Plan Luxor 1999 - 001

Comprehensive
Development Plan for the

City of Luxor, Egypt –
Investment Project #6,

Investment Portfolio for
the Creation of an Open
Museum and Heritage
District in Luxor City,
Egypt
Cambridge, MA
Lexington, MA
Hadley, MA
Bethesda, MD
Washington, DC
Chicago, IL
Cairo, Egypt
Johannesburg, South Africa
December 1999
Prepared for
The Ministry of Housing, Utilities
and Urban Communities, Egypt
Prepared by
Abt Associates Inc. Gabriel Abraham
55 Wheeler Street Ashraf Bakr
Cambridge, MA 02138 Jonathan Lane
Creation of an Open Museum and Heritage District in Luxor City, Egypt
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................................................................6
LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................................................................6
LIST OF A BBREVIATIONS............................................................................................................................................7
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.........................................................................................................................................10
1.1 BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................................................10
1.2 KEY A CTIONS FOR THE OPEN M USEUM AND HERITAGE DIST RICT ..........................................................10
1.3 M ANAGEMENT A REAS WITHIN THE OPEN M USEUM AND HERITAGE DISTRICT ...................................10
1.4 SUPPORTIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN LUXOR CITY ..............................................................................................12
2.0 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................................14
2.1 ORGANIZATION OF THIS REPORT .....................................................................................................................14
2.2 BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................................................14
2.3 THE INVESTMENT PROJECTS.............................................................................................................................15
Project 1: Restoration of the Avenue of the Sphinxes ..................................................................................16
Project 2: Development of The Destination Resort of El-Toad...................................................................16
Project 3: Development of the New Community of New Luxor...................................................................20
Project 4: Infrastructure Services for New Luxor and El Toad ..................................................................23
Project 5: Establishment of High-Value Agriculture ...................................................................................23
Project 6: Development of the Open Museum and Heritage District in Luxor City ...............................23
2.4 INDICATIONS OF THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT 'S COMMITMENT AND OWNERSHIP .............................23
3.0 THE PROJECT........................................................................................................................................................25
3.1 PRECEDENTS FOR THE OPEN M USEUM AND HERITAGE DISTRICT CONCEPT .........................................25
3.2 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES.............................................................................................................26
3.2.1 Conserve & Enhance the antiquities and their settings ....................................................................26
3.2.2 Guide sustainable public and private investment in the Luxor City Open Museum and Heritage
District ...................................................................................................................................................................26
3.2.3 Coordinate visitor and tourism services ...............................................................................................27
3.2.4 Improve the urban environment to create a city core which can reflect the aspirations and
needs of current and future residents...............................................................................................................27
3.2.5 Increase municipal and institutional capacity to manage the protection and future
development of the Open Museum and Heritage District.............................................................................27
3.3 PROJECT COMPONENTS......................................................................................................................................28
3.3.1 Coordinate Open Museum and Heritage District Improvements......................................................28
3.2.2 Conserve the antiquities and enhance their settings..........................................................................28
3.2.3 Preservation and Enhancement of the Open Museum and Heritage District’s Old Sections......30
3.2.4 Effectively use public lands and redeveloped private property within the historic district to
accommodate increasing tourism.....................................................................................................................32
3.2.5 Enact Land Use Controls and Development Guidelines to Support................................................34
Preservation and Redevelopment Efforts ........................................................................................................34
3.2.6 Coordinate visitor and touristic services..............................................................................................43
3.2.7 Supportive Transportation Improvements ............................................................................................45
3.2.8 Develop training and assistance programs (in support of building management capacity) .....46
3.3 KEY RELATED PROJECTS...................................................................................................................................46
3.3.1 Planned Development Neighborhoods..................................................................................................46
3.3.3 New Public Facilities and Extended Utilities......................................................................................48
3.3.4 Improved Circulation and Access...........................................................................................................49
3.3.5 Sector Development Support...................................................................................................................52
3.4 PROJECT COSTS & FINANCING...........................................................................................................................52
3.4.1 Cost Elements ............................................................................................................................................52
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4. IMPLEMENTATION.................................................................................................................................................62
4.1 A DMINISTRATIVE M ECHANISM ........................................................................................................................62
4.1.1 Existing Implementing Processes............................................................................................................62
4.1.2 The Institutional Capacity and Role of the Higher Council for the City of Luxor........................62
4.1.3 Recommended Implementation Entity for the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District.........63
4.2 POTENTIAL FINANCING A PPROACHES............................................................................................................64
4.2.1 Donor Support............................................................................................................................................64
4.2.2 Visitor-Based Revenue..............................................................................................................................64
4.2.3 Other Sources of Revenue.........................................................................................................................65
4.3 RECOMMENDED PROJECT FINANCING A PPROACH ......................................................................................66
ANNEX 1: ILLUSTRATIVE FIGURES ......................................................................................................................71
ANNEX 2: LUXOR CITY DESCRIPTION AND EXIS TING DEVELOPMENT TRENDS ................................77
ANNEX 3: LUXOR CITY HERITAGE RESOURCES.............................................................................................78
ANNEX 4: THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT FOR TOURISM..........................................................................111
ANNEX 5: CONCEPT FOR AN INTERNATIONAL ANTIQUITIES PRESERVATION FUND...................128
ANNEX 6: THE NATIONAL PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTH OF EGYPT, 2017 ......133
ANNEX 7: PROFILE OF EGYPT..............................................................................................................................148
ANNEX 8: DOCUMENTS IN THE PROJECT FILE..............................................................................................162
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TABLE OF FIGURES
FIGURE 1: AVENUE OF THE S PHINXES AERIAL VIEW ...........................................................................................70
FIGURE 2: AVENUE OF THE S PHINXES GROUND VIEW ........................................................................................71
FIGURE 3: CORNICHE GROUND VIEW .....................................................................................................................72
FIGURE 4: VISITOR CENTER TOWARDS NILE VIEW ............................................................................................73
FIGURE 5: KARNAK TEMPLE PROCESSIONAL ENTRANCE.................................................................................74
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 1: PERMITTED LAND USES IN LUXOR CITY .............................................................................................36
TABLE 2: LUXOR CITY TABLE OF DEVELOPMENT S TANDARDS ......................................................................38
TABLE 3: LUXOR CITY HERITAGE DISTRICT PROJECT COSTS : LUXOR TEMPLE AREA .............................53
TABLE 4: LUXOR CITY HERITAGE DISTRICT PROJECT COSTS : KARNAK TEMPLE AREA ..........................54
TABLE 5: LUXOR CITY HERITAGE DISTRICT PROJECT COSTS : PRESERVATION........................................55
TABLE 6: LUXOR CITY HERITAGE DISTRICT PROJECT COSTS : REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS ....................56
TABLE 7: LUXOR CITY HERITAGE DISTRICT PROJECT COSTS : VISITOR S ERVICES ..................................57
TABLE 8: LUXOR CITY HERITAGE DISTRICT PROJECT COSTS : TRANSPORTATION ..................................58
TABLE 9: LUXOR CITY HERITAGE DISTRICT PROJECT COSTS : S UMMARY COSTS ....................................58
TABLE 10: LUXOR CITY HERITAGE DISTRICT PROJECT COSTS :PRIVATE INVESTMENT ............................59
TABLE 11: PDA REVENUE, BY YEAR ......................................................................................................................66
TABLE 12: PDA COSTS , BY YEAR .............................................................................................................................67
TABLE 13: PDA REVENUE-COST RELATIONSHIPS AND CASH FLOW ..............................................................68
6
List of Abbreviations
Currency
Currency Unit: Egyptian Pounds (LE) (as of December, 1999)
LE 1.0 = 100 piasters
LE 1.0 = US$ 0.29
US$ 1.0 = LE 3.41
Weights and Measures

Metric System
Abbreviations and Acronym

CDCL Comprehensive Development for the City of Luxor
CEA Cost Effectiveness Analysis
EEAA Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency
EGSA Egyptian General Survey Authority
EGSMA Egyptian Geological Survey and Mining Authority
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GNP Gross National Product
GOE Government of Egypt
GOPP General Organization for Physical Planning (within the Ministry of Housing,
Utilities and Urban Communities)
HCLC Higher Council for Luxor City
IDSC Information and Decision Support Center
IFC International Finance Corporation
JICA Japan international Cooperation Agency
LNT Luxor National Trust
MFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs
MFIC Ministry of International Cooperation
MHUUC Ministry of Housing Utilities and Urban Communities
MHUUC/ RSO Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities /Research and Studies
Organization
MOC Ministry of Culture
MOE Ministry of Economy
MOF Ministry of Finance
MOP Ministry of Planning
MOT Ministry of Tourism
MOTR Ministry of Transportation
NGO Nongovernmental Organization
PDA Preservation and Development Authority
PDN Planned Development Neighborhood
PMU Project Implementation and Management Unit
SCA Supreme Council for Antiquities (within the Ministry of Culture)
TDA Tourism Development Authority (within the Ministry of Tourism)
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
USAID United States Agency for International Development
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Creation of a Open Museum and Heritage District in Luxor City, Egypt

Project Investment Portfolio
Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities / Research and Studies

Organization, The Arab Republic of Egypt Fiscal Year
July 1- June 30
President
His Excellency Hosni Mubarak
Project Sponsor
The Honorable First Lady Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak
Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities

Dr. Eng. Mohammed Ibrahim Soliman
National Counterpart of the Project

Eng. Laila Kamel Barsoum, MHUUC
National Project Director

Eng. Mona Omar El Bassiouni, MHUUC/RSO
Deputy National Project Director

Eng. Hisham Moustafa, MHUUC/RSO
Working Groups Moderator

Dr. Tarek Wafik
Project Consultants
Abt Associates Inc.
ICON Architecture Inc.
Baraka Trading and Investments.
Date:
December, 1999
Principal Project Implementing Agency

Higher Council for the City of Luxor (HCLC)
Proposed Term:
2000-2017
For additional information contact:

Eng. Laila Kamel Barsoum, First Undersecretary of State National Counterpart for the Project
Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities
1 Ismail Abaza Street, Kasr El Eini
Cairo, Egypt
8
Tel/fax 011-202-594-3088
9
1. Executive Summary
1.1 Background
The Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District is a cohesive and enhanced historical zone that
will protect resources and accommodate additional tourists. The proposed District will encompass
the area roughly defined between the Winter Palace in the south to the canal 800 meters north of
Karnak Temple, encompassing an area east-west that includes the primary souq east of the
Avenue of the Sphinxes to the Nile on the west. The core of this area is a significant historical
area that is being negatively impacted by a lack of open space, deteriorating infrastructure, and
increasing congestion from ad-hoc development.
1.2 Key Actions for the Open Museum and Heritage District
1. Preservation, and enhancement, of Luxor City’s old neighborhoods in the District, including
traditional market areas.
2. Redevelopment of some government properties and underutilized private parcels to create

sites within the Open Museum and Heritage District for the new commercial development,
tourism support services, and increased public open space.
3. Development of a Visitor Center, with centralized cultural site ticketing, interpretive facilities
and centralized bus parking / tourist shuttle services.
4. Traffic and pedestrian circulation system improvements, including vehicular-restricted and

pedestrian-only zones.
5. Coordination of the Open Museum and Heritage District improvements with the restoration of
the 2,400 meter long Avenue of the Sphinxes through consistent public management of
surrounding redevelopment.
1.3 Management Areas within the Open Museum and Heritage

District
Several sub-areas within the Open Museum and Heritage District are shown on Figure 13 with
distinct objectives and proposed actions:
1. Monument Protection Area – this area is defined by Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temple
site, and will include the connecting Avenue of the Sphinxes to be excavated and restored.
Within this area, no private buildings or improvements would be allowed and priority would be
10
given to archeological and preservation efforts. Public improvements would be allowed which
are necessary to accommodate visitors to the monuments, including design of visitor
improvements and facilities which can be sited and designed to positively contribute to the
historic setting.
2. Neighborhood Preservation Area – this area, commonly known as Karnak Village, is

located between the Avenue of the Sphinxes and the Corniche, from Karnak Temple to Pola
Hotel Street. The area is a traditional, active neighborhood with an older main street,
mosques, residences, and other neighborhood services, with relatively few tourist services or
uses. Although the edge of this neighborhood may be somewhat impacted by restoration of
the Kebash Avenue, the general form and character of the remainder of the neighborhood
should be preserved, with new uses limited to residences and neighborhood support uses of
limited height and of traditional character. This should not evolve into a major hotel or tourist-
oriented district.
3. Central Luxor Area – this area consists of the areas immediately to the east and to the west
of the proposed Avenue of the Sphinxes corridor, between the Airport Road and up to the
southerly edge of Luxor Temple. These areas will be the parts of existing Luxor City to be
most transformed by the Plan and the Open Museum District.
To the west side of the Avenue of the Sphinxes, the area is characterized by many public sites
(such as HCLC, the hospital, several schools, and others) that are or will be functionally
obsolete. Many of these uses could be relocated to other regional growth locations such as
New Luxor. The Luxor Museum and Convention Center are two important public uses within
this western area which could be expanded and/or beautified.
Existing substantial hotels in this area would remain, although priority would be given to new
museums, museum expansion, and new parklands to serve a setting for the antiquities.
Limited new hotel and tourist support activities could be encouraged in this precinct, if planned
to insure adequate public access and surrounding green space.
To the east side of the Avenue of Sphinxes, construction of the restored Avenue and the New
Kebash Avenue will require removal of existing structures, enabling rehabilitation and new
infill construction along these edges. The new East Bank Visitor Center would be located in
this area, adjacent to the current inter-city bus station. New infill construction can be
encouraged along the edges of abutting streets for retail uses, tourist developments, and visitor
services. The Avenue project can create an opportunity to create linkages to the traditional
existing souqs as well as expansion of the retail district, as well as venues for expanded tourist
activities.
4. Central Corniche Area – along the Open Museum District, the green edge of the existing
Corniche would be maintained. With the availability of the Cruise Ship Port south of the
Luxor Bridge, cruise ship docking should be removed from significant portions of the lower
Corniche, enabling expanded docking for small excursion boats and the development of
additional retail and restaurant uses at the lower level, close to the Nile.
5. North Karnak Development Area – located north and northwest of the Karnak Temple
area, the Sub-area contains two distinct areas. One area is a traditional neighborhood of
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narrow streets and dense residential buildings. The other area of the Sub-area is undergoing
significant change as former agricultural fields give way to new informal residential
development.
Additional managed residential development is proposed for this sub-area in order to

accommodate anticipated population growth in Luxor City and the voluntary relocation of
residents presently residing in the nearby Monument Protection Area. As proposed in the
Structure Plan, the North Karnak Development Area is planned for approximately 10,000 new
residents by 2017, with ample land to accommodate more than 20,000 residents eventually.
Through providing utilities, services and open spaces, it is expected that the neighborhood will
be attractive to residents in areas along Kebash Avenue or immediately adjacent to Karnak
Temple to relocate there.
6. North Corniche Development Area – The sub-area is presently characterized by a largely

undeveloped riverfront along with a collection of tourism-oriented commercial buildings and
vacant parcels along the extended Corniche Road. Lacking any historic buildings, but offering
a prime location close to the historic core of Luxor City, the sub-area is proposed to
accommodate tourism-oriented infill development at a density and scale greater than in other
portions of the Open Museum and Heritage District.
1.4 Supportive Improvements in Luxor City

Additional improvements within Luxor City, but outside the Open Museum and Heritage District,
will reinforce the Investment Project’s objectives, creating an improved environment for tourists
and residents alike. Supportive improvements include:
1. Limited New Development – Population growth in Luxor City will be limited to 50,000 new
residents through 2017. Informal settlements within monument areas and along transportation
corridors will be discouraged. Development will be directed into planned areas well-served by
utilities and public facilities. In addition to new residential development in the North Karnak
Development Area of the District that will define the city’s northern edge and protect nearby
antiquity sites, two other planned development neighborhoods are proposed in Luxor City: (a)
East Luxor area - to define the city edge and coordinate with planned city growth to south;
(b) South Luxor area - to define the city edge and coordinate with planned city growth to
south.
2. Improved Circulation & Access – The roadway systems will be improved to reflect the
defined city boundaries and to reinforce the planned new growth areas of the city. New
railroad crossings, vehicular and pedestrian, for better east-west access will be provided.
New arterial roads are recommended as part of the Kebash Avenue project, to relieve
Corniche traffic, and along the eastern perimeter of the city. The street network will be
extended to serve planned new development areas, along with improvements to appearance
and function of major intersections. A new intersection with the inter-city arterial connecting
to the New Luxor development, which would also improve the connection of East Luxor to
South Luxor, will link over the railroad tracks.
3. An Enhanced Living Environment – In conjunction with planned new development in the

peripheral neighborhoods of the City, a network of open spaces and parks would be formed.
12
These will include major new District Service Centers, containing a mix of public facilities in
areas north, east, and south of city to serve new and existing residents. Utilities would also be
extended to serve planned development neighborhoods.
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2.0 Introduction
2.1 Organization of this Report
This report is intended to provide officials and potential investors with a complete understanding of
the proposal to create an Open Museum and Heritage District in Luxor City. All pertinent
information, including project objectives, components, and recommended administrative and
financial mechanisms for implementation are included. Annexes include important background
information on issues including Luxor area heritage and tourism resources.
2.2 Background
Luxor (Thebes for the ancient Greeks) is home to a treasure of world-renowned monuments.
Tutankhamun’s Tomb symbolizes Egypt’s Pharaonic past as much as the Pyramids. Nefertari’s
Tomb, the tombs in the Valley of the Kings and in the Valley of the Queens, and the Tombs of the
Nobles contain some of the most accomplished artwork in man’s history. Together with the
Colossi of Memnon, Karnak Temple (the most imposing Pharaonic temple in all of Egypt) and
Luxor Temple, they represent some of the finest examples of mankind’s early civilization and rank
among its greatest cultural achievements.
This unique cultural heritage continues to attract visitors from all over the world in ever-growing
numbers. Ironically, their dedication to viewing these treasures is becoming a threat. In the tombs,
their very presence is becoming detrimental to the quality and preservation of the paintings. There
and 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 means very short stays in
the area, lessening the benefits to the local economy, and less flexibility in scheduling visits to the
cultural sites.
Even so, 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 monuments, thereby jeopardizing the cultural heritage and
impairing their value as a tourist attraction.
To respond to these trends, the Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities and the
UNDP in 1997 sponsored Abt Associates Inc. for the study of a 20-year Comprehensive
Development Plan for the City of Luxor (CDCL). The Structure Plan, Heritage Plan and
Investment Projects produced as components of the project address ways to accommodate the
projected growth in population, tourism and agriculture, while preserving and enhancing the
antiquities.
The objective of the CDCL project is to establish and carry out a work plan for environmentally
sustainable tourism development that also benefits the local population. To reach this objective,
14
the following core themes emerged from a study approach that stressed the active participation of
all major stakeholders:
(1) Preservation of cultural resources protects Egypt’s heritage and promotes economic
development.
(2) Planned growth promotes sustainable economic development.
(3) Meeting the contemporary needs of local residents is vital to the success of plans.
These core themes in turn identified specific objectives for the Comprehensive Development Plan
for the City of Luxor:
• Contribute to the preservation of the area’s unique cultural heritage by alleviating pressures on
the existing sites through the creation of additional tourist attractions;
• Prevent further urban sprawl and the deleterious effects of unplanned development on the
cultural heritage and on the population’s living conditions; and
• Create new economic opportunities for the citizens of the region.
To achieve these objectives, the Comprehensive Development Plan for the City of Luxor (CDCL)
incorporates the following elements:
• The creation of a Luxor City Open Museum and Heritage District, preserving the key historic
features and settings in the City’s old sections.
• The restoration of the Avenue of the Sphinxes, linking the major temples of Karnak and
Luxor;
• The development of a tourism zone south of the City of Luxor in the El Toad, comprising
hotels as well as a golf course and facilities for other tourist activities;
• The creation of a planned new community, New Luxor, south of the present city, for a target
population of 200,000 residents by the year 2017; and,
• Introduction of and support for the cultivation of higher-value crops in the agricultural zone
surrounding the City of Luxor.
2.3 The Investment Projects

