Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development 445

Eco- Tourism for Coastal Aria Development

Case study Red Sea- Marsa Alam

Walid Omar
Department ofArchitecture. Umm Alqura University, KSA

t\bstract:
The spectacular coastlines a long Egypt's Red sea and Gulf of Aquba are the
focus for one of the fastest growing tourism economics in the world. One of the
newly developed tourist regions on the Red sea coastline is Marsa Allam. Many
tourism projects have been established in Marsa Allam Fairouz plaza Resort
the main concern of this paper.
The Tourism Development Authority (TDA) has launched a successful initiative
to make land available tor tourism investment and lodging projects, in an attempt
to raise a new tourist region attracting international tourism markets
TDA. while preparing this region for tourism investment recognized that,
priority must be given to guiding private development protect Egypt's natural
heritage and sustain resources for the future.
Therefore, the focus and the main concern for Fairouz plaza resort project in the
same region will be an eco-friendly tourist village. It provides the most suitable
example for preserving natural and heritage resources of its area.

Keywords: Assessing environmental impact on this region to proteet the

environment in this area and developing the region eco-tourism without
damaging its environment
446 WalidOmar

Introduction:
This paper addresses a number of critical Ecotourism issues from the perspective
of Third World destinations. /t points out that Ecotourism driven by Western
environmentalism and aided by influential international institutions and
developed countries has been introduced in the South in form of a development
package and at such a massive scale so that it can be called a new 'Green
Revolution'. The paper first examines the shortcomings of the Ecotourism
concept, which helps to explain why related policies and projects have generally
failed to bring about sustainable development. lt also argues that tourism
initiatives in Third World economies with and without an "eco"-Iabel- are likely
to further yield their sovereignty to foreign interests as the liberalization of
international trade in goods and services advances.

1 Definition of eco-tourism
Much has been written about eco-tourism, but there is little consensuses about its
meaning to many forms in which eco-tourism activities are offered by a large
and wide variety of operators.
While there is no universal definition for eco-tourism, its general
characteristics can be summarized as folIows:
1- All nature-based forms oftourism in which the main motivation ofthe
tourists is the observation and appreciation of nature as weIl as the traditional
cultures prevailing in natural areas.
2-Minimizes negative impacts on natural & socio-cultural environment
3- Supports the protection of natural areas.
4- Generates economic benefits for host communities, organizations and
authorities managing natural areas with conservation purposes.
5- Providing alternative employment and income opportunities for local
community.
Many governments, academic institutions, development agencies and non­
governmental organizations (NGOs) are now seeking to develop Eco-tourism,
which in difference to much-criticized conventional mass tourism claims to be
ecologically and sociaily sensitive. Eco-tourism projects have been actively
supported by large business associations such as the World Tourism and Trade
Council (WTTC) and Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA); International
institutions such as the World Bank, the World Tourism Organization, the United
Nations Environment Programmed (UKEP), the United Nations Educational
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations
Oevelopment Programmed (UNOP), Conservation International, the World
Resources Institute (WRl), the Oomestic Technology Institute (OTI), the
Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development 447

Ecotourism SocietY[I], and last not least (TDA)the Tourism Development

Authority in Egypt.
There are well-founded concerns that Ecotourism lacks adequate scientific
foundations and is therefore not weil equipped to arrive at sustainable and
practicable solutions to the global sodal and environmental crisis. The World
Bank, for example, has funded a growing number of biodiversity programmers
including an Ecotourism component, although there is little evidence that it has
the in house expertise and means to develop a concrete policy in that field. Many
of the claims concerning the benefits of Ecotourism have been exaggerated, or
owe more to labeIling and marketing, as such projects are often planned and
carried out without local consent and support, and indeed threaten rather than
benefit local people's cultures, their subsistence economies and life-sustaining
natural resource base. This is because those critics regard Ecotourism more as an
"eco-facade" and as a tactic to conceal the consumptive and exploitative
practices ofthe mainstream tourism industry.

