Cómo se ha de instruir a los adultos antes del Bautismo.

The ecotourism attractions in the Fayoum Governorate (FG) include nature, culture and heritage-based activities, which provide the potential for an unique personal experience for ecotourists. Moreover, the FG contains three protected areas, one of which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 (Fayoum & EEAA 2008). Three levels of ecotourism attractions can be identified (see Figure 6- 2):-

i) Focal attractions: these are attractive enough to motivate tourists to visit them. These are related to the local natural and cultural heritage. The focal attractions include:

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- Scientific excursions to the World Heritage Site of Wadi El-Hitan (Whale Valley)39 and Petrified Forest at the north of Qarun Lake;

- Bird-watching around the lakes and in the agricultural lands; and

- Desert safari activities (mountain climbing and hiking, desert trekking, horse and camel riding, etc.).

ii) Secondary attractions do not possess the degree of distinctiveness of the focal attractions but they are also related to the features of natural and cultural heritage. These attractions alone are not enough to motivate the tourists to visit the Fayoum, but they constitute further interest and added value for the ecotourist, contributing to richer and more diverse tourism experiences (Saballous 1997 cited in CISS & EDG 2008). The secondary attractions include:

- Observing diverse and unique fauna and flora; - Direct contact with community lifestyles;

- Watersports activities in the lakes (feluccas, kayaking, and swimming in the lower of Wadi El-Rayan lake);

- Visits to the archaeological sites (Qasr El Sagha, Medinet Madi, etc.); and - The geological features of the desert areas, which are especially appealing to

photographers and geologists (TDA & NSCE 2000).

iii) Supporting attractions include man-made features (facilities and services) that serve specific needs of tourists and satisfy the practical requirements of ecotourists. These attractions include local handicrafts, existing accommodation facilities on the southern shoreline of Qarun Lake, such as Panorama, El-Mandra ecolodge, and the Safari Camp in Wadi El-Rayan protected area (CISS & EDG 2008).

39 _{In July, 2005 UNESCO announced that Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) in the Fayoum Desert would be}

designated the first natural heritage spot in Egypt and one of the most important in the world (GOPP & UNDP 2010).

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The World Heritage Site of Whales Valley as an example of a focal attraction Source: Khalil and Ali (2000)

Wadi El-Rayan lake Source: (FTA 2013)

Qarun Lake

Source:Khalifa and El-Khateeb (2011) Examples of secondary attractions

Local handicrafts

Source: The author during the fieldwork 24/11/2012

Palm Shadows ecolodge Source: (FTA 2013) Examples of supporting attractions

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Although the FG has a diversity of resources, there are several issues that may hinder ecotourism development in the area. These include:

-Conflict relating to land ownership jurisdictions: The ownership and authority of the Fayoum lands such as the shorelines of the Qarun and Wadi El-Rayan Lakes are shared between many different government departments (Figure 6-3) governed by different laws, with an absence of coordination. Consequently, conflicts of interest often arise (CISS & EDG 2008).

Figure (6-3) The conflict in land jurisdictions Source: CISS and EDG (2008)

-Water Pollution in Qarun Lake is a significant problem caused by agricultural runoff and poor treatment of settlement sewage. This has led to irreparable damage to the lake’s ecosystem and a gradual decline in fishing stocks. This pollution greatly impedes the potential use of the lake for water sports or swimming (GOPP & UNDP 2010).

-Fossil and Heritage Sites’ excavation: Fayoum has numerous sites which are full of Pharaonic, Greek, Coptic and Islamic human heritage antiques as well as fossils and prehistoric remains. Many remain still unexplored, especially along the north coast of Qarun Lake and the Wadi of El-Rayan. These areas are under threat from illegal excavation by visitors and people from neighbouring areas. Many come to

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the Fayoum fossil beds during the weekends and take away enormous quantities of fossils and antiquities (Khalifa & El-Khateeb 2011).

- Negative impact on critical habitats: Major changes in the natural habitats of the unique and important areas of Fayoum are already taking place, leading to serious deterioration in the fragile environment. For instance, the over-exploitation of the southern shore of Qarun Lake has resulted in the destruction of extensive areas of salt marshes and mud flats, which are an important habitat for a variety of birds and breeding areas for commercially important fisheries and crustaceans (CISS &

EDG 2008).

-The limited capacity of the workforce in Fayoum represents one of the main challenges hindering ecotourism development, particularly when it cannot meet quality ecotourism requirements. There is a gap between the needs of tourism employers and the supply of suitably trained local personnel (CISS 2013b; GOPP & UNDP 2010).

-Lack of tourism facilities and services: The quality and quantity of tourism facilities are inadequate for successful ecotourism development in Fayoum. For instance, the number of hotel rooms represents only 0.21% of the whole number in Egypt (the Red Sea and Cairo represent 33% and 13% respectively) (Hilmi et al. 2012). The majority of them are located in Fayoum city or along the southern shore of Qarun Lake. Furthermore, the quality of healthcare and emergency service provision in Fayoum is poor (CISS 2013a).

-A weak tourism market: The Fayoum tourism market mainly depends on domestic visitors, with international tourists forming only a very small fraction of total visitor numbers. The market essentially depends on short-stay and one-day trips because Fayoum is close to Cairo and Giza. Less than 10% of visitors spend a night in the area. The vast majority of visitors go to Fayoum at weekends or during national holidays (CISS & EDG 2008).

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