The Comprehensive Development Plan for the City of Luxor is being developed in a series of
stages. The initial document was designed to build consensus around a comprehensive conceptual
framework. In the second phase, a Structure Plan translated the basic concepts into specific
project elements. These elements are further refined and elaborated in a series of six investment
projects, each focusing on one aspect of the overall project:
15
Project 1: Restoration of the Avenue of the Sphinxes

During the Pharaonic period, the Avenue of the Sphinxes connected the Temples of Luxor and
Karnak, a processional avenue lined on both sides by 1,200 statues of sphinxes. Both temples
were substantially completed during the New Kingdom period, over 3,000 years ago. Successive
rulers altered and added to the temples; Amenhotep III built the Temple of Luxor during the 18th
Dynasty, adding gardens between the Temple of Luxor and the complex of temples at Karnak.
The ram-headed sphinxes lining the avenue bore his likeness. The centuries since have buried this
processional avenue and its statues under 2 m of silt and sand, and urban development covered it
with housing, asphalted streets, and other structures, obscuring its route and interrupting this
dramatic connection.
Over the last 50 years, portions of the Avenue of the Sphinxes (also known as Kebash Avenue)
have been excavated, revealing remnants of the sphinxes and the roadbed. Short segments near
each temple have been fully excavated and are now integral parts of the antiquities settings. Test
excavations at segments along the 2.4-kilometer length of the Avenue have verified its location
and underlined its archaeological potential.
The investment project focuses on the renovation of the Avenue of the Sphinxes to improve the
touristic experience, increase the vitality of the city center, and form the centerpiece of an Open
Museum. The emphasis of the project at all times is on the accommodation of the living needs of
the permanent population (mitigating the effects of congestion in a growing city center) with an
active effort to increase job and entrepreneurial opportunities.
The restoration project comprises several major actions, several of which will require substantial
outlays and demand intensive implementation oversight. These actions summarized below are
explained in detail in Investment Project 1. The total cost of the project is estimated at
approximately US$40,000,000.
(1) Purchase of land where necessary to a width of 76 m;
(2) Relocation housing for the residents of over a hundred housing units on top of the Avenue of
the Sphinxes;
(3) Phase demolition of housing, commercial buildings, and government and religious buildings
intruding on the Avenue of the Sphinxes;
(4) Excavation to a depth of 2 m: restoration of the sphinx statues and landscaping; provision of
visitor amenities; and
(5) Modification of the adjacent street layout and street crossings of the Avenue of the Sphinxes.
In addition, the project will include measures to protect the setting. Administrative regulations and
enforcement provisions will remove intrusions onto the Avenue of the Sphinxes, prevent future
intrusions, and ensure that adjacent uses are compatible with the historic nature of the Avenue.
Project 2: Development of The Destination Resort of El-Toad
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The objective of the project is to establish and carry out a work plan for environmentally
sustainable tourism development that also benefits the local population. To reach this objective the
following core themes were identified:
1. Preservation of cultural resources protects Egypt’s heritage and promotes economic

development.
2. Planned growth promotes sustainable economic development.
3. Meeting the contemporary needs of local residents is vital to the success of plans.
The Need
The creation of a tourism zone outside Luxor City is necessary to serve the future needs of the
rapidly growing regional tourism industry. With tourism in Luxor projected to increase from 1 to 4
million visitors over the next 20 years, the area needs an estimated 6,600 new hotel rooms, in
addition to the 2,280 rooms currently being planned in Luxor City proper.
Existing hotel development areas will not be able to serve future needs. Suitable areas in Luxor
City itself are limited to small infill parcels along the Corniche or lands on the perimeter of the city
that are reserved for agricultural use. Proposed hotel sites in outlying areas, such as New Thebes
and El Khuzam, would add to capacity, but the scale and location of these areas are not ideal for a
major tourism zone. A large area with site amenities and strong regional access is needed as a
major tourism zone for the Luxor region. Such an area not only can provide ample sites to support
new hotel construction but also can support tourist recreational services and amenities which
contemporary tourists expect. The inclusion of diverse activities within this zone is essential to
expanding the range of activities for tourists and provide some alternatives to relieve pressures on
the cultural heritage sites.
Location
On-site with favorable development potential is located in the El Toad area of the region.
Encompassing two large, undeveloped plateaus approximately 9 km south of Luxor City and 2 km
south of New Luxor and also 2 km south of the only Nile River Bridge in the region, El Toad
offers a dramatic setting that can support significant tourism development. North and westward
views from the plateaus take in the Nile River Valley and distant Necropolis. In other directions,
views take in the wadis, agriculture and desert lands that frame the site. Local character is
provided through the nearby villages, the infrequently visited and attractive El Toad Temple site
and commoner tombs.
Existing regional links between El Toad and other East Bank activities include the inter-regional
rail line and Cairo-Aswan Highway that run along the western edge of the site. Its proximity to the
Luxor Bridge provides exceptional access to tourism attractions on the West Bank. The proposed
cruise ship port immediately adjacent to the area will further enhance the value and attractiveness
of El Toad.
The Vision
The El Toad Tourism Zone will include both tourism accommodations and attractions with regional
appeal. Commercial and recreational attractions will make El Toad a major tourism destination,
thereby promoting longer stays in the Luxor region, helping to relieve the visitor volumes at area
monuments, and increasing economic opportunities for local residents. Amenities will include a
golf course, theater, museum, large-scale gardens, tennis, and equestrian facilities. Concentrating
17
hotel development in a well-planned zone will also achieve economies of scale for provision of
superior amenities, maintenance, events planning and security, as hotels can share promotional
programs and facilities.
The Plan for the El Toad Tourism Zone has been developed to create a desirable area of both
attractions and accommodations that serves regional tourists. Its key features include the
following:
• El Toad is located outside agricultural and antiquities lands. Development on the plateau can
be oriented to capture the dramatic views of the Nile River Valley and distant Necropolis.
• Development through the 2017 period should occur on the southern plateau, which can be
strongly linked to the proposed Cruise Ship port. In the more distant future, assuming that
monument capacity constraints are met, there will be the potential for future touristic zone
development on the nearby plateau to the north.
• Approximately 18 hotels, with a total of 4,500 rooms are planned for the twenty-year period.
Accommodations will vary in quality and type, including three, four and five star hotels and
villa complexes.
• The El Toad plan is coordinated with the new cruise ship port development in order to create
an integrated tourism zone that promotes more joint cruise-hotel stays and improved
connectivity.
• Attractions, such as an 18-hole golf course and botanical garden, are incorporated into El
Toad in order to broaden the types of tourism experience possible in the Luxor Region.
• An inter-modal transportation facility is built at the intersection of the inter-regional highway

and the El Toad entrance road, adjacent to the new cruise ship port. The facility becomes the
primary transfer point between water and surface transportation in the area.
• A road between El Toad and New Luxor is eventually developed to provide a direct
connection that bypasses local area settlements.
• Regular shuttle bus service is established to provide convenient access between the cruise
ship port, destinations within El Toad, and regional destinations on the East and West Bank.
• A visitor center with museum interpreting regional local life customs is built along the formal
entrance boulevard to El Toad. The visitor center also serves as a staging point for shuttle
bus service within the El Toad area and tour bus traffic to regional destinations.
Elements
A collection of 18 hotels and villas with approximately 4,500 rooms will locate in the El Toad
Tourism Zone. Accommodations will vary in design and scale. Hotels will cluster at the entrance
and along portions of the loop road. The highest quality hotels will likely locate in the northwest
portion of El Toad with views to the Nile and Necropolis. The four hotels that locate in the El
Toad Center at the entrance to El Toad will be integrated with the surrounding shops,
entertainment and services to create an active environment that is distinct from the more secluded
18
hotel developments along the golf course. Additional variety is offered through low-rise villa
developments that locate along attractive narrow roads winding through the lushly landscaped golf
course.
All hotels and villa developments will offer on-site recreation and service amenities that vary in
amount and quality between the three, four and five star developments. Shared resources within
El Toad will include recreation, cultural and entertainment, public facilities and transportation.
Scattered between three areas within the tourism zone are shops, restaurants and cafes.
Commercial uses will be integrated with associated cultural, entertainment and public service
facilities. Upon the completion of the cruise ship port, additional commercial businesses may locate
there.
Cultural and Entertainment

The El Toad Center will include facilities to serve both hotel guests and visitors. A lively
atmosphere will be created through clustering together facilities, such as a cinema, theater,
nightclub and multi-purpose hall, with the commercial shops located in the Center. The El Toad
Center should also includes a museum with exhibits on the Luxor region’s history and local
customs and traditions, which could be integrated with interpretation of the commoner tombs area
which is adjacent to the Center. A visitor center will offer regional information and serve as an
entry point to the botanical garden and transfer point for bus tours of the nearby Commoner
Tombs and El Toad Temple.
Public Service Facilities

Also located in the El Toad Center will be public facilities, such as a post office, police station and
fire station, that service the entire tourism zone and nearby cruise ship port.
Transportation Facilities
In order to create an efficient circulation system that provides connections within the tourism zone
and regionally, an intermodal facility will be sited near the intersection of the El Toad entrance
road and the Cairo-Aswan Highway. Adequate parking and staging areas will be provided for the
El Toad shuttle, regional coaches and rental cars. Located adjacent to the new cruise ship port,
the inter-modal facility will also become a good transfer point between water and surface
transport. Easy transfer between buses and shuttles to water taxis, ferries and cruise ships will be
possible.
Connections and Circulation

Planned transportation improvements in the area will further strengthen El Toad’s exceptional
regional access. The airport is easily accessible via the Cairo-Aswan highway that runs along the
edge of the El Toad, while cruise ship traffic will arrive at a large new port that is integrated into
the development, thereby increasing the number of tourists combining hotel/cruise tours in the
region. An inter-modal transportation facility that serves both El Toad and the cruise ship port is
an opportunity to link the two areas and provide convenient transportation connections to tourists.
Access from El Toad to attractions in Luxor City and the West Bank will also be convenient.
Travelers to Luxor City will use the Cairo-Aswan highway and the El Awameya Road connecting
to the Corniche, while travelers to the West Bank Necropolis will be well served by the Luxor
Bridge located just two kilometers from El Toad.
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Within the El Toad Tourism Zone, circulation will be served through an attractively landscaped
loop road that winds through the development. Shuttle service will be provided along the loop road
to serve traffic going between the cruise ship port, hotels and commercial nodes of activity
throughout the El Toad Zone.
The entry sequence into El Toad would be along an attractively landscaped road running between
the Cruise Ship Port, across the railroad tracks and up a steep grade to the El Toad Center. The
Center’s collection of shops and services includes an information center that also serves as a
shuttle bus transfer point for reaching hotel and villa development areas and nearby attractions,
such as the Commoner Tombs and El Toad Temple.
The formal entry road continues on to another commercial area and golf club where at that point it
branches into a loop road that runs around the perimeter of the golf course to reach hotel
development areas. Villa developments will located on minor roads winding through the golf
course.
Project 3: Development of the New Community of New Luxor
The fast growing Luxor region is expected to at least double in population over the next twenty
years. In order to reduce development pressures on the historic Luxor City area and protect the
agricultural zone from encroachment, the Egyptian Government has advocated the development of
new settlements outside the existing urbanized area to absorb the majority of new development
over the next twenty years. One new town, New Thebes, has already been started 15 kilometers
northeast of Luxor City. However, with the recent completion of a Luxor Bridge and the
anticipated nearby expansion of a port for cruise ships south of Luxor City, informal, unplanned
development will favor the southern part of the area. It is already claiming substantial agricultural
lands to the south and east of Luxor City. If a new town is not planned for in the south of Luxor
City, unplanned sprawl in that part of the region is likely to result in negative consequences for the
future prosperity of the region. Timely action to stem this undesirable growth is essential: an
attractive new town is needed to become the magnet for new development in the Luxor region
The Proposed Site

The proposed site for New Luxor, south of Luxor City, east of the Cairo-Aswan Highway and the
agricultural belt, is accessible and visible from the Highway, and consists of three east-west
oriented plateaus, separated by wadis. It is in close proximity to the regional wastewater treatment
plant, readily accessible to the new Luxor Bridge and to the proposed El Toad tourism zone which
will be a major new source of jobs for the region. Intercity rail is nearby, parallel to the highway,
and potential land reclamation efforts in the vicinity hold the promise of turning a portion of the
desert land in the site vicinity into green cultivated property.
The Vision
The new city is designed to be a pleasant place to live and work, setting a new standard for
development in the Luxor region with its high-quality infrastructure, open spaces, and public
facilities. With an eventual population of approximately 200,000, New Luxor has the potential to
emerge as the major commercial, governmental and residential location in the region. New
Luxor’s attractive urban environment for an economically diverse mix of residents will make it a
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magnet for new development, thereby relieving the growth pressures on Luxor City. New Luxor
can become a model for the region to show how planning in advance of development can help to
create a high quality living environment.
The Plan for New Luxor has been developed to achieve a livable and attractive community which
takes advantage of its regional setting, incorporating the following key features:
(1) The community is located east of substantial agricultural lands, insuring an attractive
greenway entry.
(2) Major development is located on three elongated east-west plateaus, linked with major arterial
streets.
(3) The City axis and City Center, on the central plateau, is oriented to the Theban Necropolis,
which is the most characteristic landmark in the region and highly visible from this location.
(4) Many City parks and open spaces are located on the wadis between the plateaus, providing an
effective use of land and supporting green spaces to city activities.
(5) Each neighborhood is conceived as a relatively independent unit, with central services, minimal
through traffic, and close proximity to District services centers.
(6) Early connections with New Luxor can be achieved by upgrading existing roadways, while the
long-range connection to Luxor City will be provided through a new arterial boulevard which
lead to the southerly growth area of the existing City.
(7) The northwest corner of the City, in close proximity to agricultural lands and potential
irrigation resources associated with tertiary treatment of the new waste water plant will be
devoted to an agricultural village with nearby agro-processing industries, providing an initial
employment base and investment rationale for the City’s growth.
The Neighborhoods
The neighborhood will be the foundation of the structure of New Luxor. Some 25 neighborhoods
will make up the city, each supporting a population between 8,000-10,000. Although the form and
character of each neighborhood will vary, a number of shared principles will guide development:
(1) Neighborhoods are envisioned as building blocks that can be phased to accommodate gradual
development. Each neighborhood will include housing clusters that are within a 500-meter
radius from a neighborhood service center.
(2) The neighborhoods are envisioned to include a variety of house types and sizes to meet the
needs and preferences of a broad range of residents.
(3) The economies of low-rise construction and the constraints of the desert environment
influence dwelling design to be low in height and dense with respect to ground coverage in
order to provide shade and minimize irrigation. Single -family attached and detached houses
on small lots are proposed for most New Luxor neighborhoods. Average lot sizes based on
income and quality of construction is consistent with new town planning standards in Egypt.
The average lot sizes are only used to roughly estimate residential land area demands for
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New Luxor; further market study information will be necessary to guide the actual design of
New Luxor’s neighborhoods.
(4) The relatively compact residential areas in New Luxor will allow for safe access by foot or
bicycle to the pedestrian-oriented neighborhood greenways, and from there to the
neighborhood service centers where travel can continue by foot, bicycle or bus to district
service centers.
Open Spaces
A network of lush open spaces through New Luxor will give it the character of an urban oasis on
the edge of the desert. At the city-scale, the plan takes advantage of the surrounding
environmental features. Long linear wadis will become passive open spaces articulating the urban
landscape of New Luxor, a desirable amenity for residents of the new city. These same wadis will
also serve to collect storm drainage during the infrequent rains.
In addition to the passive open space created by the wadis, New Luxor will also contain
landscaped boulevards and greenways, and a system of parks at several scales. These parks,
provided at the neighborhood, district and city level, will serve as centers for active recreation.
Over 150 feddan are allocated to parks and open spaces in the city.
Connections and Circulation

The new town will offer convenient access to the international airport, Luxor Bridge and the inter-
regional Cairo-Aswan Highway without an immediate need for major new inter-city roads. As
the community grows, two important roads will be built: a direct connection to a new southern
gateway rail station in Luxor City, and a north-south road along the edge of the agricultural belt to
link New Luxor to the El Toad tourism zone to the south and strengthening the connection to the
airport, northeast of the new city.
In the city itself, reserving rights-of-way in advance of development will ensure a comprehensive
and integrated street network. Both major and minor streets will be planned to provide for the
adequate circulation of private vehicles, buses, and other transportation modes. Streets in New
Luxor will be classified according to function and designed for each functional classification.
Local streets, designed to provide access to each residence, will have very low traffic volume.
Higher volume neighborhood service streets form loops and provide the principal routes for
deliveries and service to neighborhood centers. Collector streets run through district centers,
intercept traffic from neighborhood streets and feed into the arterial network which runs along the
perimeter of each district center. The arterial streets, forming a continuous network connecting
each district center to the city center as well as regional destinations, provide for the rapid
movement of high volumes of traffic over relatively long distances.
An east-west boulevard will be the major point of entry for traffic from the new road linking New
Luxor to Luxor City. With a right-of-way to accommodate four lanes of traffic, shoulders, and a
linear park, the boulevard will become an attractive entrance to the New Luxor City center.
Buses will run the length of the city center boulevard and provide the major means of public
movement within the center while inter-connecting the city center to other citywide public
transportation routes. The mall-boulevard will become a strong axis through the center of New
Luxor, offering striking views of the West Bank Necropolis. Continuous pedestrian arcades along
the boulevard provide a shaded walking environment adjacent to the mall through the city center
22
area. As an open space feature connecting a series of urban spaces in the city center, the central
boulevard has the potential of becoming a promenade for New Luxor residents, similar to the role
of the Corniche in Luxor City.
An exclusive system for pedestrians and cyclists is provided through the local greenways that
connect neighborhood centers. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic is also accommodated along the
collector system roads.
Animal drawn cart traffic is minimized in New Luxor through establishing produce and livestock
market areas in the northwestern portion of the city that intercept traffic from the surrounding
agricultural lands before it enters New Luxor.
This investment project, described in the present document, projects the needs of New Luxor, the
El Toad tourism zone, and the new cruise ship port in terms of infrastructure (water, wastewater,
transportation, energy, and telecommunications). It uses these demand forecasts as basis for
assessing the investment needs in infrastructure facilities, focusing on opportunities in these sector
for private sector participation.
Project 4: Infrastructure Services for New Luxor and El Toad
This investment project forecasts the needs of New Luxor, the El Toad tourism zone, and the new
cruise ship port in terms of infrastructure (water, wastewater, transportation, energy, and
telecommunications). It uses these demand forecasts as basis for assessing the investment needs
in infrastructure facilities, focusing on opportunities in these sector for private sector participation.
Project 5: Establishment of High-Value Agriculture
High-value crop production and are agro-processing industries are key elements in the strategy to
meet contemporary needs of Luxor residents. There is substantial poverty in Luxor, despite the
appearance of wealth because of the tourism industry. The majority of Luxor residents depend on
small agricultural plots (the average plot size is a modest 1.84 feddan) to sustain their families.
These agricultural families have substantial needs to expand agricultural lands to support future
generations and to increase household incomes to improve their standard of living. Reclamation of
substantial lands in Luxor is essential for the growing population. Introduction of high-value
agriculture and agro-processing will provide a means for farmers to improve their futures.
Project 6: Development of the Open Museum and Heritage District in Luxor City
This investment project is described in this document.
2.4 Indications of the Egyptian Government's Commitment and