1.1 Problems of definition

The problems of defining and conceptualizing ecotourism became utterly clear at

an international conference entitled "Eco-tourism: Concept, Design and
Strategy", held in Bangkok from 6 to 8 F ebruary 1995. While there was general
agreement that ecotourism is "nature-based, sustainable managed, inclusive of
social and cultural aspects, and educational to tourists", only two of the speakers
acknowledged that the concept includes "benefits to local people" and
"involvement of local people" as components. Most ecotourism proponents were
only concerned with tourism activities attracting visitors to natural areas and
using the revenues to fuel economic development and, to some extent, fund
conservation efforts; others used the term in a much broader sense and also
stressed the "greening ofmass tourism", i.e.

1.1.1 The question of "sustainability"

Ecotourism policies, inspired by the 1987 BrundtJand Report "Our Common
Future" and later by the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (u'NCED. Their attempts at redefining development through
"sustainability" and "justice" have been opposed due to the introduction of a
dubious and false Iinkage between developmem and conservation. As a result,
they assist in concealing the actual dichotomy between ecological development
and unsustainable economic growth.
While ecotourism sounds comparatively benign, one of its most serious
impacts is tbe usurpation of "virgin" territories - national parks, and other
wilderness areas - which are then packaged as green products for eco-tourists.
With the tremendous expansion of comrnereialized eco-tourism, environmental
destruction -including deforestation, land deterioration, disruption of ecological
life systems and various forms of pollution - has in fact increased and still carries
on apace. In Costa Rica, for instance, eco-tourism has been a boom industry and
a model for other parts ofthe world. If eco-tourism cannot succeed here, it is
448 Walid Omar

often argued, its role elsewhere looks distinctly doubtfuL Meanwhile,

however, local NGOs and small-scale tour operators have alerted to more and
more unsustainable developments which c1early pave the way to mass tourism
and turn the country into an "eco-tourism graveyard" (Castilho 1994 p. 9). In
1994, Costa Rica's biggest tourism development ever, the Papa Gallo Gulf
project on the North Pacitic coast, was frozen due to charges of corruption and
violation of legal procedures. The US$2 billion project, covering 2,000 hectares
of pristine beaches surrounded by tropical forests, has set a target for 40,000
hotel rooms - almost five times as many as have been available in the entire
country. The mega-resort has not only become a sensitive issue because of the
alleged illegalities and devastating environmental impacts, but it has also
unleashed a heated debate on Costa Rica's "sustainable" tourism future [5].
The Eco-tourism concept, as currently proposed by the TDA, has a number of
attractive features that are likely to influence the Nature Conservation Sector's
attitude towards Parks and Tourism development in Egypt, along with most other
countries, is weil aware that it cannot afford an attitude of strict preservation
with respect to its protected area heritage. So compromise is inevitable along the
principle that people must be encouraged to become partners for conservation
rather than a threat to it. Conservation rooted in sound sustainable development
principles will therefore guide us forward.
For conservationists every compromise with development has a number of
costs associated with it. Guidelines must therefore be even more rigorous within
parks than outside of them. Actions that compromise the overall conservation
value of any protected area, On the other hand, the environmental authority
announced main principles considerations, particularly the protection of water
front shore, for all coastal regions including the Red Sea & the Mediterranean.
The main principles ofthe environment parameters ofthese resolutions are:
l-It is not allowed to perform any functions which may lead to the
deterioration or damage of the natural environment. This rule if applied with no
exceptions, there will be no tourism resorts or any other coastal constructions
since they damage, in a way or another with ditTerent percentages, the natural
environment when the site of the construction is prepared and apart of the green
cover ofthe land is removed for this purpose.
2- It is not allowed to hann the animals or plants either on land or in marines,
and not allowed to cause any pollution in the land, water or air.
In fact the presence of human beings and their activities, must lead in a way
Of another, to the harm of some animals and natural plants in the region. Like the
migration of the dears and foxes and some birds and the destroying of natural
plants by building or bagging the soi1, or even there might be some changes in
the topographie nature by replacing the natural plants with others as in the design
ofnew landscape ofthe site.
Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development 449

Also there might be pollution to the natural sinks underground by

desalination of salted underground water returning after wards more salted and
the usage ofthe drainage water and irrigation and other activities.
For example the Gona Movenpek of the dry flow tracks; it could be used as
pedestrian passages using natural rocks from the site, moving from one level to
other, till reaching the coastal shore. Also it could be used as an artificial lake
using the high concentrated salted water, resulting from the desalination of
water, which may reach 75% ofthe water extracted from weHs, Fig. (I).

