenges facing tourism development in the New Valley is the limited skilled labor force's incapacity to meet the requirements of a quality ecotourism product. A gap exists between the needs of tourism employers and the supply of trained and experience personnel. The illiteracy rates, shortage of well-trained staff available locally for guidance and hotel services, the lack of multi-lingual people, and the deterioration of the quality of handicrafts are all major concerns pertaining to the human resources in the New Valley. Sewage system There are no approved sewage outfalls in the study area. New resorts are required to have treatment plants. Septic systems are still commonly used and may contaminate groundwater aquifers or the adjacent desert environment. However, no data has been collected to test this prediction. The largest centers of population in the study area use septic systems. Lack of awareness There is a lack of awareness of the need to control activities that are detracting from the New Valley's tourism base and quality of life.


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4.3 Opportunities

Local architecture The traditional architecture in old towns is a big tourist asset that could improved via proper management deals with visitor management, waste management, architecture renewal, handicraft outlets, and hygienic conditions in the surrounding area. There is an opportunity to upgrade the urban planning and renovate the architectural character of the local mud-brick towns to make them attractive places for visitation. Local Handicrafts There is an opportunity to increase home craft and handicraft sales if some craft centers were created in single locations in Al-Qasr, Mut, Bashandy and Balat at easily definable locations to supplement those sold out of homes and in the village streets. There is an opportunity for the local communities of Dakhla's 'old towns' to gain financially if these places were developed to encourage tourist expenditure for certain local products and services, e.g. outlets demonstrating production and sale of home crafts and handicrafts, cafes, and interpretation of community social life.

There is also an opportunity to establish at least one centrally located, easily identifiable home-craft/handicraft center in each oasis and gift outlet. The handicraft sales could be increased if they were more easily obtainable. These outlets will display the home crafts of the oases, such as pottery, palm products, jewelry and carpets where they are made, but as of the present, there are no clearly identifiable locations where handicrafts can be purchased.

Willingness of the host community There is a good opportunity to involve the local people in the ecotourism process in the New Valley. Workshops revealed that they are interested in participating in ecotourism activities. The proposed fields of participation include handicrafts, cooperating with hotels in tourism activities, guiding tourists through the region, and hosting visitors in their oases. All of these fields will inevitably depend on locals' willingness to learn foreign languages and acquire skills related to tourism, marketing, and environmental awareness.

Trans-desert safari The strategic location of The New Valley oases give it the opportunity to be the gateway to the region of the North Africa desert oases that extend from Egypt to Morocco. The New Valley oases can be part of one package of regional trans-desert safari exploring the Egyptian Oases (Kharga, Dakhla, Farafra, Baharia, Siwa), Lybian Oases (Gaghbob, Kofra) Tunisian Oases (Metmata, Tataween, Doz, Nafta ) Algerian Oases (Wadi Mozab) and the Moroccan Oases ( Aghaylas, Fosht, Beir Anzran, Oyoun). The New Valley oases are representative examples of the oases of the great North African Sahara desert in their form, origin, geologic formation, culture, and ecosystem.

4.4 Threats Licensed safari tours New rules are to be introduced next season that will confine foreign tourists to traveling through the desert with licensed tour companies only. The license to operate in the desert will be expensive and must be signed off by the Ministry for


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Tourism. A fine of LE400 will be imposed on any drivers carrying foreign travelers into the desert. This would be a massive fine for any local driver.

These licensed tours, if implemented, will put local guides and independent tour operators out of business, killing local enterprise and competition and giving all revenue to the already cash-rich national scale tour operator. This would leave many oasis dwellers who have invested heavily in four-wheel drive vehicles without income and without any obvious way of paying off their loans (Andrea Byrnes, 201). According to the Desert Lovers Association, at least 2,200 families will be harmed by the new rules.

Mines and Quarries Natural resources in the New Valley may face a critical situation as mining activities spread in the area. The developing situation could lead to environmental stress. Some historic sites are more prone to damage than others due to the fragility of their environment. The impact of air and noise pollution and the disturbance of truck traffic produced by mining operations are incompatible with the tourism activities. Mining and quarry operations remain very active close to some archeological sites and have caused critical destruction in certain areas such as Gebel El Tair and Labkha. Most current mining activities operate without proper management to mitigate the harmful effects. Our experts suggest that no more additional permits for mining activities be issued in the New Valley.

Floods Floods, although rare, can transform the wadis of the New Valley into a funnel, creating extreme safety concerns for tourists. Signage can be used along roadsides and paths to provide precautionary measures for guests by directing visitors to safety during these infrequent but deadly flood events. This environmental hazard threatens road systems, properties, human activities, and investment. While both the rainy season and the length of each flood (following the rains) are limited, any development of the area must include measures that either protect against flood damage or avoid construction in flood-prone zones. Flood risk occurs along the eastern and northern ridges of the escarpment of the Khaga Oasis, the ridges of Abu Tartur Plateau, the northern ridge of the escarpment of the Dakhla Oasis, Quss Abu Saaid Plateau and the escarpment in the eastern and northern parts of Farafra Oasis. Some floods have occurred along the Eocene Plateau, shutting the roads and railways connecting the New Valley and the Nile Valley.