Ownership
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The Government of Egypt recognizes that tourism is one of the country's primary engines of
growth, and tourism development is one of its highest priorities. Government economic programs
and plans emphasize the importance of investment in the sector, and Government commitment to
infrastructure improvements and environmental protection is essential in the context of tourism.
Although in the past the Government invested directly in the sector, it has been gradually
retreating from this role, leaving investment in tourism related projects to the private sector. For
example, the Government already has sold much of its interest in hotels and guesthouses and lifted
the monopoly of a tour bus company. The following steps have also been taken:
• The Government has accorded the Higher Council for the City of Luxor (HCLC), as an
authority with a mandate to enforce land use plans, protect and manage the environment, and
coordinate with other Government and private sector entities.
• The Government has declared significant sections of Luxor a protected area with special
regulations.
• MOT is continually reviewing, modernizing, and consolidating the regulations governing

tourism.
• For the tourism sector in Luxor, the Government has assigned three principal ministries
including the MOC/SCA, MHUUC, and the MOT to oversee project implementations,
supervise implementation of tourism policy, propose laws and regulations, approve the
establishment of training centers and set up programs and institutions for their operation, and
establish licensing.
• As a major step toward ensuring proper coordination among MHUUC, SCA, HCLC, MOT,
the private sector and the local population in the development of Luxor, the Government has
established a Steering committee (Fast Track Working Group) with a clear oversight mandate.
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3.0 The Project
3.1 Precedents for the Open Museum and Heritage District Concept
There are many cities where a special district has been delineated within which government
initiatives have been enacted to accomplish improvements in urban conditions as well as to take
advantage of expanded cultural activities and tourism. However, most of these projects deal with
a limited number of the multiple problems and resource types that are represented in Luxor City,
which includes major antiquity resources, significant archeology, museums, tourism needs,
residential population, and interaction with a functioning central city. In the Medinah of Tunis, as
an example, which is one of the most significant of the 15 such traditional districts on the
UNESCO World Heritage list, the housing in the Hafnia Quarter has been rehabilitated. This
project successfully used public/private partnerships, including World Bank support to arrest
residential deterioration and to achieve rehabilitation of over 9,200 square meters of residential
space and addition of over 400 new housing units. This project emphasized residential elements
somewhat comparable to those found in Luxor. A recent effort that dealt with expansion of
museum and cultural activities is in Bilbao, Spain, where the construction of the new Guggenheim
Museum has created a major tourism magnet. This facility has been so successful that it has been
accompanied by significant revitalization of the central city, including private reinvestment,
changes in traffic to reserve portions of the district for pedestrian use, and overall environmental
improvements.
The project most comparable to the type of district proposed in Luxor is found in the U.S., with
the improvement of Washington, D.C.’s Pennsylvania Avenue. Pennsylvania Avenue is the
ceremonial boulevard that connects the U.S. Capitol and the White House, location of the
presidential inaugural parade and a significant venue for important public and private institutions
within the United States capital city. This project is similar to the Luxor project in that its spine is
at a ceremonial scale and unites a major historical facility, or anchor, at each end. Additionally, it
supports reuse and revitalization strategies to deal with the area surrounding the
In 1972, the United States Congress created the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation
(PADC) to prepare and implement a plan to improve an historic district that incorporates the
Avenue and numerous public and private properties within the defined district. Comparable in
length to the Avenue of the Sphinxes, Pennsylvania Avenue and its surrounding district had
become deteriorated and required significant public intervention in order to take advantage of its
private investment opportunities and to protect its ceremonial and cultural value to the nation. In
these respects, the definition of the Pennsylvania Avenue district and the assignment of special
powers and capabilities to the PADC are somewhat comparable to what is proposed for the Open
Museum and Heritage District.
The PADC’s role, as defined by its enabling legislation and supported by appropriations from the
U.S. Congress, included public development, public area improvements and historic preservation,
as well as support to land acquisition as required to implement the PADC’s plan. The sources of
PADC’s funds include direct federal appropriations, borrowings from the U.S Treasury, proceeds
from the sale and lease of real estate, and donations. In 1987, when PADC was substantially
engaged in implementation of its 1974 plan, its programs were estimated to require a total net total
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public investment of $130 million that was projected to attract over $1.7 billion of private
investment. Subsequent to this benchmark, PADC managed the successful public -private
development of the “Federal Triangle” development, a public -private venture that resulted in the
second largest building in Washington, second only to the size of the Pentagon, resulting in
construction of approximately 3 million square feet. The PADC’s projects have included public
parks and spaces, street landscaping, and other public improvements along the entire length of the
avenue.
3.2 Project Development Objectives
3.2.1 Conserve & Enhance the antiquities and their settings
The antiquities of Luxor attract visitors from around the world, contributing substantially to the
region’s economy. It is imperative that the strategy for regional growth incorporates realistic
measures to protect these antiquities and their settings from damage, deterioration, and
encroachment. The monuments, including Karnak and Luxor Temple, need a careful assessment
of required improvements and monitoring of patterns of visitation to insure that over-use does not
damage these settings.
Additionally, urban growth in the vicinity of Luxor’s antiquities threatens the integrity and setting
of the historic resources. In the Karnak Temple vicinity informal settlements have developed over
historic sites and urban drainage has caused foundation settlement at the ancient temple columns.
It is important that the plan for the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District incorporates
measures to mitigate and, eventually, eliminate these sources of deterioration to Luxor’s treasures.
Further, tourists and visitors should be encouraged to appreciate the fragility of these enduring
sites and to respect their character.
3.2.2 Guide sustainable public and private investment in the Luxor City Open
Museum and Heritage District
It is not just the antiquities in Luxor that are culturally significant. The old section of Luxor City
has architecture representing different periods in time and winding, quaint streets. The
intermingling of Islamic and Coptic cultures are reflected in the architecture and vibrancy of the
old section. The old section of the City offers a dynamic backdrop for the antiquities. It is also a
transitional area that separates the modern city (with rather mundane architecture) from the
antiquities area.
Improvements to the old section of Luxor City will serve residents, while expanding the total
experience for tourists in Luxor. Preservation actions are needed immediately. The intriguing
charm and character of the old section is threatened as historic buildings are torn down for new
construction and old facades on existing buildings are replaced with non-traditional architecture
incompatible with the older buildings. Physical improvements, including new developments, are
needed to improve the attractiveness of the area. Additionally, visitor information and interpretive
materials area needed for tourists to understand or appreciate the architecture and setting.
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3.2.3 Coordinate visitor and tourism services
Tourism is an important part of Egypt’s economy, representing revenues of LE 10,200 million (US
$3,009 million) in FY 1995/96 and projected to increase substantially as political stability restores
confidence in Egypt as a destination. Tourism is encouraged as a major component in the
Government of Egypt’s (GOE) strategy to alleviate poverty and provide for a population that is
expected to nearly double in 20 years, from 60 million persons to over 100 million persons.
Without economic growth, that corresponds to, or exceeds, population growth, the nation will
become relatively poorer over time and political stability would be threatened. Without political
stability, the world’s access to the valued antiquities in Egypt would be similarly threatened.
Luxor, in particular, has a local economy based primarily on tourism. In planning for the growth of
tourism, it is essential that the City, with assistance from the Government of Egypt and
international entities, create opportunities for tourism facilities and services that will both enhance
the quality of the antiquity sites. This effort should also provide visitors with contemporary
services which are competitive in a world where international interest in cultural tourism is a major
growth factor.
3.2.4 Improve the urban environment to create a city core which can reflect the
aspirations and needs of current and future residents
Protection of the monuments and accommodation of tourists are important goals to be

accomplished, but a truly effective plan for the Open Museum and Heritage District must result in
an improved quality of life and increased potential for the residents of Luxor, current and future.
Municipal services, particularly utilities, are not uniformly available to city and village residents,
and unplanned growth accentuates problems of accessibility, transportation, and proximity to
services.
3.2.5 Increase municipal and institutional capacity to manage the protection and
future development of the Open Museum and Heritage District
The scale of development which will be required to implement the Luxor Plan will offer potential
opportunities in development management, planning, as well as related building and construction
services. Without a cadre of skilled professionals and technicians to manage this long-range
process, its success will be tenuous. To achieve the benefits of an extensive planning process, the
Plan needs to incorporate effective mechanism for implementation. These mechanisms need to
insure that all levels of Government within Egypt and the HCLC act in concert and in response to
the creation of a Open Museum and Heritage District. Additionally, the implementation process
must include explicit and effective measures to fully engage the private sector, which will provide
a significant amount of the capital and energy for implementation. Without these types of
coordination and cooperative mechanisms, the Open Museum and Heritage District Project, no
matter how worthy, will not attract the full support and participation of either the local community
or the international donor agencies.
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3.3 Project Components
3.3.1 Coordinate Open Museum and Heritage District Improvements
The Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District contains four areas with common characteristics
and needs. As described in the following sections, the sub-areas provide a focus for the
implementation strategy.
Figure 13 identifies the boundaries for the seven areas:
1. Monument Protection Area – this area is defined by Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temple
site, and will include the connecting Avenue of the Sphinxes to be excavated and restored.
2. Neighborhood Preservation Area – this area is located between the Avenue of the
Sphinxes and the Corniche, from Karnak Temple to Pola Hotel Street. The area is a
traditional, active neighborhood with an older main street, mosques, residences, and other
neighborhood services, with relatively few tourist services or uses.
3. Central Luxor Area – this area consists of the districts immediately to the east and to the
west of the proposed Avenue of the Sphinxes corridor, between the Airport Road and up to
the southerly edge of Luxor Temple.
4. Central Corniche Area – encompassing the largely undeveloped section of the Corniche
between the entrance to Karnak Temple in the North and the Winter Palace in the South.
5. North Karnak Development Area – encompassing a traditional village and a largely

undeveloped area north and northeast of Karnak Temple, the area is proposed as a managed
residential growth area for an additional 10,000 residents.
6. North Corniche Development Area – The area is presently characterized by a largely

undeveloped riverfront and scattered commercial development along the extended Corniche
Road. Lacking any historic buildings, but offering a prime location close to the historic core of
Luxor City, the area is to accommodate tourism-oriented infill development at a density and
scale greater than other portions of the Open Museum and Heritage District.
7. No Utilities or Service Area – Informal residential developments are steadily encroaching on

Karnak Temple’s eastern edge. In order to prevent additional construction, no services or
utilities will be provided to structures in the area.
3.2.2 Conserve the antiquities and enhance their settings
The highest priority for the Monument Protection Area of the Open Museum and Heritage
District is on preserving the antiquities and their settings. Within the Monument Protection Area,
28
no private buildings or improvements would be allowed and priority would be given to

archeological and preservation efforts. Public improvements would be allowed which are
necessary to accommodate visitors to the monuments, including design of visitor improvements
and facilities which can be sited and designed to positively contribute to the historic setting.
Provide Ongoing Maintenance and Preservation of the Monuments

Almost all tourists visiting Luxor experience Karnak and Luxor Temples. At the current level of
tourism, these sites are already becoming overcrowded and the projected volume of future tourists
magnifies the prospects for gradual deterioration. Problems, including vibrations, jeopardize the
foundations and structural underpinnings, while airborne pollution is causing damage to the stone
carvings. In addition, the rising water table has caused a salinity and drainage problem, resulting in
the foundation settlement of the ancient Karnak Temple columns.
Key proposed actions:

• coordinate ongoing maintenance efforts, including the work of restoration experts, antiquities
site managers, and labor personnel.
• initiate mitigation measures to tackle the environmental sources of deterioration
Improve the Luxor Temple Setting

Luxor Temple’s urbanized surroundings limit the scale of contextual improvements. Busy streets
surround the Temple on three sides, leaving no opportunity to create a larger buffer area. The
Avenue of the Sphinxes restoration, however, offers an exceptional opportunity to create an open
space connection that can be linked through appropriate landscaping and lighting to the popular
park area that exists east of the Temple. Entries on the north and west side of the Temple should
also be improved. The north entrance will be integrated with the Avenue of the Sphinxes project,
while the redesign of the western entrance should include a pedestrian crossing across the
Corniche, defined by paving stones, to the riverfront. Across the Corniche, a promenade should
be built out into the Nile River, as portrayed in historic illustrations.

• improve the physical condition and approach to the north and west entrances to the Temple
• improve the landscaping of the park on the east side of Temple
• improve the perimeter lighting and introduce additional streetscape features, including benches
Improve the Karnak Temple Setting

Karnak Temple is the largest and most significant pharaonic temple in the world. Along with the
Temple of Mut immediately to the south of Karnak, the temple area occupies an area far larger
than Luxor Temple. Surrounding the temple areas are residential neighborhoods, low-scale tourist
shopping areas and a few public and private buildings extending from the temple to the Nile. Each
sub-area of the Karnak Temple area requires different actions in order to enhance the character
of the area:
Create a Karnak Buffer Zone

Much of this area is either owned or controlled by the Supreme Council on Antiquities. However,
there has been significant encroachment of informal and other development within this zone,
requiring protection measures to protect the visual quality of the site and to respect its his
resources.
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The proposed Karnak buffer area, as mapped in Figure 3, contains Category 1 and Category 2
important archaeological zones 1 around Karnak and Mut Temples. Because of the significance
of the setting, test excavations should be done to determine the location of artifacts and identify
which structures should be removed.
Immediately east of Karnak Temple is a proposed buffer zone that will not have utility service and
no future development will be permitted. Although large-scale building acquisitions will not occur,
current residents will be offered new housing with utility service in the North Karnak Planned
Development Neighborhoods immediately north of the area as an incentive to relocate. The
existing road running along the north and east side of Karnak Temple should be removed so as to
discourage future development along it. The road corridor should be replaced by a landscape
treatment by an earthen wall to define the immediate edge of Karnak and Mut Temple.

• conduct archaeological work in Karnak and Mut Temple areas
• construct an earthen wall around Karnak Temple perimeter
Create a Processional Way between Karnak Temple and the Nile River
The historic linkage of Karnak Temple to the Nile is important to restore as a way to portray the
significance of the relationships between the temples, Nile, and Theban hills.
Early actions to recreate the processional way include moving major parking out of the field of
view, relocating the SCA director’s house and SCA storage lot, and defining areas for visitor
support services, including overview interpretation near the temple entrance. Later actions include
the introduction of historically accurate landscaping and statuary along a 170m long reflecting pool
(quay) that reinforces the axis and view of the Nile. The design of the quay should be inspired by
the design of the ancient canal connection between Karnak Temple and the Nile.

• relocate coach parking and the SCA storage lot to designated sites north and south of existing
area. Visual screening of the relocated parking through additional landscaping and a low rise
wall with an aesthetic facing.
• build the quay and its associated plaza between Karnak Temple and the Nile, including
appropriate landscaping, lighting and street furniture to create an active, convivial gathering
space.
3.2.3 Preservation and Enhancement of the Open Museum and Heritage District’s
Old Sections
Improve and Expand the Souq

The old market area along Market Street, called a souq or khan, has special need for action.
Located one block east of Luxor Temple, there is little traditional image evident in the old souq and
1
Archaeological classifications are the priority protection areas receive under Egyptian law; five categories
for antiquities areas with one being the most significant
30
no defined entranceways to draw tourists into the area. Presently there is also limited protection
from the sun, so tourists are reluctant to shop during hot afternoons. Although shops (bazaars)
stay open late at night, many tourists retire early to meet morning tour schedules.
East of the Avenue, the opportunity should be taken to improve and extend the traditional city
shopping souqs, improving their quality and enlarging pedestrian-preference zones within the city.
These extended souqs should connect, by walkways, across the Avenue of the Sphinxes to link
with shopping within the area between the Kebash and the Corniche. As described in a later
section, vehicular traffic should be managed and limited, emphasizing services to uses within the
area and enhancing a sense of a tourist district oriented to both the Kebash and the Corniche
A number of low-cost improvements and architectural guidelines can significantly improve the
attraction of the traditional souq. These measures will also serve to protect the old section from
modern redevelopment because its value as a traditional area will have been firmly established.
An excellent example of a world famous souq to emulate is Khan El- Khalili in Cairo, including the
adjacent old sections of the city. The Khan Khalili and adjacent areas are very quaint, narrow
streets are sun-screened in permanent and daily retractable awnings, and the building facades
have a traditional flair.

• offer preservation grants to assist business owners to restore or replicate historic facades
• extend the existing souq north to the Airport Road through improving the street and
encouraging commercial infill construction.
• introduce new signage, graphics, and lighting to reflect the historic character of the area
• introduce attractive, theme (replicating period architecture) vendor stalls to accommodate
street vendors
• introduce retractable canopies over streets for afternoon shade
• create gateway entrances to define the souq
Improve the Karnak Village Area

The neighborhood immediately to the southwest of Karnak Temple is in serious need of
improvement. Housing is severely deteriorated, public facilities are lacking and sanitation is poor; a
swale running alongside the central road is used as an open garbage pit.
Although the edge of this neighborhood may be somewhat impacted by restoration of the Avenue
of the Sphinxes, the general form and character of the remainder of the neighborhood should be
preserved, with new uses limited to residences and neighborhood support uses of limited height
and of traditional character. This should not evolve into a major hotel or tourist-oriented district.
A number of improvements can be made to insure that the neighborhood is strengthened. Health
and sanitation improvements will be made through the Secondary Cities project. Other
improvements to be made include selected demolition and housing infill, and new public facilities,
including a health clinic, school and park.

• repair structures and infill empty blocks with housing
• introduce new public facilities, parks, and open space
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• extend utilities to area (as provided through USAID’s Secondary Cities Project)
Coordinate relocation in the Karnak Buffer Zone with additional residential

development in the Karnak Development Area
Planned Development Neighborhoods, as described in detail in Section 3.3.1, are an integral

component of Luxor City improvements. One of the Areas, The North Karnak Development
Area immediately north of the Karnak Temple area is one of four proposed new residential
development areas in Luxor City.
Located along the northern edge of the city, the North Karnak Development Area is bounded by a
canal on the north, the railroad tracks on the east, agricultural lands on the south and development
on the west. Agricultural lands and older settlements, including a traditional neighborhood
characterize the area. New scattered settlements are beginning to encroach on the northern
border of the Karnak Temple.
The North Karnak Development Area is planned to accommodate approximately 10,000 new
residents by 2017, although the amount of new development may exceed this number if residents
living within the protected area surrounding Karnak Temple elect to relocate to the area.
Through providing utilities, services and open spaces, this neighborhood will be attractive to
residents in areas along the Avenue of the Sphinxes or immediately adjacent to Karnak Temple to
relocate there.
A perimeter road to connect the North Karnak Development Area to the North Corniche Area to
the west and the Airport Road in the east will be built to serve the area. By placing the road just
west of the railroad corridor and just south of a major canal, the road will discourage informal
settlements from occurring in agricultural lands outside the city boundary. Local streets will run
from the perimeter road to housing areas, however, a collector system will not be developed in
order to discourage additional encroachment on the Karnak Temple area.
Create a North Corniche Development Area to accommodate future tourism-oriented
commercial development
The area is presently characterized by a partially undeveloped riverfront along with a collection of
tourism-oriented commercial buildings and vacant parcels along the extended Corniche Road.
Lacking any historic buildings, but offering a prime location close to the historic core of Luxor
City, the sub-area is proposed to accommodate tourism-oriented infill development at a density and
scale greater than in other portions of the Open Museum and Heritage District. The development
area will be mixed-use in character with strong physical and visual connections along the Corniche
towards the Nile and Karnak Temple.
3.2.4 Effectively use public lands and redeveloped private property within the historic
district to accommodate increasing tourism
The restoration of the Avenue of the Sphinxes and increasing tourism activity in the Open
Museum and Heritage District will create a significant opportunity to improve the Luxor setting
between the two temples and the river. As illustrated in Figure 13, the Central Luxor
Development Area will comprise the area on both sides of the Avenue of the Sphinxes corridor,
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between the Airport Road up to the southerly edge of Luxor Temple . This section of Luxor City is
to be the most transformed by the creation of the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District.
Redevelop select government properties

To the west side of the Avenue of the Sphinxes, the area is characterized by many public sites
that are or will be functionally obsolete. Many of these uses could be relocated to other regional
growth locations such as New Luxor. Between Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple there are
sixteen Government properties, many across from the Nile. There are another ten Government
properties situated just south of Luxor Temple. Some of these buildings are architecturally
significant or cannot be relocated, e.g. the National Democratic Party building, the Winter Palace,
Convention Center and the Luxor Museum. Other buildings have no distinguishing characteristics
and are candidates for redevelopment. These sites include primary, secondary and technical
schools, the Higher Council for Luxor City (HCLC) Administrative Headquarters, Hospital,
General Organization for Roads and Bridges Building, and the Luxor Sports Club.
Options for redevelopment of government buildings are varied. For example, the vacant
Government building on Nile Street and adjacent schools, across from the Novotel Hotel and
Winter Palace, is an excellent candidate site for infill commercial development. The HCLC
Headquarters, Hospital, site containing three schools and the General Organization for Roads and
Bridges building, and the Supreme Council on Antiquities compound are all very large sites that
can accommodate museums, and tourism-oriented commercial uses. The Luxor Museum and
Convention Center are two important public uses within this western area which could be
expanded and/or remodeled.