Figure (l) Draining the salt Water, in Gona Movenpek Resort

1 Eco-tourism in Marsa Alam :

The General Urban Planning Authority in lune 1996 has dcveloped a plan for the
development of Marsa Allam city, including tourism development. This Master
Plan devides Marsa Allam to parts including hills ofGabal Al-Jazirah .

1.1 Description ofthe project location & Resources:

Certain hills in Jabal Al -Jazirah Al Hamra contain embedded marine fossils

(including corals, gastropods and pelecipods) that are exposed on the hili slops
and may represent a tourist attraction. Development of these areas should take
this into highly consideration. These hills represent ground that was below the
sea at late geological times and represent raised beaches (more than 20-30m
above sea level now).
Winding conveniently sloped trail extending from base ofthe hill to the top is
recommended in this ca se with ancillary activities, fig (2).

1.1.1 Archeological Aspects

Main archeological findings in the region are basically related to mining ­
quarrying activities and trade. These date back to ancient Egyptians and the
times ofthe Romans, Ptolemaic, and Arabs.
450 Walid Omar

Fig (2) loeation andSlopes analyses

An elaborate network of roads, whieh traversed the desert, served these

mines and quarries. These roads whieh were mapped by geological survey
offieer G.W Murray at the beginning of this eentury, earried in addition to the
Arabian and Indian trade, the geologieal materials whieh the Romans extraeted
from the Eastern Desert.
There are four main Roman Roads across the Eastern Desert which
invariably start from the Nile Valley at Qena (Kainopolis) or qift (Kuft ICoptos),
across the Red Sea hills and terminate at the Red Sea at Graeco -Roman ports of
Myos Harmos (Abu Shear el-Qibli, north of modern Hurghada), Philoteras
(modern Safaga), Leukos Lumen (modern Quseir) and Bernice. The territory
served by these roads contains a network of main and intermediate roads. Some
60 stations and forts of various sizes and at all stages of obliteration and many
mines and quarries. The Roman roads were unpaved but some stretches of which
are still preserved. The roads were marked by intervisible beacons of stone
erected on the bordering hills or signal towers and were served and guarded by
garrisons housed in stations which were broadly alike in plan. The importance of
these stations for watering gave them the name hydreumata-watering stations).
The stations were checkpoints along the route where taxes were collected.
Overnight travelers accommodated and the beasts ofburden watered.
The present town of Quseir (Kuserl Albus Portus) contains no aneient
remains except the ruins of a Ptolemaic temple, inscribed with the old Egyptian
name ofthe town (Duau). Just to south ofthe proposed site is a plaee known as
Marsa Mubarak, which was identitied as the aneient port of lt had a good weil
and anchorage, although, there are no aneient remains. It was, however, the
natural port for the aneient gold mine of Umm Rus, located only seven
kilometers away island. No areheological findings are known in the proposed
development site.
The Red Sea coast: aneient Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and Arabs have all
inhabited the land around Port Ghalib. As one moves inland, the coastal desert
plain changes to alandscape of mountains and valleys, until eventually one
Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development 451

. reaches the River Nile and the antiquities of Luxor. But it is the Red Sea, with
its beaches, coral reefs and unique marine Iife, which first attracts the attention of
yachtsmen and other water-sports.

