Indicators for Sustainable Development Strategies and Components of Tourism Regions in Egypt A Study of Alexandria and the Northwest Coast

Sustainable urban development for tourism has been a priority for Arab and European institutions since the mid 1990’s. In recent years, the tourism industry has grown in importance because of its positive effect on overall (economic, social, cultural, political and psychological) development1. Many economists, sociologists, anthropologists, psychologists, geography and administration experts are showing increased interest in the various services-related activities undertaken in different fields of tourism, and in tourism’s relation to sustainable development; issues that have also become the subject of social and economic demand. The social demand is a reflection of the human desire to move and travel, while the economic aspect concerns the employment opportunities available for young people of both sexes in the various fields of tourism, which can gradually contribute to the resolution of the unemployment problem. Moreover, tourism plays a significant part in accelerating the extension of urbanization by planning cities and tourist resorts, constructing and developing roads and utility networks, investing available economic resources and by optimizing the use of environmental or local resources to manufacture popular products. Since it helps to increase foreign currency inflows from abroad, tourism is also an important source of national income for tourist-attracting countries.