• relocate government offices and public facilities
• undergo site preparation for redevelopment
• redevelop sites with buildings of an appropriate scale and construction
• make open space improvements
Encourage new development on identified vacant land

Creation of a road running along the eastern perimeter of the Avenue of the Sphinxes will involve
the widening of and connection between existing streets. Inevitably, the project will require
removal of some existing structures that will support rehabilitation and new infill construction along
these edges. The new East Bank Visitor Center would be located in this area, adjacent to the
current inter-city bus station. New infill construction can be encouraged along the edges of
abutting streets for retail uses, tourist developments, and visitor services. The Avenue project can
create an opportunity to create linkages to the traditional existing souqs as well as expansion of the
retail district and new venues for expanded tourist activities.
Existing substantial hotels in this area would remain, although priority would be given to new
museums, museum expansion, and new parklands to serve a setting for the antiquities. Limited
new hotel and tourist support activities could be encouraged in this precinct, if planned to insure
adequate public access and surrounding green space.

• undergo site preparation of vacant lands for redevelopment
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• redevelop sites with buildings of an appropriate scale and construction

• make open space improvements
3.2.5 Enact Land Use Controls and Development Guidelines to Support Preservation
and Redevelopment Efforts
A strong priority should be placed on enforcing land use controls and development standards to
ensure that new and rehabilitated construction within the District is consistent with the character
of its historical resources. The following paragraphs describe tools by which a Luxor Preservation
and Development Authority (PDA), as described in detail in Section 4.1.3 can guide the
preservation of historic resources and the introduction of new infill buildings of a compatible scale
and finish to the Open Museum and Heritage District.
Tools to guide the preservation and redevelopment of the Open Museum and Heritage District:
• historic preservation standards
• land use controls
• development standards for new construction
• urban design guidelines for construction in designated Open Museum and Heritage District
development areas
Historic Preservation Controls
Preserving and restoring the architecture that has been developed over the past century in Luxor
City is an investment for tourists and residents alike. In order for this to be accomplished, the
PDA needs to be authorized and directed to implement preservation controls. The controls would
not prohibit redevelopment of selected properties, but would provide that all exterior changes to
existing buildings and new construction conform to guidelines that reinforce the architectural style
of the area, while also ensuring that properties of historic significance are not demolished.
A PDA “historic preservation committee” should be established to protect and preserve

architectural character and integrity and to preserve the physical character of streets and buildings
in the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District. The PDA “historic preservation committee”
would review all proposals for additions or changes to designated historic structures in the Open
Museum and Heritage District.
After further developing the guidelines put forward in this report section, the PDA committee
would be responsible for reviewing applications for designation of historically significant
structures. Designation of a property as historically significant would enable the landowner to
receive facade improvement grants with the trade-off being that any changes to the exterior of the
structure would require a permit by the PDA. Any proposed exterior changes, including
alterations and additions to the building facade, the installation of signs, and/or the addition of
awnings and fencing would require approval of the PDA “historic preservation committee.”
Buildings designated as historically significant would be required to conform to the following

management guidelines. Conformance to these guidelines should be the primary criteria by which
the “historic preservation committee” selects property owners to receive preservation grants:
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1. Try to use the building for its original purpose or for a compatible use requiring minimal
changes.
2. Retain and preserve original distinguishing features and qualities.
3. Recognize all buildings and structures as products of their own time, avoiding changes that
have no historical basis.
4. Recognize and preserve changes that have occurred over time if they have significance in
their own right.
5. Retain and preserve distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftmanship that
characterize the building or site. Restoration work to historic buildings should be done in
traditional materials and be visually unobtrusive.
6. Repair rather than replace worn architectural features. If replacement is necessary, new
material should match the old in all visual qualities and should be based on factual historic
data.
7. Assure that details, fixtures and materials used for restoration and alteration and
improvements are compatible with the historic or traditional character and materials-
examples include service modifications and additions to traditional neighborhoods and
structures
8. Clean facades using the gentlest means possible. Avoid sandblasting. High water pressure or
other damaging methods should not be permitted.
9. Protect and preserve archaeological resources affected by or adjacent to the historic building.
10. Compatible contemporary additions of alterations are acceptable if:
• they do not destroy significant historical, architectural, or cultural material, and
• the design is compatible with size, scale, color, material, and character of the structure
11. Supervision should ensure that no destruction is caused to historic materials by alteration and
modification projects
12. Visual impact of improvements, restoration and modifications to be as subtle as possible
Guide appropriate land uses in the Open Museum and Heritage District Development
Zone
In addition to establishing a historic preservation controls, the PDA should also enact land use
controls and development standards for the Open Museum and Heritage District to ensure that
new construction is compatible with the scale and character of the existing features of the
District.
Proposed land use controls and development standards for all of Luxor City, including the sub-
areas of the Open Museum and Heritage District are identified in Tables 1 and 2. Figure 13
illustrates the boundary of each sub-area.
Permitted Land Uses in Luxor City:

Table 1 describes permitted land uses for Luxor City sub-areas. New construction must conform
to the land use categories, with existing construction exempted from meeting the standards. Land
uses not identified in the table must submit application for special permit.
Across the top row of each table, sub-areas within each jurisdiction are identified. The left
column of each table itemizes land-uses classified into four categories. The first category of
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residential land uses includes single -family and multi-family dwellings. The second category of
commercial land uses includes offices, services and retail businesses. The third category of public
land uses includes public and cultural facilities, government offices, and open spaces that are
publicly owned and operated. The final category includes other land uses, with most of these land
uses requiring segregation from the other land use categories.
Luxor City land uses are separated into the sub-areas within the Open Museum and Heritage
District and other city areas. Land uses within the six Open Museum and Heritage District sub-
areas are significantly more restrictive than in any other area of study in the Luxor region.
Development Standards Table:

Development standards can ensure a safe and sanitary environment in Luxor City that sets a
reasonable standard of architectural design. Performance standards, rather than material and
construction specifications, are offered for each sub-area in order to stimulate innovative design
and promote the use of new materials.
Table 2 describes performance standards for new development in Luxor City, including the sub-
areas of the Open Museum and Heritage District. Only new construction in these areas must
conform to the development standards prescribed. Existing construction is exempted from
meeting the standards, although major rehabilitation to existing structures, defined as investment
over 25% of total property value, shall be reviewed to insure that standards are met, if feasible.
Aspects of development included in the standards are building coverage maximums, open space
minimums, building setbacks from the street and adjacent structures, building heights, minimum
street frontage, and sidewalks. These aspects cover the required specific regulations identified in
MHUUC guidelines.
Implementing the Land Use Controls and Development Standards:

Procedures to implement the land use controls and development standards for the Open Museum
and Heritage District must include design review and inspection. Design review of each
development project (public and private) should be a necessary prerequisite to project approval
and subsequent construction. This review and approval should be the responsibility of a “design
review committee” , with the majority of members drawn from PDA staff with additional
representatives from the community, appointed by the Governor and representing individuals
knowledgeable about real estate, design, and/or community development. This committee should
meet as often as necessary to avoid delay in the implementation of development projects.
Inspection of construction to ensure compliance with approved plans should be the responsibility of
PDA specialists in design and construction.
Architectural and site design standards should be developed from the framework prescribed in
Tables 1 and 2. All of these controls could be organized into a single manual which clearly and
concisely describes both performance standards and review procedures. A supplementary
manual on house design and construction could also be prepared with illustrations and simplified
text to guide the self-help house owner in expanding his dwelling.
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Table 1: Permitted Land Uses in Luxor City *

Open Museum and Heritage District
Monument Central Neighborhoo Central North North Karnak North Karnak
Protection Luxor d Corniche Corniche Development Development
Area Sub-Area Preservation Sub-Area Development Sub-Area: Sub-Area:
Sub-Area Sub-Area Sub-Area District Residential
Center
Residentia Single Family X O O X X X O
Multi -Family X O O X X P O
Commerci Commercial Office X O P P P O X
General Retail X O O P P O X
Open Market (souq) X O O P P O P
Tourism Retail/Services X O P O O P X
Hotel < 50 rooms X O P O O P X
Hotel > 50 rooms X P X O O X X
Restaurant X O O O O O O
Cinema/ Theater X O P O O P X
Workshop* X P O P P O X
Public Government Office X P X P P O X
Health Clinic X P O X X O O
Elementary School X P O X X P O
Secondary School X P O X X O X
Technical/Trade School X P O X X O X
Nursery X P O X X X O
Religious X P O P P O O
Museum/Visitor Center X O P O O X X
Cemetery X X X X X X X
Parks/Open Space P O O O O O O
Recreation Facility X X O P P O O
Public Utility X P P P P P P
Other Gas Station X P X X X P X
Engine Service/Repair X X X X X X X
Parking Lot/Garage X P X P P P X
Agricultural Storage X X X X X X X
Warehouse/Storage X X X X X X X
Manufacturing** X X X X X X X
Animal Husbandry X X X X X X X
* any use not defined in chart must submit application for special permit
Legend: Notes:
O = permitted land use * workshops are small (<100 m2) and used for the production of goods
P = by special permit only land use (handicrafts, carpets, etc.)
X = not-permitted land use ** manufacturing (<1000 m2 and < 50 employees only)
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Table 1, continued: Permitted Land Uses in Luxor City *

Other City Areas
Planned Planned South Remaining
Developmen Developmen Corniche: Areas of
t t outside Luxor City
Neighborho Neighborho Open
ods: ods: District Museum &
Residential Centers Heritage
District
Reside ntia Single Family O X X O
Multi -Family O P P O
Commerci Commercial Office X O P O
General Retail X O P O
Open Market (souq) P O P O
Tourism Retail/Services X P O P
Hotel < 50 rooms X P O X
Hotel > 50 rooms X X O X
Restaurant O O O O
Cinema/ Theater X P O O
Workshop* X O X O
Public Government Office X O X P
Health Clinic O O O O
Elementary School O P X O
Secondary School X O X O
Technical/Trade School X O X O
Nursery O X X O
Religious O O O O
Museum/Visitor Center X X O P
Cemetery X X X O
Parks/Open Space O O O O
Recreation Facility O O X O
Public Utility P P P P
Other Gas Station X P X P
Engine Service/Repair X X X P
Parking Lot/Garage X P X P
Agricultural Storage X X X X
Warehouse/Storage X X X P
Manufacturing** X X X X
Animal Husbandry X X X X
* any use not defined in chart must submit application for special permit
Legend: Notes:
O = permitted land use * workshops are small (<100 m2) and used for the production of
P = by special permit only land use goods (handicrafts, carpets, etc.)
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X = not-permitted land use ** manufacturing (<1000 m2 and < 50 employees only)
Table 2: Luxor City Table of Development Standards

Aspect Purpose Requirements by Open Museum and Heritage District Sub-Area
Luxor Open Museum Corniche Area Monument Neighborhood Preservation
and Heritage District Protection Area and Area
Development Area Buffer
Open Space
• Maximum building sunlight, air civic: 70% site area civic: 60% site area new construction residential: 60% site area
coverage* commercial: 80% site area commercial: 70% site area prohibited civic: 70% site area
commercial: 80% site area
• Usable public space passive open space; civic: 15% site area civic: 20% site area new construction residential: 20% site area
active recreation commercial: 10% site area commercial: 15% site area prohibited civic: 15% site area
Building Envelope
Minimum required setback sunlight, visual 5m for streets west of 10m new construction 2m for sidewalk
from street Avenue of t he Sphinxes & prohibited
perpendicular to the Nile,
with a maximum height of
13m; higher floors setback
13m from street
Minimum required privacy, ventilation,
setback from Common sunlight
Property Line
• 0-3 floors residential windows set back 5m new construction none required
5m from lot line prohibited
• 3-6 floors windows setback 3m new construction not applicable (13 m height limit)
prohibited
• 6-10 floors not applicable (13 m height windows setback 5m new construction not applicable (13 m height limit)
limit) prohibited
Building Height privacy for adjoining 13m within 13m of street, 13m within 13m of street, new construction 13m; mosque minarets and church
uses, visual with maximum height of with maximum height of prohibited steeples that exceed the limit by
compatibility with 26m 26m, except by special special permit
surroundings permit
Minimum Plot Frontage servicing, ventilation 5m 5m new construction 5m
on street prohibited
Minimum required safety, recreation, 2m for commercial 4m, paved; shading trees and new construction 2m for commercial frontage if
width of sidewalks visual frontage if adequate building lighting required prohibited adequate building frontage exists;
frontage exists. commercial buildings with shading
trees, canopies, or covered arcade
* Building coverage is total building footprint divided by total lot area. Refer to Structure Plan for requirements for Planned Development Neighborhoodss
39
Table 2, continued: Luxor City Table of Development Standards

Aspect Purpose Requirements by Open Museum and Heritage District Sub-Area
North Karnak North Karnak North Corniche

Development Areas: Development Areas: Development Area
Service Centers Outside Service Centers
Open Space
• Maximum building sunlight, air civic: 70% site area residential: 60% site area civic: 70% site area
coverage* commercial: 80% site area civic: 70% site area commercial: 80% site area
• Usable public space passive open space; civic: 15% site area residential: 20% site area civic: 15% site area
active recreation commercial: 10% site area civic: 15% site area commercial: 10% site area
Building Envelope
Minimum required setback sunlight, visual 4m 4m 5m for streets perpendicular
from street to the Nile, with a maximum
height of 13m; higher floors
setback 13m from street
Minimum required privacy, ventilation,
setback from Common sunlight
Property Line
• 0-3 floors none required none required none required
• 3-6 floors residential windows set back residential windows set back residential windows set back
5m from property line; 5m from property line; other 5m from property line; other
other windows setback 3m windows setback 3m windows setback 3m
• 6-10 floors windows setback 5m windows setback 5m windows setback 5m
Building Height privacy for adjoining 13m within 13m of arterial 13m within 13m of arterial 13m within 13m of street,
uses, visual street, with maximum street, with maximum height with maximum height of
compatibility with height of 26m; 13m on of 26m; 13m on non-arterial 26m
surroundings non-arterial streets streets
Minimum Plot Frontage servicing, ventilation 5m 5m 5m
on street
Minimum required safety, recreation, 2m paved with shading 2m paved with shading trees 2m for commercial frontage
width of sidewalks visual trees or canopies or canopies if adequate building frontage
exists.
* Building coverage is total building footprint divided by total lot area. Refer to Structure Plan for requirements for Planned Development Neighborhoodss
40
Table 2 (continued): Luxor City Table of Development Standards

Aspect Purpose Luxor City Areas outside Open Museum and Heritage District
Luxor City Planned Luxor City Planned Corniche: outside Remaining Areas of
Development Areas: Development Areas: Open Museum and Luxor City
Outside Service Centers Service Centers Heritage District
Open Space
• Maximum building sunlight, air residential: 60% site area civic: 70% site area civic: 60% site area residential: 70% site area
coverage civic: 70% site area commercial: 80% site area commercial: 70% site civic: 80% site area
commercial: 80% site area area commercial: 80% site area
• Minimum usable public passive open space; residential: 20% site area civic: 15% site area civic: 20% site area residential: 15% site area
space active recreation civic: 15% site area commercial: 10% site area commercial: 15% site civic: 10% site area
commercial: 10% site area area commercial: 10% site area
Buildi ng Envelope
Setback from Street sunlight, visual 4m 4m 10m 2m
Setback from Common privacy, ventilation,
Property Line sunlight
• 0-3 floors none required none required none required none required
• 3-6 floors residential windows set back 5m residential windows set back 5m windows setback 3m residential windows set back
from property line; other from property line; other 5m from property line;
windows setback 3m windows setback 3m other windows setback 3m
• 6-10 floors windows setback 5m windows setback 5m windows setback 5m not applicable (13m height
limit)
Building Height privacy for adjoining 13m within 13m of arterial 13m within 13m of arterial 13m within 13m of 13m; mosque minarets and
uses, visual street, with maximum height of street, with maximum height of street, with maximum church steeples may exceed
compatibility with 26m; 13m on non-arterial 26m; 13m on non-arterial height of limit by special permit
surroundings streets streets 26m, except by special
permit
Minimum Plot Frontage servicing, ventilation 5m 5m 15m 5m
Sidewalks, minimum safety, recreation, 2m paved with shading trees or 2m paved with shading trees or 4m paved with shading 2m paved with shading trees
required width visual canopies canopies trees and lighting or canopies
* Building coverage is total building footprint divided by total lot area. Refer to Structure Plan for requirements for Planned Development Neighborhoods
41
Urban Design Guidelines for the Open Museum and Heritage District
Although Luxor City’s ancient monuments provide the city’s main identity, the urban character of the city
varies; each area has a specific character and sense of place. As sites are redeveloped, the rich character
of areas that give an “identity” to the city should not be lost. New development should be encouraged to
respect and celebrate unique and traditional elements of Luxor.
In terms of taking action to meet this objective, the PDA should review the contextual impact of new
development in the Open Museum and Heritage District, taking special care with projects that receive
public funding assistance and/or are enabled by PDA actions. Such a review process would complement
PDA efforts to enforce land use controls and development standards. The Central Luxor sub-area of the
Open Museum and Heritage District is particularly in need of urban design oversight in order to ensure
that redeveloped properties reinforce the area’s image and relationship between the Avenue of the
Sphinxes, monuments, and Corniche. It is proposed that all new construction in the Central Luxor sub-
area should undergo review by an “urban design committee” of the PDA.
Expanding upon the following guidelines, the “urban design committee” would be responsible for reviewing
applications in the Central Luxor sub-area. Recommendations would be made to the PDA to approve or
disapprove applications as criteria dictate.
Key urban design objectives for the Open Museum and Heritage District:
Retaining the Character