The Port Ghalib project is being built along 18 Km of shoreline, and the
whole concept comes under the control of one master developer /investor, the
AI-Kharafi Group of Kuwait. The project is being developed by some of the
world's top specialists to ensure an integrated development with careful attention
paid to urban planning issues such as infrastructure, arehitectural style, building
control, phasing and govemance.
Port Ghalib will be a living, integrated community of distinction, aetivity and
variety, setting it apart from any other resort eommunity in the region. It will
have a highly animated town centre, busy promenades with shops, boutiques,
restaurants, bistros, cafes, as weIl as galleries and entertainment for all ages.
Located at 25°32'N 34°38'E, 85 km south of Kusier and 60km north of Marsa
Alam, the marina is part of a huge resort and town development which is still
under eonstruetion. Marsa Alam International Airport has been built 4km from
the mari na and it has been agrated sinee 2001 for chartered flights and mainly
flights to Cairo. A 120 room Diving Hotel is now open in the marina. The
Capitainerie building, located at the end of the entrance channel, opened in
September 2006 and house authorities and marina management offices. There
are 300 berths in the outer basin (up to 50m LOA) dredged depth to 5m, fuel,
water and electricity available. The Fairway Buoy at the mouth of the entranee
channel has a white flash 2 every 10. The entrance channel is marked by buoys.
Due to its wide range of quality facilities and Port Galib, it will attract
tourists and long-term residents, and also business travelers seeking a short
leisure break or a conferenee venue. As weH as benefiting from the on-site
facilities, they will be able to travel inland to enjoy a desert oasis, the mountains
with their fauna, flora and Bedouin inhabitants, and the aneient monuments
riehly scattered in Nile Valley.

Port Ghalib loeation Fig. (3)

452 WalidOmar

As aresort projeet, it also aims at

protecting the natural resources of site,
partieularly the marine life to protect the
n Urat resources.

fig (4 lE) fairouz plaza resort: The project is location in Marsa Alam tourist
region on Port Galib

I Environment Considerations

Marine Life
The first thing that strikes you when arriving at the shore ofthe Red Sea is
the extraordinary contrast between the desert land and the abundance of life
under the surface ofthe water. Marine life is sublime and luxuriant, with a
fantastic universe ofbeauty, diversity, offorms, eolours. This treasure,
everybody agrees. must be strictly protected. If this is not the case, the human
and tourist aetivities will "cut the braneh they are sitting on",
The rule of Environment-Pro provides a detailed inventory ofthe site and
deseribes the measures to be taken to avoid pollution Planners must stick
completely with these reeommendations, as weil as those ofthe. (EEAA) these
rules (Resolutions) include:
1- Any aetion or aetivities resulting in the deterioration or destruetion of the
natural environment prohibited
2- It is not allowed to harm animals or plants on land or in the sea, neither is
it allowed to pollute soil, water or air. Ouring the establishment exeeution,
special attention will be paid to limit the alteration of water quality by dust
3- In prineiple, land and sea living organisms must not be hunted, killed,
collected, transferred or disturbed.
4- At the same time Fishery has its own regulations wh ich define time size
areas offishing
5-The establishment of new special proteeted areas must be considered and
encouraged.
6- No eonnection between terrestrial and marine activities, no dumping in
the sea, no connection between the Laguna's and the sea
Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development 453

1.1 The nature of land forms in the water fronts:

In some cases the water interacts with the land forming natural water grooves
and bays, acting Iike a natural yaut marine. These forms could be found in
"Movinpeik quasar Resort" Fig. (5), Coray Maras Alam& • Solay Marsa Alam,
There are also natural barriers ofreefs, acting like natural protection ofthe
marine environment. This could be also found in most coastal areas between " EI
quasar" and going south and " Marsa Alam", such as EL fairouz Plaza Resort .
Fig. (6)

Figure. (6) EI-Fairouz Plaza

In some cases where humans interfere with nature. This destroy natural
features ofthe sea shore by reforming shallow reefs to a beach like most ofthe
Hurgada tourist resorts, or by getting water inwards forming artificial lakes, as
found in " El-Gona Sheraton" north Hurgada. Fig. (7)

Figure (7): EI Gona Sheraton .

