Toward Enabling The Sustainable Development Of Therapeutic Tourism In The Egyptian Desert: An Applied Study On The Hamra Ecolodge Resort In Wadi El Natroun
Abstract
Despite the importance of therapeutic tourism, it faces massive obstacles that hinder the growth of its sustainable development. One of the main obstacles that stand in the way of sustainable development of therapeutic tourism in Wadi El-Natroun is the presence of an urban phenomenon that did not respect sustainable development in its design, The basic problem is the lack of mechanisms and a specific methodology to choose the most important sustainable planning determinants and indicators to enhance the sustainability of therapeutic tourism resorts, as one of the most important pillars for the development of sustainable therapeutic tourism. Thus, the research presents a clearer picture to enable the sustainable development of therapeutic tourism in Wadi El-Natroun by proposing a methodology and a guideline to enhance the sustainability of therapeutic tourism resorts in the region in an attempt to enable development decision makers to make rational and logical decisions regarding the sustainable development of therapeutic tourism through theoretical research and analysis of the current situation in the study area. The research introduces a methodology and a guideline for the most important determinants and indicators of sustainability. Three standards are established with eighteen basic determinants and eighty-one main indicators with indicative relative weights values divided. These indicators serve as a list for developers and investors in the design, management and operation processes of therapeutic tourism resorts in the region.