• Assure redevelopment and infill respects the existing urban fabric (scale of buildings, blocks, streets,
and open spaces)
• Promote re-use of structures which provide physical definition of urban fabric (key buildings or
structures which define blocks, landmarks or district edges)
• Promote the use of traditional and compatible materials by highly skilled craftsmen
• Respect existing building heights with similar or complimentary heights
• Promote compatible uses between existing and new development
• Assure improvements to existing developments are subtle and unobtrusive
• Encourage improvements that create usable open spaces and new public gathering places
New development should also reinforce the overall legibility or “understandibility” of Luxor City,
distinguishing the city’s main districts, heritage and tourism areas, business and commercial zones,
traditional residential and mixed use neighborhoods. Infill development should encourage pedestrian areas
as well as promote pedestrian uses and amenities, reduce impacts of traffic and provide key visual and
physical connections through the city and between the antiquity and agricultural areas.
Increase Overall Legibility and Area Vitality

• Provide visual links between the Avenue of the Sphinxes, the Nile River, and the Theban hills
• Promote the development of landmarks, gathering places, and site lines between important resources
• Define key entries to the city and to the monument area
• Promote shade by providing trees, awnings or canopies in public areas and souqs
• Promote pedestrian scale and active frontage of street level development and redevelopment avoiding
blank walls, narrow sidewalks in commercial and pedestrian areas
• Avoid long stretches of inactive street frontage such as parking areas and privacy walls in commercial
and pedestrian areas
• Encourage commercial uses that increase pedestrian activity along the Corniche
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Improve Circulation
• Improve circulation outside of the Open Museum and Heritage District to relieve congestion and
encourage vehicular traffic to use those routes, bypassing the Open Museum and Heritage District
• Provide coherent and coordinated pedestrian and vehicular signage
• Minimize the number of new streets through the Open Museum and Heritage District
• Provide pedestrian amenities such as benches, open spaces, interpretive waysides and directional
signage throughout the area
• Provide sufficient shuttle bus stops and service between the antiquities
• Provide sufficient sidewalks and shading to encourage pedestrian use of commercial streets in the
commercial and tourism areas
• Provide clear pedestrian links between the Avenue of the Sphinxes and the Corniche
3.2.6 Coordinate visitor and touristic services

Visitor and tourism coordination should create an environment where businesses have a partnership
relationship with local authorities and where there is a high level of confidence that implementing agencies
will be able to provide planning strategies and programs to insure a sustainable and environmentally sound
tourism industry in Luxor. Key strategies include:
Build a Visitors Center

A Central Visitors Center will be the key information and interpretative facility to assist tourists with
planning their stays in Luxor and to increase their appreciation for the magnificent antiquities they view
and the culture of Egypt from Pharaonic to modern times. Key principles for a Visitor Center include:
• The Visitor Center should serve as a central point of orientation and an attraction
• The Visitor Center should be strategically located where coordination of tourist support activities can
easily be provided.
• The Visitor Center could be funded by Government, the private sector (under strict guidelines) or a
public-private partnership.
The overall size of the Visitor Center should be between 7,000 and 10,000 square meters, depending on
facilities and services. The space should be large enough to accommodate significant exhibit and media
spaces. Depending on the range of visitor services and attractions, the center could be even larger. The
Visitor Center can provide a point of orientation, information and overall interpretation of Luxor’s cultural
resources and attractions.
The Visitor Center should be located in, or adjacent to, the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District
area and have sufficient land available to develop parking areas to eliminate much of the bus traffic
through the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District. As illustrated in Figure 5, the preferred location is
adjacent to the Avenue of the Sphinxes between Luxor and Karnak Temple The significant amount of
undeveloped land in this area will provide ample areas for tour bus parking, landscaping, and expansion
area. The Visitor Center will be the central staging point for the shuttle system. Components of the
Visitor Center:
• Visitor information on antiquities, other cultural resources, special events and services;
• Interpretative presentations, including media interpretative presentations and exhibits;
• Bus and vehicle parking and shuttle system terminal;
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• Educational programs
• Licensed tour guide services; and
• Visitor services, including comfort facilities, retail shops and food services.
Coordinate Ticketing for Attractions

The development of a single, multi-day, multi-site passport system that provides admission to all antiquities
sites which are open to the public within the city’s east and west banks, would offer a significant
improvement to the current system of ticketing. Coordination between attractions and convenience would
increase through the all-inclusive fee. The passport system would charge a relatively high fee to visitors,
but would give them the convenience of not having to pay admissions at each site and not having to make
the individual decisions at the existing ticket office. Tickets would be available at the visitors center,
hotels, kiosks or could be pre-sold in package tours.
Improve City and Site Interpretation

Many tourists prefer to visit historical, cultural and recreational sites on their own, at their individual pace,
but presently site interpretation is highly dependent on group tour guides who explain the sites and their
artifacts. There is a lack of overview information about each site, specific orientation maps and exhibits,
and informational media. Development of self-guided tours, within sites and between sites could expand
the market for Luxor tourism, increase visitors’ appreciation for the cultural and archaeological heritage of
the sites, and clarify why these impressive sites and structures are important. Improving Luxor City
interpretation requires a number of actions, as itemized below:
• wayside exhibit signs to explain features and sites, including an overview of their
significance. At key sites, such interpretation should ideally be provided on the site perimeter prior to
entry. For example, Karnak Temple materials should be located in the visitor service zones, while
Luxor Temple information should be in the park area on the north edge of the site, including
information on the Avenue of the Sphinxes.
• site and city maps with associated narratives. The materials could be sold independently as well
as provided with the passport tickets.
• audio cassettes for self-guided tours of the monuments and surrounding city. The content of
these materials could be modeled on those which are sold and/or rented at major museums for key
sites
• coordinated and attractive site and city signage. Street signs, gateways to the souqs, historic
landmark signs should be made that are specific to Luxor and its heritage
• coordinated interpretive exhibits and materials. The Central Visitors Center should offer
architectural models and exhibits that provide an overview and orientation to the historic resources in
Luxor City and surrounding area.
• interpretive activities and events. Heritage conservation should not merely reflect the preservation
of traditional activities, but should also reflect contemporary aspects of Egyptian society. Public art
programs, cultural festivals and local handicraft fairs should be introduced as an integral part of the
conservation plan. These activities will introduce conservation as an aspect of contemporary,
everyday life.
• ongoing workshops and training sessions for tour guides at the tourism vocational school.
Curriculum to include an interpretive prospectus that defines baseline objectives for tour guides to
cover at each site.
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3.2.7 Supportive Transportation Improvements
Improve traffic circulation in the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District
Increasing tourism and the Avenue of the Sphinxes restoration will pose significant challenges for traffic
circulation, as well as the need to minimize the intrusion of large buses and the interface between traffic
and pedestrians in other major sections of the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District, such as the
Corniche, Karnak Temple area, the old section of Luxor City and the old souq.
As illustrated in Figure 12, proposed circulation improvements in the Open Museum and Heritage District
include three bridges to cross the Avenue of the Sphinxes. North-south circulation on either side of the
Avenue will also be improved with a new road connecting to the Corniche just north of Luxor Temple, and
the upgrading of the street along the eastern edge of the Avenue.
Pedestrian routes within the Open Museum and Heritage District area would, if properly planned and
implemented, enhance the historic setting. Enhanced paving, signage, street furniture and other associated
streetscape improvements should be introduced to create a pedestrian friendly environment. To support
such improvements, the souqs should limit vehicular traffic to only early morning hours to allow for
delivery time. Creating pedestrian-only corridors during the day is in the spirit of many European cities
which have created large vehicular-restricted zones to provide attractive pedestrian precincts in the city
respectful of historic sites and conducive to on-going commercial activities.
Create a tourist shuttle service

The distance between Karnak and Luxor Temples is significant, requiring either a tour vehicle or a
significant walk in hot weather. A tourist shuttle loop should be provided to serve tourists as well to allow
visitors who elect to walk portions or the entirety of the Avenue of the Sphinxes to return to their point of
origin. The shuttle should stop at Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, the East Bank Visitor Center, and other
sites along the Avenue and Corniche, providing an important means for tourists - during the day and
evening - to reach antiquities sites and the facilities and services within the City. Figure 8 illustrates the
proposed route for the shuttle, encircling the area between Luxor Temple and the cemetery, and
continuing along the Corniche to the north until reaching the Karnak Temple entry. The shuttle vehicle
would ideally be electric to minimize environmental pollution. Horse-drawn carriages would also continue
to be allowed in the area to retain traditional and slow speed tours that are entirely appropriate to the
setting.
Prohibit additional cruise ship docking

Cruise ships currently docking on the Corniche between the Hilton and Novotel create a visual and noise
nuisance to visitors along the riverfront. The HCLC should strongly support efforts to build a cruise ship
12 kilometers south of Luxor City and discourage continued cruise ship docking along the urban Corniche
in Luxor City. The removal of cruise ships in Luxor City will improve river access and views, increasing
the Corniche’s appeal for waterside attractions.
Manage local transit

The current transit system in Luxor City can be improved to serve the interests of local residents and
visitors alike. The zone illustrated in Figure 8 will restrict micro-buses and coaches during specified times
during the day. Within the zone, a network of designated bus stop shelters will provide shade for riders
and discourage the informal pick-up/drop-off system currently in place.
Relocating the current East Bank ferry landing is also a priority for action. The current ferry landing in
front of Luxor Temple does not allow transfers for riders to mini-bus and. The current landing is in an area
45
could be put to better use. Moving the ferry landing further south along the Corniche near the Novotel will
allow for easy transfer to mini-bus and allow for the redevelopment of the existing riverfront site for
commercial uses, possibly a café.
3.2.8 Develop training and assistance programs (in support of building management
capacity)
The scale of development which will be required to implement the Open Museum and Heritage District
project will offer potential opportunities in development management, pla nning, as well as related building
and construction services. The success of the proposed management entity for the District, as described
in detail in Section 4.1.3 will require a cadre of skilled professionals and technicians to guide preservation
and redevelopment efforts. Without such management support, the success of the District’s management
entity will be tenuous. Increasing the skills of staff can be increased through training programs in the
following areas:
• project management
• antiquities
• finance
• engineering
• surveying
• urban development
3.3 Key Related Projects
3.3.1 Planned Development Neighborhoods
The Need for Planned Development Neighborhoods

An anticipated doubling of the population in the Luxor region over the next twenty years will place
considerable growth pressures on Luxor City. As the only major urban area in the Markaz, Luxor City has
always been the magnet for urban development. Even if new settlements, such as New Luxor, become
the major centers of growth in the future, a considerable amount of new development is inevitable in Luxor
City.
The development challenge for Luxor City is to redirect the current trends of growth in the city. Informal
settlements encroaching on the City’s heritage resources and surrounding agricultural lands must be
curtailed. A more sustainable pattern of orderly development in areas with adequate facilities and utilities
to support new growth is necessary. The following sections describe the concept of creating three
planned development neighborhoods in Luxor City, as shown in Figure 7.
The Planned Development Area Concept

The Planned Development Neighborhoods will be the centers for growth in Luxor City in the future. The
three areas will altogether accommodate approximately 50,000 new residents by 2017 with additional land
available for future development. Each planned development neighborhood will include neighborhoods and
amenities that improve the Luxor City living environment for new and existing residents alike.
Neighborhoods and service centers comprise most of the planned development neighborhood land uses.
46
The following section offers an overview of the neighborhoods , while a detailed discussion of the service
centers is in Section 3.3.3.
Neighborhoods
Attractive neighborhoods are the primary element of the planned development neighborhoods. A total of
six neighborhoods will be built by 2017. Land areas of each center will be approximately 8 feddan,
adequate to support 8,000-10,000 residents in each neighborhood. Although the form and character of
each neighborhood and its services will vary, a number of shared principles will guide development:
1. Development standards will encourage buildings with a scale and style compatible with the
architecture in adjacent existing urbanized areas.
2. Neighborhoods will be developed in phases that encourage the orderly extension of utilities and
provision of services.
3. Neighborhoods will include a variety of housing types and sizes to meet the needs and preferences of
a broad range of residents. Densities will be highest along the neighborhood edges defined by major
streets. Along these major streets, 4-5 story buildings with a mix of commercial and residential uses
will predominate. Within the neighborhood enclave, 1-3 story attached and detached structures,
primarily residential, should be encouraged in housing clusters centered along open spaces.
4. Neighborhoods will include dedicated pedestrian and bicycle path “greenways” that connect housing
clusters. Access by foot or bicycle will be possible to the pedestrian-oriented neighborhood
greenways, and on to the district service centers
5. Neighborhood housing clusters will offer convenient access to services. All homes will be within a
500-meter radius from a neighborhood service center with public facilities and commercial services.
District service centers with a greater variety of services and facilities will be planned within a 1,000-
meter radius of each home.
Southern Development Area

Proposed Site
The Southern Development Area is located in largely undeveloped agricultural lands along the southern
edge of Luxor City. Major roads, such as Television Street, have created significant development
pressure in recent years. Despite the lack of water and sanitation, informal settlements are developing
along major transportation roads and to the south in the expanding village of Bugdadi.
Development Concept
The Southern Planned Development Area is planned to accommodate 30,000 new residents by 2017.
Figure 7 illustrates the key features of the plan.
An integrated streets network will provide strong local and regional connections. The Greenbelt Road will
become the primary access between the Southern Development area and regional destinations. Both the
Greenbelt Road and extended Television Street will become the major high-density development spines
linking lower density neighborhood streets.
Television Street will defines the edge of urbanization in the Southern Area. The extension of Television
Street will continue in a north-south direction south of the Greenbelt intersection before aligning in an east-
west direction and connecting with an extension to El Awameya Road. Informal settlements beyond the
extension of Television Street will be limited by the existing canal running parallel along the north-south
portion of the street, and the prohibition of new streets outside the southern side of the street as it runs
east-west. Containing development within Television Street along its east-west orientation will allow for
the establishment of a city boundary just outside the street that will not face development pressures
47
beyond it.
The Southern Area is centered around a District Service Center, located southeast of the intersection of
the Greenbelt and extended Television Street. This Center would build upon the existing mosque and
technical school, also including a full range of new services and recreational facilities.
Within this area, densities will be highest along the Greenbelt Road and extended Television Street where
commercial activity will concentrate. Since the neighborhoods directly north and south of the sectoral
service center do not include existing settlements, an orderly pattern of housing clusters centered along
open spaces should be built. In contrast, the neighborhood west of El Awameya Road will be infill in
character and include densities and street layouts that are compatible with the existing development on the
north and west.
Eastern Development Area

The Site
Presently the Eastern edge of the city is sparsely developed, with former villages located along the
perimeter road, separated from more urban uses by remaining agricultural lands. The area includes a
village in the western portion of the site and continuous dense settlements along the eastern perimeter
road. Within the site is a large village and settlements along El Sala Khana Street. Despite the significant
population in the immediate area, very few public facilities currently serve the area.
Development Concept
Approximately 10,000 new residents are planned for the Eastern Development Area by 2017. The
proposed new street network, as illustrated in Figure 7, will greatly improve access through the site and
create significant development opportunity. The Greenbelt Road along the eastern edge will provide easy
connections for area residents to points north and south. The extension of New Luxor Highway north of
the Greenbelt Road intersection will become the major spine for high-density development. Running along
the northwestern edge of the planned development neighborhood, the New Luxor Highway extension will
provide a development corridor where the densest new development will be located.
Since existing neighborhoods in the Eastern Area are under-served by public facilities, a District Service
Center is proposed to both accommodate new residents and provide services for existing neighborhoods.
This Center will become the major activity center for Luxor City residents living east of the railroad.
Figure 7 illustrates the form and density of the Eastern Area neighborhood. Mixed-use development will
be encouraged along the extension of the New Luxor Road, but would be limited along the Greenbelt.
Lower density neighborhoods will develop within the major street framework with a form that is
compatible with the existing village architecture and density.
3.3.3 New Public Facilities and Extended Utilities
Existing Context
Inadequate public facilities and utility services are serious problems in Luxor City. Existing public facilities
are primarily located in the center of the City with most major facilities located along or near the Corniche.
Basic public services, such as schools, are lacking in new development areas, particularly in areas east of
the railroad tracks that have limited access to other parts of the city. Water services is available to 100%
of the Luxor City population,. but only 25% of the population is served with a wastewater collection
system.
Service Center Concept

An important effort in improving the quality of life for Luxor City’s residents is providing new public
48
facilities and extending utility service. As illustrated in Figure 5, extensions to the water and sanitation
system are proposed in order to serve all city residents except for the settlements in the protected area
immediately surrounding Karnak Temple. New neighborhood and district service centers, as described in
Chapter 4 and identified on Figure 7, are proposed to provide centers for community life in new
development areas and to meet public facility demand.
Neighborhood Service Centers

A total of six neighborhood service centers, each serving approximately 8,000-10,000 residents, are
proposed in the planned development neighborhoods. Four centers will be located in the Southern Area,
one in the Eastern Area and one in the North Karnak Area. Each service center will require
approximately 2.7 feddan of land to support facilities serving young children and the daily needs of
families. Facilities in each center will include two primary schools, four nursery-kindergartens, a
neighborhood mosque, and numerous commercial shops. All of these uses would be served by parking as
well as a centrally located park-courtyard which will serve as a center for neighborhood community life.
Located along greenways, the neighborhood centers will be within convenient walking distance of no more
than 500 meters from every home.
Proposed areas to locate the local, neighborhood service centers are illustrated in Figure 7. Sites include
areas in the existing urbanized portions of the City as well as areas within the three planned development
neighborhoods. Neighborhood centers in the existing City will be on undeveloped parcels in areas
currently under-served by basic public facilities, such as schools and mosques. In addition to the facilities
described above, it is proposed that each service center within the already developed portions of the city
be located in undeveloped land and be planned to include a recreational park. Other facilities included will
vary substantially between centers, depending upon service inadequacies in the surrounding area.
Neighborhood service centers in the new planned development neighborhoods will be more similar in size
and use than centers in existing neighborhoods. Each center in the planned neighborhoods will have a
relatively standard size and similar collection of facilities. Located on land set aside in each new
neighborhood, each center will have good access to neighborhood streets and a greenway for pedestrian
and bicycle traffic.
District Service Centers

District service centers will be located in areas between new and existing development. As illustrated in
Figure 7, three District Centers are proposed to serve both existing neighborhoods and the planned
development neighborhoods.
A total of three District Centers are proposed, to be located along busy streets that offer public -
transportation connections to existing and new neighborhoods and to include a variety of uses and
landscaped areas for both active and passive recreation.
Each District Center contains a mix of public and commercial uses with parking that are centered around
a park containing recreation facilities. Public facilities in the center will include a large mosque, a cultural
center, and secondary schools. Services, such as health clinics, post offices, and public safety offices will
be clustered along major streets with commercial uses and non-industrial trade workshops. Additional
facilities in the centers will vary by neighborhood demand.
3.3.4 Improved Circulation and Access
49
Current Situation
An improved transportation network is needed to serve both residents and visitors in Luxor City. Even if
the city only experience the modest growth estimated in Chapter 4, existing problems will only intensify
with population and visitation increases unless circulation and access improve.
Travel within Luxor City is primarily by foot, bicycle, horse-drawn carriage and mini-bus. Private car
ownership is very low, but will likely increase substantially over the next twenty years. As the number of
cars increase, friction between pedestrian, animal-drawn and vehicular traffic will be an increasing
problem, particularly in the souqs and intersections in the older portions of the City.
Public transportation in Luxor City transit includes local mini-buses that run along important streets and
inter-regional rail and bus traffic. A minibus and taxi terminus located on El Mathan Street handles both
local passenger traffic and inter-urban travel. The main rail station connects villages to the north and
south as well as national service between Cairo and Aswan.
Improving connections between areas of Luxor City is the biggest challenge. Currently, the Corniche is
the only major north-south through route in the City. East-west access is equally limited, with the only
major connection provided between the Corniche and the Airport Road. However, east-west access in
other parts of Luxor City, particularly in the growing areas south and east, is severely constrained by the
railroad lines that bisect the city. The existing grade crossings over the railroad are often congested and
do not adequately link major circulation routes. One railway overpass for pedestrians exists north of the
railroad station, but it is less convenient than the grade several hundred meters south and is infrequently
used.
Key Transportation Improvements

