The Italian Cooperation is strongly committed in the the promotion of the environmental, cultural and artistic heritage of the Country.

This goal is reached trough different activities such as - but not only - creation and management of protected areas and archaeological sites, waste management and urban hygiene, restoration and conservation of cultural and monumental sites, up to environmental awareness campaigns.

This effort generates the basis of a comprehensive tourism development, in condition to involve both tourists and investors. On this ground, a dialogue is developing between Italian Cooperation - together with its institutional counterparts - and Tour Operators / Private investors, in order to identify common interests and actions to be taken in consideration to the realization of the "Other Egypt".

Why "Other Egypt"

We took this term from a project: "Development of tourism in Egypt: promotion and implementation of new tourist districts in regional and local areas".

Development of "Other Egypt" for a sustainable tourism in new areas creating new tourist districts and promoting investments in the eco - tourism sector (with Italian - Egyptian joint ventures).

Interested areas are:

• North coast (El Alamein and neighbourhood)

• Fayoum, mainly Wadi El Rayan

• Marsa Alam: Samadai and Wadi Gamil Protected Area (coast and inland)

This section tries to illustrate the intervention of Italian Cooperation aiming to the development of the “Other Egypt”, including projects financed by other Italian public and private channels.

In order to provide a complete glance, is important to include some projects we are realizing in other areas, such as Saqqara, Alexandria, Minia and Cairo, related the development of tourism in the global sense, nation wide.

Projects in the Oasis of Siwa and El Gara

• Environmental Improvement of the Oasis of Siwa

• Women, cultural heritage and the Wealth of Nations: Enhancing Women’s Role as Custodians and Artists of Egyptian Handicfrafts

• Improving Education in the Oasis of Siwa

• Shali: Protection and Valorization of the Cultural Heritage and develop of eco - tourism Activities in Siwa and El Gara Oasis

Projects in Fayoum

• Sustainable rural development in Wady El Rayan and Fayoum New Land

• Protected area of Wadi el Rayan

•  Valorization of the artistic heritage of Fayoum and Saqqara

• Eco-tourism for a sustainable development: a sustainable tourism program for the Governorate of Fayoum

• Community, handworkers and the market: connecting the handicraft producers in the marginalized communities to the national and international markets, active in the Governorates of Sinai, Matrouh, Cairo, Fayoum, Sohag, Aswan.

Projects in the Sinai South Coast

Pilot project for the sustainable development of environmental sound management in South Sinai coastline, (Sharm El Sheikh, Ras Mohammed National Park).

Partners: Italian Ministry for the Environment and Territory, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA)

Executive body: Pisa University (Italy)

Objectives:

The goal of this project is to contribute to the sustainable development of South Sinai especially through an eco-tourism pilot project of integrating strategy of nature conservation, environmental education and public awareness, within Ras Mohammed National Park. The project is based on

• Promotion of sustainable eco-tourism in protected areas in South Sinai.

• Preservation of natural and cultural heritage and increasing environmental education and public awareness.

The project is based on three essential components:

• The construction of an underwater marine park in Marsa Ghoslani, which will provide visitors the opportunity to live with unique marine life and outstanding seascapes, focusing on nature preservation, environmental education and public awareness purposes. The park will be located near to the Visitor Centre. These installations will consist in underwater trails for divers and snorkelers, the deployment of Artificial Marine Structures and the establishment of an Underwater observatory. The aim of the construction is to reduce the diving pressure on the sensitive natural reef by offering artificial alternatives, using this structures to rehabilitate destroyed or impoverished reef habitats, especially corals, and integrate the park into the network of nature protection and environmental education.

• The development of the Visitor Centre as a natural and cultural museum to promote specific biodiversity issues, such as: rational and sustainable use of natural resources, increase awareness on the value of local community experiences and functions as a centre of excellence. The museum will be an effective tool in increasing the capacity of preserving the main kinds and species, presenting the culture of local Bedouin  and providing invaluable assistance to scientific and academic research.

• The Improvement of the camping area providing it with field facilities to encourage visitors to extend their stays and enjoy coastal nature at night. The area will be upgraded, refurbished and provided with environmentally friendly power and services .

 Contribution: 2.550.000 €

Upper Egypt - Red Sea Coast

• Dolphins habitat conservation and sustainable use in Marsa Alam

• Protected Area of Gabal Elba

• National Bio-Diversity and Natural Heritage Inventory and Monitoring Systems

Cairo, Saqqara, Alexandria, Minia

This list includes Capacity Building projects directed to the local and central institutions, as stated in the  Program of support to the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency – Phase II

• Professional training of the personnel of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) on restoration and archaeology

• Yashback Palace restoration training

• Support to the new Library of Alexandria

• Commercial and institutional support to handicraft producers associations in Egypt

• Revitalization of Traditional Arts and Crafts and Environment in Old Cairo (El-Fustat)

• Marketing Link Programme – Linking craft producers in marginal communities to national & international markets

• Completion of the Pottery Village in Old Cairo (El Foustat)

• Participatory Slum Upgrading in El Hallous and El Bahtini

• Integration of the traditional workers in the new systems of waste collecting

• Relocation of tanneries from the area of Old Cairo

• Environmental Awareness Campaign

• Management of solid waste in El Minia

• Legal and Institutional Framework of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency

• Capacity Building of the Department of the Protection of Natural Resources in the Environmental Agency

• Valorization of the artistic heritage of Fayoum and Saqqara