1.1.1 Desert Life

Desert in the Red Sea Area contractually to the first impression of new corner, is
not an empty space. When you come from the obscurity into the fuH light, at the
beginning, because of the dizziness. new corners see anything. It takes them few
seconds to realize the relief In this rough and difficult nature, the species make
prowess's to live, to survive, by developing an exceptional force.
454 Walid Omar

Man can rapidly destroy this by ignorance, smpidity. For example, four­
wheel- drive cars whieh crush everything on their way .In addition waste, in this
dry climate, does not rot. Contrary it seatters aIl over the place by the wind &
damage the desert life.
The idea of describing the desert as empty place is practically scientifically
rejected. Therefore, the principle of defining physical buffer zone between
protected zone and zones ofhuman activities & development is highly required.
The rules of protection are:
1) Respect of the trails. 3) Limit human activities in delimited zones.

2) No pollution. 4) Respect of ecology

To solve the problem of developing desert, many notions were discussed.

These notions incIude green architecture and garden city. In desert areas, as in
our costal red sea, the problem with such green arrangements is great water
requirements; this made designers to notice the beauty in the natural origin desert
environment, which may be considered for some people that it is a pOOf
environment. In fact, it could be a piece of art if it's weil designed. Good
example for that is the project of developing the California desert, which
conserves its raw and nature as own beauty. In fact there are many tourists, who
come to the Red Sea region in Egypt, asking for the desert view beside the sea
view. Fig. (8)

Figure (8)

4 vironmental impact on Water Resources

When approaching a design in a site with environmental considerations, i.e.

desert, hot and dry weather, usually there is an important question that is " How
we are going to support the natural local community? And the achievement of
visual properties in a desert nature site without an over usage of water. To
achieve this it is important to study first the sites sources and supply of water in
order to be able to estimate the intensity and kind of community in this site in the
future and not the opposite like what had happened in a place such as Hurgada
Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development 455

which grow at random and developed without enough study for its water sources
which lead to a problem in the fresh water supply for the city. What happen was
that as the needs of inhabitants was satisfied the more the urban extended and the
more the water problem became greater.The need to find a new water supply was
important, they solved their problem by using water with care beside the re-use
strategy of water which helped to solve the fresh water problem supply in such
regions

1.1 Erosion and sediment

Construction activities are unlikely to increase substantially the rate of erosion in

the site and vicinity. Local relief is not very high and slopes are rather gentIe
than steep. However, Jabal AIGezira AIHamra has a higher relief and some
steeper slopes. Precautionary measures should be taken during the construction
phase with certain stipulations included in the contracts of executing contractors
to the effect.

1.1.1 Slope failure

Natural slops in the near vicinity of-the proposed site are rather gentle except for
so me parts of Jabal AI Gezira Al Hamra. Most construction activities are Iikely
to be away from significantly steep slopes and no man- induced modifications of
salient slopes are being contemplated at present .the situation at Jabal AI Jazira
AI Hamra, However, may need special considerations, Fig (9).
Due to low relief of the proposed, except for Jabal AI Jazirah ALHamra, 6ft
sediments and rock debris likely will be excavated tor leveling the ground .No
differentiated soil profile of significance is known to exit in the proposed site
.Due to extensive aridity, surface water soil erosion will be at minimum unless
faced with flash flooding during construction .In this case excessive soil may be
eroded, transported and likely to deposit in the coastal marine zone. Otherwise,
vindication may be prevailing and fine dust may be carried long distances away
from the site of construction. However; precautiol1ary mcasures, (e.g. use of
sprinkled water) should be implemented during cOl1struction. Other measures
(e,g. barriers), are advisable to mitigatc soH intrusion il1to thc marine
environment.

Figure (9)Natural slops At labl Al lazira Al Hamra

456 WalidOmar

1.1.1 Changes in Topography or Surface Relief Features

The prevailing character of the topography is typified by rolling ground and
rather low isolated hills and ridges. At gabal At Gezira At Hamra, however, large
hilI s, ridges, and blocks exit. Engineering constructions will involve so me
leveling operations and thus removal ofsoil (loose sediments) from higher levels
to lower. Construction at Gabal Allazirah AI Hamra should be carefully
considered on its slops.
No doubt, some often hilly relief feature will be removed. No substantial
removal of loose sediments outside the site is foreseen except at Gabal Allazira
Al Hamra.in this case, some ofthe sediment may end the sea ifnot managed
properly.