Figure 8 identifies proposed transportation improvements for Luxor City. Three levels of classification are
given to existing, upgraded, and proposed roads: major arterial streets, minor arterial streets, and collectors.
Additional transportation proposals are shown for spot improvements and public transportation
improvements.
Streets
A Greenbelt Road – A greenbelt road that defines the eastern edge of development and improves
north-south access in Luxor City is proposed. The greenbelt road will run between the Corniche in the
south and Airport Road in the north. Intersections with two major roads, the Airport Road and the New
Luxor Highway, will provide strong regional links and offer an opportunity to create a distinctive southern
entrance to Luxor City. The greenbelt’s design will integrate new sections with upgraded portions of an
existing road. Limited intersections with local streets will be provided along the length of the Greenbelt,
however, dense commercial development will be discouraged.
New Luxor Highway – New Luxor Highway will become the major inter-city connection between
Luxor City and New Luxor, starting just north of the intersection of the proposed Greenbelt. Within the
eastern part of Luxor City, an extension of the roadway will cross relatively undeveloped land, and will
become a dense corridor of mixed-use development.
Extended Television Street – This important commercial corridor in Luxor City will be extended to
connect the existing city to the new southern development area. The street will be continued as a divided
road similar in character to the extended New Luxor Highway. A portion of extended Television Street
will run along a canal that separates new development areas from Bugdadi village to the south. South of
the intersection with the Greenbelt Road, extended Television Street will curve towards the Nile and cross
El Awameya Road. A mix of uses, including commercial and residential, will line the new street and make
50
it the primary commercial corridor in the Southern Development Area.
A Hierarchy of Streets in the Planned Development Neighborhoods – Three planned development

neighborhoods at the north, south, and east edges of Luxor City will each have a comprehensive and
integrated street network. As illustrated in Figure 8, major and minor streets are planned to provide
service for the development areas and connections to the existing city street network. The Greenbelt
Road is the major arterial that connects the southern and eastern planned development neighborhoods to
regional destinations. Minor arterial streets will include extended Television Street in the Southern Area,
extended New Luxor Highway in the Eastern Area and an upgraded Perimeter Road parallel to and west
of the railroad tracks in the Karnak Area (Selah Selim Street). Collector streets in each planned
development will carry local traffic, located along the perimeter of neighborhood housing clusters and
providing vehicular access to both neighborhood and district service centers. Greenways will connect
housing clusters with dedicated pedestrian and bicycle paths.
Streets Crossing the Avenue of the Sphinxes – New Kebash Avenue will be a new street along the
eastern perimeter of the Avenue of the Sphinxes restoration area to provide north-south access between
areas immediately east of Luxor Temple and the airport road extension on the southern edge of the
Karnak Temple. Three “cross-over” bridges connecting the Corniche to New Kebash Avenue will
provide a vehicular connection between development on either side of the pedestrian-only Avenue of the
Sphinxes.
Spot Improvements
Redeveloped Urban Intersections – Figure 8 identifies four intersections in developed portions of
Luxor City that need improvement. Each of the areas already faces considerable congestion. Efforts in
the three areas that intersect the rail lines should be focused on improving at-grade crossings, creating
small parks and green spaces to mark important intersections, and managing traffic conflicts between
pedestrians, vehicles and other traffic. A fourth intersection improvement area is in the southeast portion
of the City. A realignment and widening of the intersection is needed to serve the increased traffic that is
anticipated as commercial development along Television Street intensifies and additional development
occurs in areas to the south.
Major Intersections at Entrances to the City – The major Luxor City entrances are the El Awameya
Road in the south, the Corniche in the north and the Airport Road in the west. An additional major
entrance is proposed at the southeastern edge of the city at the intersection of two major new roads, the
Greenbelt and the New Luxor Highway. The New Luxor Highway entrance should be planned for a
grade separated crossing over the railroad similar to the recently completed Airport Road entrance
intersection area.
The entrances to the city at New Luxor Highway and Airport Road will require careful planning to include
landscaping that helps to create an attractive entrance to the City; informal settlements in the two
intersection areas should be strictly prohibited.
New Railroad Crossings – East-west access in areas bisected by the railroad tracks can be improved
by constructing two additional crossings: (a) an at-grade pedestrian crossing near the city rail station, and
(b) the grade separated automobile and pedestrian crossing in the southern development area at the
intersection of the Luxor City Greenbelt Road and New Luxor Highway.
Public and Tourist Transportation Services
51
A New Bus -Rail Station and Related Improvements – A transit station for inter-regional bus and rail
traffic should be developed at the intersection of New Luxor Highway and Greenbelt Road. As illustrated
in Figure 8, the proposed site offers ample land for parking and bus staging, as well as required related
roadway improvements. South of this site and outside the greenbelt is an area along the rail line that
should be reserved for spur rail lines. Over time, train storage and staging should be relocated and
consolidated in the area along the New Luxor Highway to reduce land devoted to multiple tracks in the
central Luxor City train station area and to facilitate pedestrian and vehicle crossing of the rail corridor
between the east and west sides of Luxor City.
3.3.5 Sector Development Support
In tandem with infrastructure development, investments would be made for environmental protection and
management in Luxor. The trend in local government worldwide is for local officials to make contractual
or concessionary arrangements with the private sector to provide environmental and maintenance services
for city centers, and this project would maximize that practice. Visitors and residents would receive a high
level of such services, and the local government would shed some of its management burden as a result of
contracting out or selling concessions. Those amenities and services would include:
Watershed management
The proposed project would include the creation of a landscaped corridor adjacent to the Avenue of the
Kebash. This would include planting, existing pathway and pedestrian access improvements; irrigation
system upgrading; graphical informational, and directional signage; and terrace wall and embankment
repair.
Solid waste management

The project would support monitoring of solid waste services contracted out to a private operator. The
HCLC would supervise the management contract. The private operator would be required to undertake:
(a) the collection of all solid wastes from the Avenue of the Sphinxes; (b) street cleaning for the principal
towns of the Luxor Region; (c) emergency cleaning and the removal of unauthorized waste; and (d)
transportation of all refuse and waste to the la ndfill or other designated point of disposal. The project
would also support supplementary solid waste management activities such as the design and installation of
additional garbage bins, and a public awareness campaign
3.4 Project Costs & Financing
3.4.1 Cost Elements

Based upon the concepts elaborated above, a preliminary estimate of the cost of implementing the Luxor
Open Museum and Heritage District has been prepared. The costs for implementing the program of long
term improvements envisioned for the Open Museum and Heritage District are substantial, and may vary
over time, depending on changing circumstances and the results of each implementation sub-phase. The
estimates included herein are based on the most up to date cost and material estimates characteristic to
Egypt and the Luxor region, and have been expressed at a level of detail appropriate work associated with
the Structure Plan for the Comprehensive Development of Luxor City (CDLC). The costs are not
intended to represent specific project or design level estimates.
52
The costs are expressed in Egyptian pounds, in current 1999 figures, with no adjustment for inflation, and
have been divided into Tables 3 through 10, corresponding to the major parts of the project. A summary
description of each table is provided below.
Table 3 and Table 4 deal with the immediate sites surrounding Luxor and Karnak Temples, and are
intended to improve the immediate setting of each antiquity. In the case of Luxor Temple, improvements
would be made to the park on the east side of the temple, including lighting and access changes to make
the park more visible and accessible, as well as additional entry points to the Temple compound from the
Kebash Avenue and an improved entry pavilion on the Kebash side. For the Karnak Temple area, the
improvements would include visual improvements to the setting and related access. These
improvements would include piping and covering the drainage ditch around the perimeter (eliminating
current dumping into this depression) and constructing a planted earth mound in this location to control
access and define the edge of the agreed upon monument buffer zone. Further residential encroachment
on the east side of this edge would be discouraged by prohibiting the extension of utility service to the
area. Additionally, the Corniche entry to the monument would be improved by reintroducing a canal-like
pool to recall the former quay and canal that was used for funery processions to the West Bank. These
improvements would also require relocation and reconstruction of the parking area to the front of the
monument.
The costs for District-wide improvements within the Open Museum and Open Museum and Heritage
District are shown in Table 3. Capital costs are provided for public spaces, including functional and
aesthetic improvements to the public spaces along the existing and expanded souq which would be
extended to connect to the Kebash Avenue and revitalized uses at its edges. Estimates are provided for
physical improvements streets and public areas in Karnak Village, and would include a program of
assistance to enable housing rehabilitation and new infill housing in this neighborhood. For the entire
district a program of targeted preservation loans and grants would be administered by PDA. These loans
and grants would be made available on a priority basis to qualifying owners in the Open Museum and
Heritage District, with maximum limits for any individual grant or loan to be determined as part of the
PDA’s programs. Typically, grants would be intended to achieve “gap” financing, would be matched by
funding commitments of property owners, and would be for the purpose of rehabilitation in accordance
with Open Museum and Heritage District Guidelines. The loan program would be set at a rate below
commercial lending rates and would be designed to create incentives for reinvestment and property
improvements.
Table 6 indicates the cost of redevelopment of selected public lands and underutilized private property in
the Open Museum and Heritage District. These lands, identified in concept as part of this plan and to be
further defined in the implementation phase, are critical to improving the quality of the district along main
arterial streets and especially in the area between the Kebash Avenue and the Corniche. Within this area,
although there are many significant buildings, there are also numerous underutilized properties that could
be acquired and redeveloped to improve public open space, increase the density of public activities, and
improve the economic vitality of the district. These properties would be acquired at a fair market value
through action of the PDA, and would be either improved for public use or resold for development for
more appropriate and more intensive private use. Several parcels owned by public agencies would be part
of this land assembly, and the costs assumed in Table 6 include replacement of these uses in other
locations, such as in New Luxor.
Table 7 shows the improvements to create a coordinated visitor and tourist service system, including the
new visitor and information center, as well as district-wide interpretive wayside exhibit signs. Table 8
indicates selected improvements to visitor and local transportation systems.
53
Table 9 indicates the estimated summary costs of all improvements to the Luxor Open Museum and
Heritage District over the development period, presenting the totals for which itemized estimates were
presented in Tables 3 through 8. To these totals have been added the estimated cost of the Avenue of the
Sphinxes project, as estimated in Investment Project #1, inasmuch as this project is an essential spine for
the entire Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District..
Table 8 indicates the approximate cost of the private development that might be anticipated on the lands
identified for new development. This private development would be substantial, including over 460,000
square meters of building. Based on this scale of construction, it is assumed that a typical developer
would pay at least 25% of the building cost for the land, and that the overall cost for development and land
may approach 1.2 billion Egyptian pounds. This amount of economic activity will create substantial
employment opportunities for local residents, and will also be an important mechanism to provide economic
support for the activities of the PDA.
54
Table 3: Luxor City Heritage District Project Costs

Luxor Temple Area Improvements
Luxor City Heritage District Actions Unit Cost/unit (LE) # Units Total Cost (LE) Comments
Improve Setting (1)
new entrances each 25,000 2 50,000 ticket booth, kiosk, model of site
extended from historic west entrance of
pedestrian crossing to Corniche sq m 200 100 20,000 Luxor Temple
modest upgrade; make park usable and
landscape sidewalk
east side park landscaping sq. m 50 15,300 765,000
special lighting around East park
lighting, perimeter(city side) 1 per 10 m 3,000 50 150,000 perimeter, 1 per 10 m
street furniture allowance 1,000 75 75,000 on Corniche, at edge of Temple, in park
Subtotal, Luxor Temple Area 1,060,000
note (1) Costs do not include monument archeology or stabilization
55

Karnak Temple Area Costs
Monument Preservation
perimeter wall to be built on or adjacent

earthen buffer wall, with planting on top cu. m 80 66,600 5,328,000 to current road site, planted on top
cover ditch and pipe, catch basins on both
drainage improvements lin m 40 2,220 88,800 sides of new earth wall
expand exterior lighting of Karnak Temple 1 per 10 m 3,000 84 252,000 light rear and south ends of Temple
Karnak to Nile Processional Way
excavation/site preparation cu m 60 3,400 204,000 dig canal to Corniche

stone paving, with planted areas using
stone paving & landscaping sq m 200 6,800 1,360,000 native soil
10m width, 5 Meter passive water depth, 1
replica canal (pool) between Karnak and Corniche cu m 100 3,400 340,000 meter depth overall.
lighting 1 per 10 m 3,000 84 252,000
paving stones for crossing of Corniche sq m 200 200 40,000
landscaping between Corniche and River sq m 300 2,500 750,000 former SCA property and French Institute
street furniture allowance 1,000 34 34,000 1 bench every other lamp
ticket booth/information kiosk sq. m 600 24 14,400 assume 2 facilities of 12 m 2 each
planters 1 per 10 m 100 68 5,644
palm trees 1 per 15m 1,500 45 67,500

Karnak Parking Relocation
parking lot relocation sq m 160 10,468 1,674,880 80% asphalt, 20% stone with landscaping
1.5 meter high, 340m long wall, aesthetic
wall screen lin. m 120 510 61,200 materials/facing
Subtotal, Karnak Temple Area 10,472,424
note (1) Costs do not include monument archeology or stabilization
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District Preservation Improvements
District-wide Preservation
incentive program/loans - critical areas,
from Nile to souq - (facades,
Loans - to private development allowance 1 30,000,000 rehabilitation, infill)
Grants - to private development allowance 1 10,000,000 incentive program/grants
streetscape improvements lin m 400 6,000 2,400,000 sidewalk and amenity

Souk Improvement and Expansion
lighting 1 per 10m 3,000 332 996,000 Along principal souq and connections
gateway entrances unit 15,000 10 150,000 sign over entrance; kiosk
stone paving for streets sq m 200 9,960 1,992,000
directional and street signs each 300 100 30,000
canopies and shelter allowance 100,000 1 100,000 intermittent, to shelter sun

Karnak Village Improvements
will be completed through US AID funded
utility service for neighborhood sq. m Not estimated Secondary Cities project
Housing infill program, plus
housing infill allowance 500 12,000,000 rehabilitation assistance
Karnak Village Park sq. m 60 52,600 3,156,000 playground, landscaping, etc.
corridor open space improvements sq. m 50 25,200 1,260,000
Subtotal, Preservation Loans 30,000,000
Subtotal Preservation Grants 10,000,000
Subtotal, Preservation Capital Improvements 22,084,000

Subtotal, Preservation Efforts 62,084,000
57

Redevelopment Efforts
Redevelop Government Properties

Assumed land at no cost, but including
cost of replacement buildings in New
replacement in New Luxor sq m 1,750 12,424 21,742,000 Luxor
demolition sq m 0 12,424 0 Assume by designated developers

Redevelopment Area
Assume cost of any required demolition by
land acquisition/M 2, average unit 3,500 47,580 166,530,000 designated developers
Develop Open Land
acquisition sq m 500 30,125 15,062,500 Assume eminent domain for public use
Avenue to Nile Greenway
park development sq m 125 12,000 1,500,000

potential to a visual and physical link
between the Corniche and the Avenue of
East District Park the Sphinxes
acquisition sq m 500 2,041 1,020,500
demolition
landscaping, playground equipment,
park development sq m 125 2,041 255,125 benches, fountain, etc.
New Public Facilities
acquisition sq m 500 32,750 16,375,000 Assume eminent domain for public use
new facilities sq m Not estimated Assume costs by others

Subtotal, Redevelopment Efforts 222,485,125
58

Visitor and Tourist Services
Visitor Center
site preparation sq m 20 30,600 612,000
building construction & finish sq m 2,000 10,000 20,000,000
interpretive displays and exhibits unit 10,230 3,500 35,805,000
landscaping sq m 60 10,600 636,000
botanical garden/park sq m 200 51,500 10,300,000
parking sq m 120 10,000 1,200,000

improvements in addition to those costed
Interpretive Materials & Exhibits for specific venues
directional signs, district-wide unit 300 150 45,000

some will require lighting for evening
interpretive signs, district-wide unit 3,000 40 120,000 visits
Subtotal, Visitor & Touristic Services 68,718,000
59

Supportive Transportation Improvements
relocate East Bank ferry landing allowance 750,000 750,000
signage for micro-bus system unit 300 150 45,000
bus lot expansion sq m 120 17,100 2,052,000 doubling in size of paved bus lot area
Subtotal, Supportive Improvements 2,847,000
Table 9: Luxor City Heritage District, Summary Project Costs (LE)
Capital Cost Loans Total
1 Subtotal, Luxor Temple Area 1,060,000 1,060,000
2 Subtotal, Karnak Temple Area 10,472,424 10,472,424
3 Subtotal, District Preservation Efforts 32,084,000 30,000,000 62,084,000
4 Subtotal, Redevelopment Efforts 222,485,125 222,485,125
5 Subtotal, Visitor & Touristic Services 68,718,000 68,718,000
6 Subtotal, Supportive Improvements 2,847,000 2,847,000
7 Subtotal, Avenue of the Sphinxes (INV #1) 134,042,346 134,042,346

Total 471,708,895 30,000,000 501,708,895
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Table 10: Luxor City Heritage District, Private Investment (LE)
Land for new private development, sq m 131,705
sq m of building per sq m of site 3.5
sq m new building 460,968
cost/ sq m, new building 2,250
subtotal, building cost 1,037,176,875
allowance for land purchase - % of hard cost 25% 259,294,219

total land and building development 1,296,471,094
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4. Implementation
4.1 Administrative Mechanism