Potential Risks for Humans Most threats to humans can result in medical emergencies and the remoteness of the New Valley presents many challenges in this regard. The evacuation of injured persons is complicated by the remoteness of the terrain, the inability of vehicles to travel safely at high speeds across that terrain, and the considerable distances from emergency medical aid facilities. These obstacles can be reduced by effective communication systems with medical personnel and the strategic stationing and mobilization of emergency and security response vehicles.

The remote desert of this area can be exceedingly dangerous because of extreme heat, sand storms, lack of water, poisonous snakes and insects, unstable slopes, and the labyrinth trails within which people can get easily lost. Anti-venoms must be refrigerated to maintain their effectiveness due to extreme temperatures.


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5.Training Needs Knowledgeable travelers demand the best quality that the tourism experience can provide. A competitive tour company requires employees who:

are committed to exceeding industry standards for quality service

can perform effectively in a multicultural environment

can contribute creatively to addressing service challenges in the workplace. Consistent and predictable service, along with positive referrals to potential customers and repeat visits, translates into customer satisfaction and increased revenues. Quality service training will heighten employee satisfaction and positively influence employee retention. The attitudes and motivations of the operation staff play a huge role in the delivery of quality service. The educational component of ecotourism is becoming significant and has been elevated to a priority in most eco-tours. Eco-tourists‟ educational expectations have steadily increased. Today‟s sophisticated clients demand high levels of natural history and cultural experience. Therefore, human resource development in the tourism industry provides a significant challenge. There is a wide range of actors, both in the public and private sectors, that require, in some cases, basic education and the upgrading of skills and knowledge. There are also a number of governmental departments that have an impact on tourism marketing and the development process that require capacity building. Within this technical assistance project it is not possible to identify all of these needs. We have taken a strategic approach to identify capacity building needs in order to fill the specific key requirements within the ecotourism industry. There is no doubt that within governmental departments as well as the private sector there are number of people with sound technical and management skills and knowledge. However, there are still significant capacity gaps that must be addressed. There is also the overriding need to ensure that customer satisfaction becomes an essential element of all tourism planning, development and management. Training needs of the stakeholders involved in ecotourism industry in the New Valley must include the following categories: Private Sector and NGO Capacity Building Needs

Employees of hotels, resorts and camps Employees of travel agencies and transport companies Employees of restaurants Employees of tourism related NGOs Local guides Local handicraftsmen and souvenir shops owners Local architects and planners


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Public Sector Employees of the New Valley Tourism Agency The park rangers of the White Desert protected area Staff of Supreme Council of Antiquity Local police and security agency

The main topics covered in the training could include:

Interpretation and guiding Marketing and promotion Festival and special events management Heritage site management Visitor management Determining carrying capacities Strategic planning and management Website management Economic base training Project (restaurant, hotels, etc) management Basics of small and medium-sized enterprise creation Indicators and monitoring Managing service excellence in the tourism Industry

There is a significant challenge to provide the capacity to make change occur. It is clear that various actors require a different set of skills for managing change as well as the ability to change their decision-making and working culture. The awareness raising program under this project served as a participatory approach for assessing the ecotourism resources and, in the same time, train the local staff on the techniques, methodology, and guidelines of the ecotourism procedures. The following are the primary needs for capacity building for stakeholders involved in the ecotourism development in the New Valley oases.

5.1 Staff training needs in the New Valley The project conducted awareness raising campaign for the New Valley Tourism Agency staff on ecotourism planning and principals. The campaign was delivered successfully in Kharga, Dakhla, and Farafra during November and December 2010. The awareness raising program allowed the participants to:

Understand the basic elements of ecotourism, market statistics and market trends

Assess the potential of individual and group eco-tourist specialty markets

Use green guidelines for operating a successful ecotourism business

Analyze and address the special needs of eco-tourists and local communities

Establish an ecotourism planning process at the local and regional levels

Understand the vital role of interpretation and education in adding value

The following are the main training courses that took place during the campaign workshops

Introduction to sustainable ecotourism development

Participatory SWOT analysis

Natural and culture resources


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5.2 Training needs for local guides Evolving ecotourism standards and eco-tourist demands have been a major impetus behind increased emphasis on guide education. One of the most important elements of a safe, memorable, and educationally rewarding ecotourism experience is the talent and skill level of the tour guide. Guiding should encompass not only the ability to explain to the traveler the area being visited, or to coordinate with the tour operator, but also to convey the message that true ecotourism entails: the importance of sustainable lifestyles, both at home and abroad. To have such a level of guiding skills in the New Valley, there is a need for training efforts and capacity building for the local people to create a new generation of local guides to support the ecotourism industry in the New Valley. Training programs are needed for the local people from different organizations including: local people, the private sector, rangers, hotels, and tour operators as well as young individual graduates. The main objective of the training would be to give participants the interpretation skills and natural history knowledge necessary to create and secure jobs as ecotourism guides in the New Valley. The training should mainly emphasize guiding skills, practices, and techniques. The participants of the ecotourism guide training will have the opportunity to make important contributions to protected areas and ecotourism operation in the New Valley region. They will learn more about ecotourism guiding, environmental interpretation, natural and cultural history, conservation, emergency and safety management and tourist attention. The training should provide the participants with a general introduction to the natural and historical heritage of the New Valley region, environmental interpretation skills, local conservation issues, important ecological and cultural history, as well as training in tourist services and guiding skills. These skills are important for promoting responsible and sustainable ecotourism in the New Valley region. The following are the main topics that must be covered by the training programs for the local guides:

