COUNTRY: Egypt

AUFTRAGGEBER / GEBERORGANISATION:
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (formerly GTZ), Orascom Hotels & Development

PROJECT TITLE:
„International Conference for decision makers on standards for sustainable tourism development“

SHORT DESCRIPTION

The Ministry of Tourism and the Green Star Hotel Initiative hosted an international conference “Egypt on the way to a sustainable destination” in El Gouna, Egypt. This event was successfully organised by AGEG Consultants and Orascom Hotels & Development with support from the GTZ (GIZ) and the UNEP. The conference, one of the first of its kind in the region, brought together top representatives from the leading international organisations, such as the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IH&RA), the International Federation of Tour Operators and decision-makers from the national and Middle Eastern tourism sectors, such as Bahrain, Syria, Jordan, Qatar and Morocco to discuss standards for sustainable tourism development in the Middle East.

As a result of the conference, a common declaration was signed by the Egyptian Minister of Tourism, the CEO of Orascom Hotels & Development and the official representatives of the UNWTO, UNEP amd the IH&RA. The ‘El Gouna Declaration’ outlines Egypt as the first tourism destination to use and implement the ‘Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria’ in their tourism industry towards the goal of creating a more sustainable tourism industry.

• Concept design, planning, organisation and implementation of the international conference in Egypt
• Development of the framework for the “El Gouna Declaration for more sustainability in the Egyptian tourism sector
• Participation management
• Development of conference material and press releases
• Technical planning and implementation of thematic conference workshops