The development of the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District has multiple elements. These projects
will be carried out through private sector initiatives, with crucial support from government and international
donor and lending agencies. It will important for government to provide leadership to this effort, providing
coordination, direction for the antiquities restoration, and leadership for a coherent vision. However, the
bulk of the investment for this effort will ultimately be provided by private investors, who will undertake
risk and provide creative development solutions. Thus, the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District will
be a true public -private partnership.
The project will require adequate and sustained guidance from a body charged with proper authority to
ensure:
• Consensus
• Cooperation and coordination
• Legal enforcement of projects
The unique monuments in the historic sections of Luxor City deserve high quality surroundings.
Without strong administrative mechanisms Luxor’s historic resources will continue to deteriorate and new
development will be ad-hoc with no significant impact in physically improvement the conditions of the city,
and no significant impact on the economic viability of the City. Moreover, Luxor will continue to be a
drain on national resources because with changing tides in tourism, it will grow in spurts, and infrastructure
and services will have to be continuously be supplied in response to differing growing spurts.
4.1.1 Existing Implementing Processes
Presently major projects are either carried out by the investors or ministries (using govor donor funds).
The most significant agencies involved in project implementation in Luxor City include:
• The HCLC
• Ministry of Culture
• Ministry of Tourism
• Ministry of Housing
• Ministry of Transportation.
4.1.2 The Institutional Capacity and Role of the Higher Council for the City of Luxor
The HCLC was established by Presidential Decree No. 153 in 1989 in response to the increasing need for
control of urban growth in the Luxor area. The HCLC is empowered to prepare, approve, and enforce
land use plans within the area under its authority. Its authority replaces that previously vested in the Qena
Governorate. It is also empowered to implement development projects. However, the HCLC is currently
inadequately staffed to undertake a project such as the creation of a Luxor Open Museum and Heritage
District, much less the complementary projects of the CDCL without significant additional assistance.
The HCLC does not have the resources, the staff, the clear authority or the funds to carry out major
projects on its own. Presently the City council of Luxor is not able to manage and guide projects following
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a planned approach.
4.1.3 Recommended Implementation Entity for the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage
District
Improvements to date in Luxor’s historic core have been done in an ad-hoc manner. Because of the
City’s global significance, the importance of a planned and directed development cannot be understated.
While numerous ministries will continue to work in Luxor, there is the need for an independent entity
accountable to both the HCLC and the central government that can create a more effective
implementation mechanism than is now present in Luxor. One such entity is defined below, but other
approaches that would achieve the same ends are also possible.
The recommendation for the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District would be consistent with the
proposals to create a Project Management Unit (PMU) with strong participation from both Central
Government and HCLC to provide direction to the overall implementation of the recommendations of the
CDCL project. The PMU would provide oversight for all proposed Investment Projects of the CDCL,
and would be the entity that would insure Central Government commitment to this sustained effort.
The major public initiatives identified within the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District would be
managed by a new Preservation & Development Authority (PDA) that would report to the PMU. The
Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District PDA will serve as a landlord and manager for all public
properties located within the District. Remaining properties will continue to be owned and operated by
various private interests. All buildings and open land within the District, regardless of ownership, will be
governed by development controls and architectural standards to protect and preserve the traditional
commercial and cultural uses of Luxor’s historic core. Revenues for operating the PDA will be derived
through property management activities, taxes, and donor grants.
The PDA will require a strong board with support from the HCLC and the GoE to guide it through the
major activities. This sponsor would take the form of a Board of Directors. This board would be
composed of senior Ministry and HCLC officials trained in the areas of project management, development
finance, historic preservation, and project implementation. This Board would monitor the PDA’s activities
to ensure a clear vision for the development of Luxor and make sure that the implementation of all actions
in the Open Museum and Heritage District are done in accordance to the vision for Luxor City as stated
by the Comprehensive Development Plan for The City of Luxor. The Board’s chief role would include
project advocacy at a local, national, and international level, assistance in solicitation of funding,
coordination with key ministries, selection of an executive director who would serve as the chief
development coordinator for the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District, and monitoring and oversight
of the PDA’s financial commitments and activities.
The Executive Director should be a senior professional with strong technical, management and inter-
governmental skills with a professional background in urban development, historic preservation and project
implementation. This individual would represent the PDA’s objectives to public and private entities, report
on progress to the Board of Directors, track projects, prioritize resources, and enforce decisions.
The staff of the PDA would include project specific hires but may also include personnel from local and
national agencies assigned to the PDA. Personnel that might comprise the PDA staff could be drawn
from the following disciplines:
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• Architecture and urban planning

• Community developers
• Egyptologists
• Engineers
• Environmental science
• Project finance and management
The major functions of the PDA would include the following activities:
• Antiquities, Development Control and Planning, which will be include all land use planning, its
enforcement, zoning, and historic preservation efforts. This unit would require enhanced capability
to administer Preservation Controls and Architectural Guidelines. PDA and HCLC staff would
require training to properly administer the controls and guidelines.
• Project and Facility Development, which will include coordinating the relocation of government
offices, and public facilities and facilitating the subsequent redevelopment. Additionally, the staff
would review water management, solid waste management, and, urban landscaping in the district.
• Tourism Services Development, which would focus on and develop tourism products to create
additional attractions to enhance visitors' experience and motivate them to stay longer at Luxor,
support initiatives in training services for tourism personnel, help promote Luxor, and work closely
with the staff of the SCA and tourism police.
4.2 Potential Financing Approaches

The Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District will require substantial levels of funding to implement.
Potential funding sources include donor agencies, various Egyptian Ministries, tourist-based fees and
development-related taxes and fees. The revenue raised from these sources should be administered by
the entity responsible for the Open Museum and Heritage District; illustrated above by the Preservation &
Development Authority. PDA funds could be either earmarked for specific projects or placed in a general
fund for area-wide improvements.
4.2.1 Donor Support

Obtaining donor or foundation grants for the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District may provide
some funding, but reliance on grants would be overly optimistic to accomplish all the restoration and
preservation needs of Luxor. Conservation of the antiquities has the best chance of receiving support. As
described in detail in Annex 1, an Antiquities Preservation Fund should be established to solicit support for
preservation efforts on the East and West Bank.
4.2.2 Visitor-Based Revenue

One approach to obtaining loan funds for cultural resources preservation and development by international
foundations is to have tourists share the cost burden by paying higher fees dedicated to preservation by:
• Increased gate ticket fees to monuments and dedicate this increase for the HCLC towards repaying
preservation loans; this could be called a Preservation Surcharge.
• Increased Hotel Tax and dedicate this increase for the HCLC towards repaying preservation loans;
this could be called a Preservation Tax.
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Preservation Surcharge on Monument Gate Tickets

As tourism doubles and triples in Luxor over the next 20 years, additional Preservation Surcharges will be
received and these funds, too, could be similarly leveraged with loans periodically. The Preservation
Surcharge would not affect revenues for Government that would normally be earned from gate ticket
sales. It would be a surcharge paid by tourists. Most monument tickets are in the LE 20 to LE 40 range.
Adding 25% would only increase ticket prices between LE 7.5 to LE 10 per ticket, not an unwarranted
sum if tourists know that the additional fee is for preservation.
Preservation Tax on Hotel Receipts

Similar to monument ticket sales, tourists pay a Hotel Tax that amounts to 25%in Luxor. This is a
relatively high amount, however, increasing the Hotel Tax to 30% and dedicating the increase for
preservation may prove acceptable to tourists, especially if this tax is separately demarcated on their hotel
or tour bills. With increased tourism and inflation in hotel room rates, over time, Preservation Tax
revenues would grow substantially and support additional loans periodically.
Concessions and Licenses

Certain providers of services in support of Luxor’s tourism industry may be a source of revenue, to the
degree that their activities could be licensed and fees would be supportable. Such services might include
visitor transportation, tours, docking fees, information services, and others.
Transportation Taxes
An additional source of visitor-based revenue might be a transportation tax assessed on cruise ships and
airplanes arriving in Luxor City.
4.2.3 Other Sources of Revenue
Land Sales/Leasing
Cross-subsidies from private sector development is a strategy that is being successfully implemented in
other major Egyptian developments. Luxor also represents opportunities for land sales/leasing that could
achieve surpluses that can be applied to meet development costs for public projects (e.g. museums) in the
Open Museum and Heritage District that have less cost recovery. To be effective, cross-subsidy
structures should be defined in the planning process so that they can be incorporated in any public tenders
for land sales/leasing of private sector development sites. As most of the major Open Museum and
Heritage District redevelopment sites are now owned by Government, there is a distinct potential for
initiating cross-subsidies to provide for local resident and other public concerns. An additional source of
revenue could be a fee imposed on development applications.
Business Improvement District

A Corniche Business Improvement District (BID) could be organized for the Central Corniche and North
Corniche Development sub-areas in the future. A BID is an organizing and financing mechanism that
permits property owners and merchants to band together to assess (i.e. tax) themselves. If a BID were to
be created within the Open Museum and Heritage District, the funds could be collected by the PDA and
returned in entirety to the BID to be used for purchasing supplemental services (e.g. maintenance,
sanitation, security, promotions) and capital improvements (e.g. street furniture, landscaping, lighting)
beyond those services already provided by the PDA and HCLC.
Although the BID is a new concept in Egypt, there are many examples in the U.S.. Commercial BIDs in
65
the U.S. are typically located in retail areas and are designed to provide services for merchants. These
areas tend to have very few, if any, residents, and the focus is on increasing clientele by means of higher
sanitation standards, increased security and increased marketing and promotion. Many commercial BIDs
in the U.S. are in downtown areas. One of the largest and most successful BIDs in the country is the
Center City District (CCD) in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before the formation of the BID,
area merchants wanted urgently to increase the aesthetic appeal and security of the area. With
insufficient funds to follow-through on large security and aesthetic improvements, property owners banded
together to form a BID. Six years after its inception, the CCD enjoys a drastic decrease in crime and is
significantly more attractive. Re-paved sidewalks, street furniture, regular street cleaning and
maintenance have created a much improved environment.
Developer Impact Fees

The HCLC should require developers to submit a development impact statement which identifies project
impacts on city infrastructure and services. Development impacts to identify include roads, sidewalks, and
parking, water and sanitation, and open space.
The Preservation and Development Authority should determine the costs of these impacts. If a
development is proposed for redeveloped public land under the control of the PDA, the impact costs
should be factored into the lease. Private land development impact fees will be assessed by the PDA as
an appropriate percentage of the proposed development total.
4.3 Recommended Project Financing Approach

Based on the scope of the project, the project financing approach relies on several key elements:
1. Designation of the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District as a special Area of national
interest, where an new entity will be enabled to use designated revenues to support the costs
associated with project financing.
2. Establishing the Preservation & Development Authority as a special purpose entity with
oversight powers and the capability to collect certain revenues
3. Allocation of specific revenues from defined sources to support the PDA activities,
establishing a projected income stream that will support desirable terms of finance.
Points (1) and (2), above were reviewed in the preceding portion of Section 4 of this document. Point (3)
will require special legislative initiative to secure sources of financing for the PDA that could underwrite
early “front end” costs of its operations. Alternative approaches to securing project revenue were
reviewed and a basic approach has been identified.
Table 11, Table 12, and Table 13 present the underlying approach that is recommended for project
financing, and illustrate the consequences, benefits, and risks of this approach. These tables indicate the
key costs and revenues over the seventeen years corresponding to the project’s target completion date in
2017. The sources for these computations are provided from the cost tables, as well as from previous
analytical studies performed as part of the CDCL project.
Table 11 indicates the projected PDA revenue over the planning period. Four key sources are shown,
although revenue might be enhanced if international donor contributions were received from additional
sources:
• A Preservation District surcharge of 25% on Luxor monument receipts would be directly received by
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the PDA. This amount would be above and beyond the current charges, and would, thus, not diminish
receipts of SCA or GoE. Computations of this revenue source have been made assuming current
visitor volumes, gradually increasing to a total of 4 million visitor by 2017.
• Payments to acquire lands assembled by the PDA in the Luxor Open Museum and Heritage District,
as described in Table 6, above. As noted above, these amounts are very conservative and could be
substantially higher.
• Repayments of preservation loans from the loan fund described above. The repayments are assumed
to start relatively early in the process of implementing the Plan.
• A dedicated portion of taxes from new developments on the assembled lands identified as part of the
Plan. The amount of such taxes have been assumed to be equivalent to 2% of the total development
cost of such developments, an amount that would be a reduction from conventional taxes
commensurate to the conventional “tax holiday,” but would be assigned to the PDA. It is also possible
that a tax surcharge might be diverted to the PDA on the increment of value created by its work,
although this has not been estimated here.
Table 12 indicates the costs to PDA over the same seventeen years. These costs are drawn from the
foregoing cost tables from Section 3.4 of this document, and have been distributed over the period in
accordance with likely timing of improvements. It is assumed that key preservation and enhancement
improvements to the Luxor and Karnak Temple areas start immediately, accompanied by early
implementation of the preservation loan and grant program. Within the initial five years the visitor
information and service center would be completed, and the work of private investors would have been
initiated. However, given the lead time typical for private financing and the reluctance of the private
sector to fully commit until the project shape is determined, tprivate investments (reflected in the tax
increment in Table 11) would not reach peak until close to the mid-point of the development period.
Table 13 indicates the annual and overall relationship between PDA costs and revenues, using the
assumptions and estimates from Table 11 and Table 12, above. Assuming a cost of financing equal to the
early year deficits, and a relatively robust response from the private sector, the PDA achieves a positive
cash flow by year 5, with a substantial surplus thereafter. Assuming that the PDA’s operations continue
for at least 17 years, the total internal rate of return for its operations would be approximately 26%.
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Table 11: PDA Revenue, by year (000,000 LE)

Years 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Monument
Attendance/Revenue
Tourists/year
(000,000) 1.50 1.66 1.81 1.97 2.13 2.28 2.44 2.59 2.75 2.91 3.06 3.22 3.38 3.53 3.69 3.84 4.00
Average monument
fees (000,000) 112.50 124.22 135.94 147.66 159.38 171.09 182.81 194.53 206.25 217.97 229.69 241.41 253.13 264.84 276.56 288.28 300.00
PDA Revenue
Sources
Preservation District
surcharge 25% 25% 28.13 31.05 33.98 36.91 39.84 42.77 45.70 48.63 51.56 54.49 57.42 60.35 63.28 66.21 69.14 72.07 75.00
Land Resale 259.29 25.93 25.93 51.86 51.86 51.86 25.93 25.93
Preservation Loan
Repayments 0.86 1.72 2.58 3.44 4.30 5.16 6.02 6.88 7.74 8.60 7.74 6.88 6.02 5.16 4.30 3.44
Tax Increment (2% of
TDC) 20.74 2.07 4.15 6.22 8.30 10.37 12.45 14.52 16.59 18.67 20.74 20.74 20.74 20.74
Totals
Annual Funds to PDA

\ 28.13 31.91 35.70 65.42 71.28 103.08 108.94 114.81 94.74 100.60 80.54 84.68 88.83 92.97 95.04 97.11 99.18
Cumulative Funds to
PDA 28.13 60.04 95.74 161.16 232.44 335.52 444.46 559.27 654.01 754.62 835.16 919.84 1008.67 1101.64 1196.68 1293.79 1392.97
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Table 12: PDA Costs, by year (000,000 LE)

Years 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
PDC Costs
1 Subtotal, Luxor
Temple Area 1,060,000 0.21 0.21 0.21 0.21 0.21
2 Subtotal, Karnak
Temple Area 8,910,424 1.78 1.78 1.78 1.78 1.78
3 Subtotal, District
Preservation Efforts 32,084,000 4.58 4.58 4.58 4.58 4.58 4.58 4.58
Loans
30,000,000 4.29 4.29 4.29 4.29 4.29 4.29 4.29
4 Subtotal,
Redevelopment
Efforts 222,485,125 20 30 24.50 24.50 24.50 44.50 44.50 20 10
5 Subtotal, Visitor &
Touristic Services 68,718,000 22.91 22.91 22.91
6 Subtotal,
Supportive
Improvements 2,847,000 0.95 0.95 0.95
7 Subtotal, Avenue of
the Sphinxes (INV
#1) 134,042,346 7.32 7.32 7.32 28.02 28.02 28.02 28.02
8 Annual Operations
and Capacity-
Building Costs 13,500,000 5.00 5.00 5.00 3.00 3.00 1.50 1.50 1.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30
Totals
Annual Costs for

PDA 38.90 53.18 71.54 90.24 90.24 82.89 82.89 25.79 10.50 0.50 0.50 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30
Cumulative Costs for
PDA 38.90 92.08 163.62 253.85 344.09 426.97 509.86 535.65 546.15 546.65 547.15 547.45 547.75 548.05 548.35 548.65 548.95
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Table 13: PDA Revenue-Cost Relationships and Cash Flow
Years 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
PDA Annual Surplus
(Deficit) (10.77) (21.27) (35.83) (24.82) (18.95) 20.19 26.06 89.02 84.24 100.10 80.04 84.38 88.53 92.67 94.74 96.81 98.88
PDA Total
Cumulative Surplus
(Deficit) (10.77) (32.04) (67.88) (92.69) ###### (91.45) (65.40) 23.62 107.86 207.97 288.01 372.39 460.92 553.59 648.33 745.14 844.02
Cost of Debt Service
9% (0.97) (2.88) (6.11) (8.34) (10.05) (8.23) (5.89) 2.13
Summary
Annual Project Cost

(Deficit) (11.74) (24.16) (41.94) (33.16) (29.00) 11.96 20.17 91.15 84.24 100.10 80.04 84.38 88.53 92.67 94.74 96.81 98.88
Project Internal
Rate of Return 26%
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Annex 1: Illustrative Figures

Five illustrations of key proposed improvements to the Open Museum and Heritage District are offered on
the following pages.
71
Figure 1: Avenue of the Sphinxes Aerial View
72
Figure 2: Avenue of the Sphinxes Ground View
73
Figure 3: Corniche Ground View
74
Figure 4: Visitor Center Towards Nile View
75
Figure 5: Karnak Temple Processional Entrance
76
Annex 2: Luxor City Description and Existing Development Trends

Luxor City is located on the East Bank of the Nile River, 635 kilometers south of Cairo. The densely
populated city of nearly 200,000 residents stretches approximately 5 kilometers north-south and 1.5
kilometers east-west.
A strong north-south axis, established by the juxtaposition of the Luxor and Karnak temples, has been
reinforced over time by the Corniche and by the railway. For centuries Luxor was a relatively small
pharaonic settlement clustered around the two major temples, Luxor and Karnak. However, population
growth has increased dramatically over the past few decades as a result of natural factors and in-
migration.
Presently Luxor City is the urbanized area between Al Awamiya in the south to the area north of Karnak
temple in the north. The city is densely populated, with an approximate average density of 35
persons/feddan city-wide and considerably higher densities in older parts of the city. Until recently,
development was contained by the Nile River on the west and the railroad tracks on the east.
Rapid development in Luxor City over the last fifteen years has been towards the south, particularly along
Television Street (also called Awamiya Street). The City is also expanding east, as significant
development has occurred on former agricultural land east of the railroad tracks. To the north edge of the
city, development has been slower, but increasingly, settlements are encroaching on the antiquity sites
surrounding Karnak Temple and adjacent agricultural lands.
As Luxor City grows, agricultural lands and villages are being swallowed up by new urban development.
The resulting urban pattern is reflected in two distinct street patterns. Older areas of the City and once
autonomous villages have narrow, irregular streets while newer development areas are typically strung
along linear corridors that reflect the orientation and parcel size of former agricultural lands. As a result,
the old and new areas of the city are poorly connected by roads and many developing areas are
inadequately served by utilities. Without adequate planning, growth pressures over the next twenty years
will further deteriorate the urban environment and threaten the City’s heritage resources.
Classifying Luxor City’s land uses is nearly impossible as most of the city is mixed use in character.
Commercial, residential, office and workshops are located in nearly all neighborhoods and often within
even the same structure. Commercial activity is concentrated in the central portion of the city, with
tourism-oriented commercial, services and hotels located along the Corniche. Public facilities and utilities
are also concentrated along or near the Corniche. Basic public services, such as schools, are lacking in
new development areas, particularly in areas east of the railroad tracks that have limited access to other
parts of the city. Small parcels of agricultural land remain throughout the urbanized portions of Luxor City,
with larger areas of agricultural land just within the northern and southern edges of the city boundary.
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Annex 3: Luxor City Heritage Resources
The Story of Luxor

