Prof. Loai Saad El-Deen Nasrat, Acting President of Aswan University, confirmed during his participation in the activities of the Sustainable Rural Tourism Project in Upper Egypt that rural tourism will become one of the key tourist destinations in the governorate in the near future.
This project, funded by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), is being implemented in collaboration with number of tourism sector people in Aswan Governorate. The project aims to promote sustainable rural tourism in Upper Egypt, particularly in Aswan, which is distinguished by its unique cultural and natural diversity. Aswan University seeks through this project to establish new foundations for the development of rural tourism in line with sustainable environmental standards, while enhancing the role of local communities in attracting tourists and creating new job opportunities, especially through the faculty of Archaeology, Tourism, and Hotels in the future.
Prof. Loai Saad El-Deen Nasrat, Aswan University President, added that rural tourism has become one of the main factors in boosting the local economy of the governorate. He also highlighted the significance of this type of tourism in introducing the unique cultural and natural heritage that Aswan enjoys. Rural tourism is not only an important source of economic returns, but it also represents a significant opportunity for environmental conservation and protection through the sustainability of tourism projects.
Nasrat continued, “Rural tourism has recently become one of the most important tourist destinations in Aswan, as the region enjoys unique natural and cultural attractions. This allows visitors to discover the simple life in the villages and rural areas, and interact with the local population in a quiet and distinct environment.”
On their part, participants in the project’s activities pointed out that sustainable rural tourism is witnessing significant growth in Aswan, due to the increasing interest in visiting villages and rural areas like the West Sohail village, which offers an unconventional tourism experience. They also emphasized the importance of raising awareness among the local community and those working in the tourism sector on how to apply the concepts of sustainable tourism to ensure the benefit of all parties of the tourism system in Aswan.
Prof. Loai Saad El-Deen Nasrat also emphasized the importance of continuous collaboration between Aswan University, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and tourism sector people in the governorate to achieve the goals of the project and enhance Aswan’s position as a sustainable rural tourism destination in the near future.
