Abstract
This research paper is an attempt to delve into what constitutes a contemporary ‘city of heritage’ and harmonizes the relationship between its past, present and future. The city of Luxor is a prime target for this most critical discussion because of the myriad of challenges facing the desire to create and sustain a coherent urban fabric that respects both the patrimony of antiquities and the daily lives of people. The paper, in its summation, aspires to collage a number of complex subjects into a fruitful discussion. The goal is to evoke questions on the multidisciplinary levels of tourism, conservation endeavors and urban living and then proceed to formulate practical solutions to these questions. Concepts such as sustainable tourism, place making, added value, authenticity and local economy are addressed in a trial to formulate a clearer image of the development approach that should be followed in Luxor. The fundamental logic of the discussion is how to combine traditions, vernacular lifestyle, cultural attractions and heritage sites into one coherent touristic map of the city.
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Notes
- 1.
As a mass phenomenon tourism places its foundations at the end of the nineteenth century.
- 2.
The film “The Mummy” by Shadi Abdel Salam is part of the debate on political independence and nation; The shootings begin in 1967, just as Egypt loses the six-day war against Israel, the film expresses the idea that monumental antiquity is an emblem and collective value.
- 3.
To give an idea of the climate of contrasts and clutches among the subjects involved in the governance of the territory, one can also see the work of a subsequent restructuring plan of the city of the 1930s (more precisely 1937) to enlarge the Corniche and arrange a garden of Faced with the facade of the temple, because of the opposition between local and municipal authorities and the central service of antiquities will be interrupted until we find agreement of 1943).
- 4.
Gamblin (2007).
- 5.
Also playing the rivalry of “foreign nationalisms” between British protection and antiquity services related to the French.
- 6.
Faronism is defined as this form of national imagery that produces a targeted and a-confessional image of the nation on a regional scale and on a global scale. There is a need for a synthetic specification, Egyptian nationalism of the ethno-territorial form, it is basically anti-colonialist and develops from the nineteenth century and it is imposed until the first decades of the twentieth century. Arab nationalism is instead secular and has a socialist political, and its utmost dissemination is during the GA Nasser government.
- 7.
Openings to market logics push for a change in international alliances (from the Soviet Union to the United States).
- 8.
World Tourism Organization (Now UNTWO, since 2003 becomes a specialized agency of the United Nations, is formed by members of 150 states plus another 300—other organizations, private companies, universities, NGOs, professional associations …).
- 9.
- 10.
Gamblin (2007).
- 11.
At the top council of the city, the tourism and antiquity sectors are usually represented by members designated by Cairo, in great detail (with a ratio of four and three out of 18 members, respectively).
- 12.
An example, important to understanding the framework in which Comprehensive planning is born, USAID’s US agency enters Luxor in the Secondary Cities Development program (1994/2014).
- 13.
Kamar (2014).
- 14.
Reference: Making Tourism More Sustainable—A Guide for Policy Makers, UNEP and UNWTO, 2005, pp. 11–12—“Sustainable tourism development guidelines and management practices are applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations, including mass tourism and the various niche tourism segments. Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development, and a suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long-term sustainability. Thus, sustainable tourism should:
(1) Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity. (2) Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance. (3) Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.
Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building. Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and/or corrective measures whenever necessary.
Sustainable tourism should also maintain a high level of tourist satisfaction and ensure a meaningful experience to the tourists, raising their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices amongst them”.
- 15.
Emery (2007).
- 16.
Op. cit.
- 17.
Bruno Latour, Atmosphère, atmosphère, 2003 in Garcia-Germán (2010).
- 18.
Cohen (1974).
- 19.
MacCannell (1973).
- 20.
Urry (1990).
- 21.
Mascheroni (2007).
- 22.
Mascheroni, Giovanna “Le mobilità turistiche: il turismo come movimento di persone, luoghi, oggetti, immagini e comunicazione” in Annali Italiani del Turismo Internazionale, 2006 volume n. 1 (cit Rojek, C. e Urry, J. Touring Cultures: Transformations of Travel and Theory, Routledge, London, 1997).
- 23.
Appadurai (2001).
- 24.
Mascheroni (2006).
- 25.
“Creative Tourism” involves more interaction, in which the visitor has an educational, emotional, social, and participative interaction with the place, its living culture, and the people who live there. They feel like a citizen. This third generation requires that managers also evolve, recognizing the creativity within their city as a resource, and providing new opportunities to meet the evolving interests of tourists. While creative tourism must be linked to culture, the particular cultural expressions will be unique to each place.” fonte UNESCO: Discussion Report of the Planning Meeting for 2008 International Conference on Creative Tourism Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.A. October 25–27, 2006.
- 26.
Chaney The Power of Metaphors in Tourism Theory in Coleman and Crang (2008).
- 27.
The 5th Global Summit On City Tourism in November 2016 was held in Luxor. The strategic importance of the promotion of “the city’s tourist (cultural and creative)” is confirmed. Many interesting points have emerged: the importance of tangible and intangible “culture” and “cultural heritage” as a means for destination competitiveness and also for local community empowerment; Tourism in cities is an opportunity to safeguard and enhance the quality of life of the local community and an incubator of innovation and technology.
- 28.
Is about a one kilometer away from the original, and was made after years of 3D scanner pads by Factum Arte.
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Silvestri, E. (2018). Sustainable Tourism and Urban Planning. In: Folli, M. (eds) Sustainable Conservation and Urban Regeneration. Research for Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65274-0_6
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