1.1.2 Discharge into surface water

It is not recommended that water disposal of a tourist centre and the airport to be
discharged to the dry wadi channels of the area. Such act will pollute the meager
unconfined ground water aquifers presem wh ich may be needed for usage in the
future. [t is also not recommended to discharge the water disposal directly or
indirectly into the sea to avoid pollution ofthe resort beaches as well as adverse
effects on the local marine.

2 A void Environment Impact

The architectural and engineering design phase 01' any tourism development
project is an excellent time for incorporating environmental sustainability
concems into the project design. In this phase, it costs nothing to add and remove
items Wide broad range of options exists. to achieve improved environmental
H.

performance 01' infrastructure systems, some of these options are most

appropriately considered at the single. Certain infrastructure systems can be
shared by several projects. In either case, analysis by a professional civil /
mechanical engineering design team will identify options for minimizing
resource consumption and maximizing operating savings. These findings may
lead to changes in the design of the project, not only in the selection and use of
equipment, such as generators, transformers, Water supply equipment,
wastewater treatment equipment, but also in basic decisions conceming site
planning and building design.
The link betvveen good design and environment performance is clear better
design solution is the one that achieves the greatest output per unit of input. Such
a solution is more efficient. It generally requires the least input of resources,
which are costly. While generating the smallest number ofwastes, which are also
costly to treat and dispose of In addition to c1ear financial benefits, the
environmental benefits resulting from reduced resource use and lower pollution
levels can be significant. Power gene rating plants can be a source of noise and
air pollution. Proper fuel storage is also an issue to be considered .Well designed
and managed power plans and power management systems are needed to
enhance power consumption economics, as weil as environmental performance.
Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development 457

At this point, the question is: the studies of the project's impact on the
environment accurate, interims of accurate analysis of the expected impact of the
proposed project ? Of course not ... must the studies represent a description of
the project and description of the environmental constitutions either on the
seawater or on the land (in the project's area) and description of the social and
economic factors. In fact this is not the real effects ofthe project's just writing in
the studies. For example, in our case the project of port Ghalib, most hills and
slopes is digging in a large holes to cons trace the foundation of the large number
of hotels. Digging the bay for obtaining big number of boats .

Figure (I O)The problem it to be looks Jike Nama Bay in

Sharm EI Shekh

The conditions, technical and planning criteria (land use. construction

conditions, criterion pure water, Conditions treating and dumping sewage water)
they are not enough to stop the damage to the environment ofthe project.

1.1 The Expected damage results to the Environment from the Project EI
Fairoz plaza resort

The topography and nature of the land will be changed because the concept of
design depends on the conservation ofthe natural environment for project land.

- Digging will match with the construction level .Digging operations will be
almost superficial. The building wills not be more than one floor.
- There are no changes in the location levels (elevations) as the construction
will be according to the topography and nature ofthe land. (Figure No. 1I will
explain explanation ofthe landscape).
458 Walid Omar

Figure (11). Vision for the EI Fairoz plaza resort

I

The concrete works and construction will be existing around the layout:uf any
project, Fig (12). View ofbuilding construction in EI Fairoz plaza before and
after opening.

Figure ( 12 ).
The Coast Line a mari na site will be damaged to the coral when the Jett
materials as a constructed.
To conclude: we would like to applaud the TDA initiative in promoting a
diversification ofEgypt's tourism market through Eco-Lodge development. It
creates achallenging opportunity for us in conservation
Ecotourism can bring numerous socio-economic benefits to Egypt. It
generates foreign exchange, creates local employment, stimulates national and
local eeonomies, and inereases environmental awareness and edueation. This
will preserve all resources of tourists who come to experienee and enjoy. In this
respect, appropriate management struetures as weil as adequate design and
building guidelines for tourism facilities are required to ensure that tourism
enhanees and respeets the natural environment
In Egypt, tourism has been traditionally "cultural" and "historieal" in foeus,
given the rich eultural heritage and aneient Egyptian antiquities predominantly
eoneentrated in the Nile Valley. Over the last deeade or so, however, new
regions have been undergoing strong tourism growth. The Red Sea eoast, the
Sinai Peninsula, the Mediterranean shores, and the Western Desert with its
numerous oases offer diverse and spectaeular natural attraetions.
Sustainable Architecture and Urban Development 459