The guiding process and techniques 1.1 Duties and responsibilities 1.2 Guest‟s safety 1.3 Communication skills 1.4 Guiding techniques 1.5 Commentary techniques 1.6 Methodology

Risk management 2.1 Wilderness first aid and appropriate medical response skills; 2.2 Safety practices and procedures 2.3 Minimum impact trail maintenance techniques

Land based skills management 3.1 Recreational activities 3.2 Wilderness management principles and philosophy; 3.3 Application of the minimum-tool/requirement concept; 3.4 Proficiency in the use of primitive tools


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3.5 Camping management 3.6 GPS 3.7 Communication 3.8 Language training 3.9 Leave No Trace (LNT).

Interpretation skills 4.1 Principals of interpretation 4.2 Educating the eco-tourist 4.3 Interpretive information gathering 4.4 Developing stories 4.5 Nature awareness and interpretation

Cultural sensitivity and better cross cultural understanding

Develop trip circuits and travel packages that are safe and offer a wide variety of experiences

5.3 Local architect training needs The ecotourism industry must focus on building quality ecotourism facilities genuinely reflecting the ecotourism product in a certain region. This concept is still new in the Egyptian context. Many architects in Egypt never practice sustainable or environmental designs for facilities. Capacity building is needed for young architects to support the ecotourism industry in New Valley with creative designs for ecotourism facilities such as ecolodges, visitor centers, camps, interpretive stations, wayside exhibitions, signage systems, etc. The training will be a good opportunity to establish a core group communicating together and representing the nucleus of the ecotourism industry in the New Valley. The participants of the training program will have the opportunity to share their experiences in environmentally sound designs for ecotourism facilities and to make important contributions to ecolodge design and development in protected areas and ecotourism operations. The training will mainly emphasize eco-lodge design, planning, practices, and techniques. The training must provide the participants with international and local case studies in ecolodge design and provide a general introduction to the New Valley region fauna, flora, conservation issues, and important ecological and cultural history. The participants will reach a high level of understanding of the ecotourism planning process and will be able to integrate all planning, design, infrastructure, and conservation tools gained during the training and put them into practice in the New Valley region.

5.4 Handicraft Training Needs

The major training needs for the New Valley pottery, basketry and palm handicraft producers are as follows;

Managerial and entrepreneurial skills Provide training for artisans on developing basic entrepreneurial skills to establish small handicraft enterprises. The training will enable creation of cell employment opportunities. The training would include:

1 Public relations management 2 Marketing planning, management, and promotion 3 Financing,


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4 Managing small enterprises, supervising skills, communication, negotiation, and basic computer skills

Marketing and promotion Provide training for artisans on how they can deal with tourists, promote and introduce their handicraft products for tourists within related culture, folklore, music, events, poetry contests, story telling, songs, festival events and activities. Training includes:

1. Training on promotional activities and creation of market access for tourists, tour operators, and exporters of handicraft items.

2. Negotiation and communication skills with clients, tourists and suppliers and the ability to communicate in English.

3. Knowledge of customs, regulations, and import/export procedures.

Production process and quality control Training for skill enhancement for artisans and manpower engaged production houses deprived of any formal training in order to improve quality and make production more viable and competitive. Training includes:

Training on the ability to conduct „in process‟ quality control on “finished product” quality (testing),

Product specifications,

Material handling skills,

Transportation/delivery arrangement,

Control production and time specifications.

Operation and maintenance of simple machines/equipment

Design and technology Provide training on developing innovations in design and product development of the local handicrafts in order to produce value added and quality products. The training includes:

Basic knowledge on drafting sketches/technical drawings

Knowledge of quality raw material specifications and requirements (grading) for different craft clusters

Technology valued addition upgrading

Packaging and labeling

New designs, colors, motifs, and carving tools.

Packaging 4. Provide training on educational packaging and labeling that will

tell the history of the local handicraft products, culture, heritage, traditions, costumes, etc. for greater understanding and appreciation of the New Valley‟s natural and cultural heritage.

5. Training on documentation and dissemination of designs. 6. Training on knowledge of using various types of packing

materials and process, labeling skills (type of product), and delivering the product to the customer.


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Human resource generation Training for generating competent human resources in the area of handicraft, especially training for women and non-working people in rural areas of the New Valley who have the aptitude and interest in handicraft production. The training will target human resource development both at a primary basic level and secondary advanced level.

7. Tailored training for local graduates from faculties of fine arts and applied arts interested in innovative designs and the upgrading of the local handicraft products in the New Valley

8. Tailored training for women to upgrade their needlework to

create a sustainable income from their sales. These training courses will be held at their homes and in the handicraft centers.


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Documents

New Valley Tourism Assessment