Author(s)

G Abraham

Abstract

This paper reviews the principles that guided the Comprehensive Development Plan for the City of Luxor (CDCL), the growth targets for the region, site- specific development proposals, the six Investment Projects, employment opportunities, and the region-wide recommended initiatives. Introduction The purpose of the CDCL was to recommend strategies for Luxor that would address: Preservation and protection of the unique antiquity settings, cultural resources, and heritage of the Luxor region Expanding opportunities for tourist and visitor activities A regional development strategy that will create new economic opportunities for the citizens of the region Planned regional growth to promote sustainable economic development by preventing further urban sprawl and the deleterious effects of unplanned development on Luxor's heritage The need for the project was prompted by increasing numbers of tourist visitors to Luxor. In the tombs, their presence has become detrimental to the quality and preservation of the paintings. In the temples, their increasing number and the virtual lack of any effective crowd management means waiting and jostling, elements that detract from the cultural experience. At the same time, the virtual absence of facilities for other tourist activities locally means very short stays in the area, lessening both the benefits to the local economy and the flexibility in scheduling visits to the cultural sites. The increasing number of tourists visiting Luxor has also provided the impetus for accelerated growth in Luxor and its surrounding areas. Growth pressures in turn have resulted in encroachments on the tombs and monument areas, thereby jeopardizing the

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