Egypt's lavish beaches and precious coral reefs, as well as its rich cultural heritage, are the reasons why so many tourists are attracted to visit the country. But these assets must be preserved in order to guarantee a sustained influx of tourists, something that experts at the Cairo Climate Talks (CCT) hope to achieve by promoting “green tourism”. German ambassador to Cairo Hansjörg Haber who opened the talks said that while it was important to ensure the security of tourists there were also problems caused by tourism in Egypt such as endangering biodiversity and the overconsumption of water, energy and food. Germany is among the top three countries sending tourists to Egypt each year. Amr Ali, director of the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA), said that “the tourism sector in Egypt has been pampered for too many years,” adding that the environment was “not a luxury.” “We would like to see 25 euro cents per guest per day levied to implement solar power,” he said, adding that this had been discussed in Egypt for more than 15 years with little action. “It is not a matter of price or certification. It's a matter of will,” he said. Among the experts gathered by the CCT was Geoffrey Lipman, president of the International Council of Tourism Partners, who said that while green development could not entirely be paid for by the state, it should not be left only to market dynamics. “Governments are putting together a $10 billion climate change adaptation fund,” he said, in a reference to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conference which started this week. “If Egypt prepares itself to access those funds it can be part of the game,” he said. Local businessmen like Ahmed Moussa have already struck out on their own and are determined to pursue green development. Moussa runs a 32-room ecolodge in the Dakhla Oasis that blends in with the local environment and gives back to the community around it through education and civic engagement. “We recycle our own garbage and we have our own drinking water from a well and we do not allow plastics. It is easy and simple and it does not cost that much. We also produce solar energy and feed it into the national grid,” Moussa said, who comes from a family of green business owners. “We care for the treasure we have.” Faisal Eissa, founder of Solar Shams, a company providing solar energy equipment, said that cheap and subsidised energy prices were an obstacle for solar companies and businesses that wanted to switch to renewable energy. He said solar energy would be cheaper than conventional energy if the latter was not subsidised, adding that government steps to phase out energy subsidies were “a move in the right direction.” “It is not only about pricing or choices or convenience, but also about other values which the young, especially, are supporting, namely being authentic and fair in what you do,” said Frank Oostdam, director of the Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators. Oostdam said that Egypt should focus its tourism campaigns on the ecosystem, sun, sand, antiquities and cultural heritage it offers rather than on its hotels. “Market a feeling, an inspiration, instead of property,” he said. “Applying green tourism standards will save Egypt's resources for the coming generations,” Emad Hassan, energy advisor to the Ministry of Tourism, commented to Al-Ahram Weekly. The Cairo Climate Talks, initiated by the German embassy in Cairo, are a series of events meant to provide a platform to exchange experiences, raise awareness and foster cooperation on various issues between policy-makers, business, the scientific community and civil society on climate change.