To accommodate this growth in tourist numbers, the Government of Egypt

has adopted an aggressive tourism development plan for Sinai and the Red Sea.
Without adequate concern for environmental sateguards, however, this ambitious
plan could pose numerous ecological threats. Preliminary results of
environmental audits to a number of hotels and resorts in the Red Sea region
reveal that the ecological sustainability ofthe Red Sea is being damaged by some
hotel operations. Dive and desert safaris also contribute to the tremendous
pressures on the sensitive environment of the region. There is areal need,
therefore, for a new type of tourism development. that is environmentally
sensitive and is managed in a mann er that promotes the conservation and
protection of natural and cultural resources that bring the tourists to Sinai and the
Red Sea coast.
There is no doubt that, the more the designer uses the environmental
elements in his planning and design or the use of materials and elements which
matches with the local environment in a way that goes with the nature recycling
and the ecological order and the use of the renewable energy sources and the
decrease of the harmful out-puts which go to the sinks causing its pollution. as
mentioned before, the more this designer will be able to reach his aim and
achieve the protection of environment .In order to decrease the damage and
increase the positive value of such projects, leading to an economic tourism
development with environmental respect and value and this is what we aim to
achieve.

1 Results and recommendations:

1- The parameters and restrictions to protect the environmental system for

coastal areas must be complete with no exceptions whatever the importance of
the project development.
2-Since September 1998, the reconsideration of environmental rules wh ich
control the development in the coastal regions had proved that there are many
weak points wiII leads to destroy of environment. The proposed agenda must be
followed by sub-agenda to face such problems.
3- There is a continuous need to extend the natural protective areas and its
surrounding regions.
4- The natural sea shore coastal line must be preserved with no interference,
using the satellites pictures periodically to preview any change either natural or
man-made.
5- lt is important to keep the nature of the land topography in the sites where
tourism projects are built especially those with natural grooves resulting from the
heavy rain- putting planes and programs to face the risk oftorrents before it
happens.
6- The more we use water as landscape element, which is the main element
in the water front character, in a natural way with its flow and combining with
460 Walid Omar

the land natural structure, the more will be the architectural and form value of the
buHt project, taking into consideration not to destroy the sinks underground and
the use and benefit from the desalinated water, since the use ofthe treated water,
either with desalination or biological treatment is so promising to be the source
of fultilling the great demand of fresh water for these areas.
7- The original natural environment of the area, even if it lakes the green
cover, still has its own beauty and its special desert environment with its limited
kind ofplants and rocks and natural colors. This is something most ofthe tourists
are interested in, since they may not have environment in their own countries.
8- The more, the designer benetit from the natural structure of the site using
its local materials and energy sources, the more he we be able to save the natural
environment with its homogenous effect and influence between the built projects
and its surroundings. This is return will provide an additional esthetic, cultural
and economic values to the project and the site itself.
9- Our aim is to achieve the harmony with the natural environmental orders
when designing tourism projects in the coastal area. This will protect the natural
environment ofthe water front's while developing such areas.

References:

1- Steiner, F.(I991). The living landscape an ecological approach to landscape

planning. U. S. A.
2-Walid, 0,(2002). Environmental study EI-Fairoz plaza project. Marsa Alam .

:,;y...:;, , ~t,;.J1 ~I 4-(2005) wl.c Jß-Jl ~I .,&\:i.ll

Y"" ':11 ~4 :i.,;hUI .
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1998).AI Jazirah EI Hamra ,Engineering report , vtarina Guidelines

,Marsa Alam , Red Sea . Egypt.