The modern city of Luxor is the site of ancient Thebes, which extended across both banks of the Nile.
The eastern portion of Thebes has been so thoroughly swallowed up by the modern towns and fields that
only the majestic ruins of the temples of the god Amun in Karnak and Luxor and the great processional
way (the Avenue of the Sphinxes) between the two temples remain. The West Bank was the city of the
dead, reserved for the tombs and ceremonial places of deceased kings and the burials of their followers.
The region of Thebes was settled by man in prehistory during the Old Stone Age, and Paleolithic tools
dating back tens of thousands of years have been found on the desert cliffs of Western Thebes.
During the Predynastic Period (4500- 3200 BC) numerous settlements were established to the north and
south of the present-day Qurna. During the Archaic Period (3200-2700 BC), Thebes was one of four
small townships within the confines of the fourth Upper Egyptian nome, the others being Toad, 20 miles to
the southeast, Hermonthis (Armant) opposite Toad across the river, and Madamud, to the north of
Thebes near the eastern desert. Residents of all four settlements observed the cult of the warlike falcon-
headed god Montu, ultimately raising stately temples in his honor.
It is unknown how Thebes or Waset, as the town is referred to in Egyptian, came to outstrip its
companions so vastly, but the beauty of its setting may have been the decisive factor, for the entire land
might be searched in vain for equal magnificence of scenery. The western desert, at no great distance
beyond the fields, is dominated by the massive bluff of the Qurn, beneath whose lofty eminence smaller
hills offer unrivaled opportunity for rock-tombs. To the north, almost facing the temple of Karnak, the long
and narrow gorge of the Valley of the Kings winds into the mountain.
About a mile to the south and separating Qurna and Draa Abu el-Naga the shorter and wider recess
called Deir el-Bahri, after the Coptic monastery which was placed there, leads to a sheer cliff of
indescribable grandeur. On the east bank, a large green expanse of cultivated fields provides a setting for
a distant line of hills behind which the sun rises in all its glory.
In the Old Kingdom, Thebes was the seat of the provincial administration of the entire southern part of
Egypt. Its real rise to prominence came toward the end of the twenty-first century BC, in Dynasty XI,
when, after a period of strife and civil war, the Princes of Thebes once more united the whole of Egypt,
from the Mediterranean in the north to the First Cataract of the Nile at the southern border.
The rulers of Thebes held dominion over the country from their province until the kings of Dynasty XII
moved the capital to Ithet-tawy down river from Thebes. After the Second Intermediate Period, which
saw the domination of the Nile Valley by the Hyksos from Western Asia, it was again a Theban family
which reunited the two Kingdoms, Upper and Lower Egypt, after having defeated the enemy. Now the
seat of power remained at Thebes, and under the Kings of Dynasties XVIII, XIX and XX - the Tuthmosis
and Ramessides - the local god Amun "The Hidden," became the chief deity of Egypt and of the territories
conquered abroad between the Sudan in the south and Anatolia and Mesopotamia to the northeast.
Splendid temples were erected at Thebes, to the glory of Amun and his family (Wife Mut and son
Khonsu) at Luxor and Karnak on the East Bank, and to the memory of the dead rulers on the West
Bank such as Deir el-Bahri, the temple of King Seti I, the Ramesseum and Medinet Habu. All the
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power and wealth of the far-reaching Egyptian empire were concentrated at Thebes, and some of the
fame the region acquired at that time has lasted over the millennia to this day. The worship of the god
Amun of Thebes, to which the great temple of Karnak owes its existence, and of the other Theban deities
Montu, Khonsu, and Mut, brought with it a flourishing of architecture and the arts of relief and sculpture in
the round unparalleled elsewhere in the Nile Valley. Schools of artisans, and especially of expert stone
sculptors, must have existed there for nearly 2000 years, and generations of faithful followers of the gods
of Thebes deposited in the temple not only figures of their favorite gods, Amun and Osiris, but also statues
of themselves. Statuary include Kings as well as commoners, priests and officials alike.
During the Third Intermediate Period, Thebes had its own dynasty of priest-kings, and when the Kushites
invaded Egypt in the middle of the eighth century BC, the new rulers from the Sudan established their
religious center at Thebes for nearly a hundred years.
After the Assyrians sacked Thebes briefly, it was restored under the Saites (26th dynasty, 664- 525 BC).
Persian kings (525 BC) are said to have destroyed it again, but it greatly benefited from the rule of
Alexander and his successors, the Ptolemies. It is not surprising that soon after the conquest of Egypt by
Alexander the great (332 BC) the building of monumental temples and sanctuaries of the Pharaonic period
was continued. The earliest Ptolemaic structure is that of Philip Arrhidaeus at Karnak, a half-brother of
the great Macedonian, who nominally ruled Egypt from 323 to 317 BC Soon thereafter a number of other
building activities took place, new sanctuaries were erected on both banks of the Nile, and existing
structures, such as the Second Pylon of Karnak, were newly decorated. These construction activities at
Theban temples also continued during the Imperial Period.
The Romans maintained a garrison at Thebes and laid out a large military establishment on both aides of
the Luxor Temple which has given rise to the present name of the town, a Europeanized version of the
Arabic name, al-Qusur, "The Castles.” Today, however, the river road has covered up a good deal of the
Roman installations so that only a few ruins are still visible on the west side of the temple.
Although Herodotus, who visited the Nile Valley in the fifth century BC and described what he saw and
heard, may be called one of the first foreign tourist in Egypt, the stream of curious visitors to Thebes really
began with Diodorus of Sicily who came in 60 BC He was followed, decade after decade, by many
others, among them the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Special attractions at Thebes were the royal tombs in
the Valley of the Kings that were called "Syringes" or "Pan Pipes," due to their parallel entrance corridors.
Another attraction, primarily during the Roman Period, was the so-called Colossi of Memnon because of
its "music of the spheres", which is attested by literary documents and especially by numerous visitors’
graffiti. In the same way, pilgrims in search of healing left their names on several temples , especially in
the sanctuary of Deir el-Bahri. By the second century, Christianity began to spread in Egypt. After AD
392, the practic e of heathen rites was forbidden by threat of severe penalties. In AD 641, the Arabs
brought Islam to Egypt; the mosque of Abu El Hagag is one of Egypt’s first Islamic buildings at Luxor.
Thebes, through its long history, was a great city which occupied a vast area extending for many
kilometers on both sides of the Nile. Thebes was also known as Waset, which means stability, and was
referred to as niout, a word which means “the city” and is no small indication of its enormous prestige.
Also it was mentioned as no or no Amun, city of Amun. Homer, on the other hand, used the epithet
"Thebes-with-the-Hundred-Gates"
Thebes is today marked by two major groups of remains:
• On the East Bank, there are the temples of Amun, (more than 20 temples), Mut (temples), Khonsu,
Montu and the Open Air Museum at Karnak and the Temple of Luxor at Luxor. Between the
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temples of Karnak and Luxor is the Avenue of Sphinxes, which has been partially excavated. At a
distance from the center of Luxor, the remains of the Temples of Medamut and Toad are located at
early settlement villages which were part of the region of Thebes. These latter temples contain
remains which date to the earliest Theban periods.
• On the West Bank beyond the green valley, there are the rocky hills containing the Necropolis of
Thebes - the site of the Valley of The Kings (62 tombs ) the Valley of Queens (75 tombs) and many
funerary temples. This hillside fronts the city, dominating the view.
The two parts of the city, on the east and west, are inexorably bound together across the river and the
bond between both sides of the river must never be broken. It is an essential element of the beauty of
Thebes, created by the clear relationship of the city of Thebes, on the eastern bank, to the river and the
green valley stretching away to the Necropolis of Thebes in the hills of the West Bank. This grand and
beautiful regional landscape, an important symbol of beliefs in antiquity and a clearly visible setting Today,
transcends the contemporary settlements and 20th century life of Luxor.2
Heritage Interpretive Goals and Approaches for the Luxor Region
Visitors should understand the general role of Thebes as a capital of Egypt and seat of culture in
antiquity.
Along with imparting visitors with tangible knowledge regarding the physical landscape’s impact on Luxor,
a primary goal of interpretive efforts in Luxor should be to outline the general role of Thebes as a capital
of Egypt, and as a center of culture in ancient times. The rationale behind this goal is to illustrate the
regional connection Luxor has to the rest of Egypt. Site-specific interpretation can often lead to a
localized understanding of historic places and structures. Presenting visitors with information that explains
how Thebes developed into a capital city and functioned as a center of political and cultural influence will
stimulate visitor interest in other parts of Egypt, and will serve to strengthen their perceptions of
Luxor/Thebes as a historically significant place beyond its immediate vicinity. As just one example, the
role of Montjuhotep II in unifying the monarchy of the Middle Kingdom shortly after 2000 BC, and
installing Theban loyalists as provincial governors, is but one historical episode that could be emphasized to
assist in creating awareness in visitors of Luxor/Thebes influence in greater Egypt.
Visitors should comprehend the span of time over which Luxor has been significant and appreciate
the resulting layering of artifacts from diverse cultures (Pharaonic, Roman, Ptolemaic, Islamic,
Coptic) which is evident within monument settings and the city.
Visitors should grasp the fact that Luxor has been a site of influence and development for well over 4000
years, they should also learn that it has been significant to many cultures. The various layering of artifacts
from a diversity of cultures including Pharaonic, Roman, Ptolemaic, Islamic, Coptic and modern should be
used to instill an appreciation in visitors of the totality of Luxor’s history. The considerable visual impact
of the Pharaonic monuments could easily overshadow the visitors’ perception and understanding of the
meaning and value of the cultural antiquities of both the Coptic and Islamic societies that settled and
developed in Luxor. An interpretive goal of the Heritage Plan should be to ensure that visitors are
exposed to artifacts which represent these cultures and come to understand how they intersect the visually
2
The story of Luxor is based on a narrative provided by Dr. Mohammed El Saghir, Director of the Upper Egypt,
Supreme Council on Antiquities
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powerful Pharaonic antiquities. This exposure will convey a sense of the time span Luxor has been
important, as well as the breadth of people to whom it has had significance.
Visitors should comprehend the relationship of individual sites and settings to the breadth of
history and environment which is encompassed by Luxor.
Visitors to Luxor should depart with a comprehension of the relationship of individual sites and settings to
the overall history and environment represented by artifacts of Luxor. Heritage tourism in Luxor should
be structured such that the typical visitor gains some knowledge of where particular sites, and especially
prominent ones, fit into the historical time line of Luxor. For example, a tourist viewing the Temple of
Queen Hatshepsut should be made aware of the fact that Hatshepsut was the granddaughter of the
famous Queen Nefertari, and that Hatshepsut’s temple is part of a complex that was originally started by
the XI Dynasty, some 550 years prior to her reign. This type of contextual knowledge allows visitors to
see individual sites as part of an interconnected system of historic events, rather than as static places
removed from one another.
Visitors should be encouraged to understand, within the time constraints of their length of stay,
specific stories of individuals and groups associated with each monument site.
Current site interpretation provided by guides for tour groups conveys much anecdotal information, based
on explanation of architectural elements, carvings, and sculpture within each site. However, a baseline
body of knowledge for each site should be gathered and presented to visitors in a standardized format.
Personal guides can give unique and valuable interpretations of specific sites, while also attaining varying
levels of historical accuracy. An important goal for long term interpretation would be to develop an
interpretive prospectus that defines “base-line” interpretive objectives for each site. Through various site
specific mechanisms, visitors could be encouraged to internalize this information and utilize it in
comprehending the totality of peoples who have contributed, over time, to the creation of Luxor.
Visitors should appreciate the many types of innovation which were inherent to the culture of the
Egyptian people (architectural, technological, artistic, cultural, etc.) and should be encouraged to
support preservation of the antiquities of Luxor.
A key component of heritage tourism and informing visitors about human development in ancient places
such as Luxor, is the concept of technological innovation. Visitors to the sites at Luxor should be given an
overview of some of the primary technological innovations that have occurred throughout the development
of Luxor. Architectural elements are the most obvious. For example, the central nave at the Temple of
Karnak was started under Amon-Ofis III towards 1375 BC and continued by Seti I, Ramesses II and
completed by Ramesses IV. The architectural style of construction developed over this period of time
evolved so that the introduction of the "claustra," large openwork windows, was possible in the final
composition of the nave. Emphasizing technological innovation such as this will assist in orienting visitors
towards the importance of preserving the antiquities of Luxor. Other innovations, such as the written
hieroglyphic language, papyrus manufacture, mummification, and the decorative arts are well-documented,
but could be strongly linked to this theme.
First-time visitors should leave with the understanding that the story of Luxor is complex and
compelling and should be encouraged to return to enrich their understanding.
Finally, and perhaps most critical in creating a minimum level of understanding for visitors to Luxor, is to
impart an appreciation for the richness and complexity of Luxor’s story. A careful balance must be used
to make visitors aware of this concept. Further curiosity should be fostered to encourage visitors to return
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again to Luxor, while at the same time avoiding the frustration that can be associated with becoming
aware that a trip or intellectual journey is not entirely complete. Visitors should move beyond the brief
thrill of visits to famous places to realize that they have just begun to gain a true picture of Luxor, ancient
Egypt and the peoples who have lived there. This realization should be framed in a manner that will
encourage them to continue learning more and to return to Luxor and Egypt.
The Resources and Setting of Luxor

The key antiquities resources3 of Luxor and the study area:
East Bank Antiquities

Temple of Luxor
Temple of Karnak
Avenue of the Sphinxes
Temple of Madamud
Temple of Toad
Coptic Monasteries
Historic Mosques
Historic Buildings
Roman Ruins
West Bank Antiquities

Tombs of the Necropolis
Valley of the Kings
Valley of the Queens
Deir El Medina and Tombs of the Nobles
Tombs of Qurmet Murai
Tombs of Sheikh Abd EL Qurna
Tombs of Khokha and Asasif
Tombs of Dra-Ahu El-Nagga
Tombs of Tarif
Mortuary Temples
Temple of Nebjepetre Mentuhotep I
Temple of Hatsepsut
Temple of Seti I
The Ramesseum
Colossi of Memnon
Medinet Habu
Coptic Monasteries
Historic Mosques
Historic Buildings
Roman Ruins
3
An Overview of the Monuments of Luxor has been included in the Appendix.
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For each of the above resources, a summary description has been provided, along with a highlight of key
resource and visitation characteristics. This information has been developed in cooperation with the Luxor
Office of the Supreme Council on Antiquities.
Regional Setting of the Antiquities

Major resources within the overall study area are identified in Figure 1. In addition to the key sites
mentioned above and enumerated in the Appendix, these resource include numerous structures in the
Malquatta area, south of the Qurna necropolis. The Malquatta includes the Temple of Shalweet as well as
sites associated with Pharaonic settlement, many of which are ruins of mud brick structures such as the
Chapel of Amenhotep III, the Palace of Amenhotep III, and various associated settlements, largely
unexcavated. Within this area is a Coptic monastery, various Coptic settlements, and many earth mounds
which are likely to contain remains of archeological interest.
Important character-defining elements of the Luxor setting, as well as the location of major antiquity sites,
are indicated in Figure 2. The environmental setting of Luxor, characterized by the desert, the Nile, the
East and West Banks of the river, and cultivated agricultural lands, retains many of the characteristics
which must have been present in the early days of Thebes. If a current day visitor stands on the East
Bank of the Nile with his back to the city, facing the necropolis of the West Bank and watching the setting
sun disappear behind the mountains, the environment retains the power and majesty that prompted the
development of a system of beliefs and a way of life thousands of years ago.
The major West Bank viewshed is defined by the edges of the West Bank topography, as viewed from the
key East Bank settings of Karnak and Luxor Temples, as well as from the Corniche and areas between
the two temples. An important character-defining element is the agricultural, cultivated land which is
located along the airport road along the entry to the City, which complements the urban form of the
developed area. Equally, the sharp junction between desert environment and cultivated land, especially
along the West Bank within the prime viewshed, is a strong character-defining element of the landscape.
Key comments on strengths of and threats to the regional historical and cultural setting of Luxor are as
follows.
Strengths
• Viewsheds from the East Bank temples which encompass the Nile, agricultural lands, and prominent
topography of the West Bank necropolis and its desert environment.
• Views of Luxor Temple, the Karnak Temple complex, and the city from the West Bank.
• Agricultural landscapes along the approach road from the airport and from Luxor City to the Luxor
Bridge / West Bank monuments.
• Small vernacular villages which add interest to the West Bank.
Threats
• Inappropriate development along West Bank, particularly at ferry landings.
• Docked cruise ships which block views across the river.
• Informal settlements along the East Bank which obscure views of Karnak Temple and the Avenue of
the Sphinxes.
• Contemporary informal settlements that strain area infrastructure and blight the overall environmental
setting.
• Figure 3 indicates protected agricultural areas and other lands either owned by or under the jurisdiction
of the Supreme Council on Antiquities.
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East Bank
Major antiquities settings on the East Bank are shown in Figure 4. Luxor and Karnak Temples were, in
the 19th and early 20th century, major monuments surrounded by sparse settlement. Today, these imposing
sites are surrounded by the growing traditional and contemporary districts of Luxor City.
Strengths
• The Luxor Temple area, including the open character of the site which enable views across the river
from within the grounds.
• Night lighting adds a dramatic presentation
• The defined and separate precinct of Karnak Temple, within the perimeter wall.
• Intermittent views from the Temple complex grounds across to the West Bank.
• Archeological remains in the Karnak vicinity outside the perimeter wall.
• Mut Temple site
• Excavated portions of the Kebash Avenue (Avenue of the Sphinxes), and their relationship to the
Sphinx-lined entrance to Karnak Temple.
• Remaining parcels of open and agricultural lands along the Nile near Karnak Temple and along the
airport entry corridor.
• Approach to the bridge on the east bank and along the monument access route on the West Bank.
• Rehabilitated and well-landscaped portions of the Corniche, which provide excellent views of the West
Bank.
• Remaining 19th and early 20th century buildings within the City, including the Winter Palace Hotel
(original building) and associated gardens, and historic buildings along segments of the Corniche.
• High quality landscaping in some public open spaces throughout the City, including parks near Karnak
and Luxor, as well as the Corniche.
• Horse carriages which retain a slower pace and can co-exist with automobiles.
• Traditional shopping areas (souqs) which are located nearby to Luxor Temple.
Threats
• Encroachment of the contemporary city on eastern and northern edges of Luxor Temple
• Encroachment of informal settlements on all sides of Karnak Temple
• Inadequate definition of the “buffer” space surrounding Karnak Temple
• Commercial uses adjacent to Karnak Temple entry which are visually incompatible with the resource
and its setting.
• Views from entry of Karnak complex to Nile and West Bank which are obstructed by major vehicular
access, parking, overhanging trees, and river edge development.
• Some hotels and contemporary developments along the River between Luxor and Karnak Temples,
which detracting from the sense of connection of these resources to one another and to the river.
• Obstruction of future excavation of the remainder of the Kebash Avenue by contemporary
development, both existing and on-going.
• Future growth in vehicular traffic, which may require additional road widening (to the extent required
vehicular roads encroach upon historic settings.)
• Inadequate provisions for bus parking, forcing loading and unloading in awkward locations that intrude
on the historic setting and diminish the quality of the visitor experience.
West Bank
Major antiquities settings on the West Bank are indicated on Figure 5 (see Appendix). This area is
characterized by the dramatic topography of the necropolis and exhibits sharp transitions between
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cultivated agricultural land and the harsh landscape of the desert foothills. The West Bank has been
substantially explored, but is so rich in resources that new areas may be discovered at any time, causing
the designation of a Protection Zone (see Figure 3), within which nearly all residences will be relocated
to enable access to tombs which are below sites in the existing villages of Gourna. Key features of the
major antiquity areas within the West Bank include:
Strengths
• Tombs and their immediate settings in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. There are in
excess of 500 known tombs within the West Bank of which slightly less than 10% are open to the
public and only 5% are visited heavily. In general, the site development in the immediate vicinity of
the tombs is well done and in character with the setting.
• Overall quality of approach to Valley of the Kings (winding through the hillside, with actual sites out of
view of the parking)
• Deir El Bahiri Temple and its setting below a distinctive bluff line, visible from across the river, and
associated archeological sites
• Ramesseum, Medinet Habu, and Seti I Temples, within site perimeters - these temple sites are very
impressive and tend to get lower levels of visitation than Luxor and Karnak temples on East Bank.
Additionally, these temples are located on the junction between agricultural land and the barren
necropolis hillside, providing a landscape transition.
• Deir El Medina and Tombs of the Nobles, which are in a well-defined topographic and physical
setting.
• Major unexcavated tomb sites, many of which are in several locations which are sites of existing
settlements to be removed. These tomb areas, enumerated in the Appendix, include:
Tombs of Qurmet Murai

Tombs of Sheikh Abd EL Qurna
Tombs of Khokha and Asasif
Tombs of Dra-Ahu El-Nagga
Tombs of Tarif
• Visual prominence of Colossi of Memnon on the approach road to the necropolis, serving as an
entrance marker to the West Bank
• Approach to West Bank sites (in general) across agricultural settings with quaint vernacular
agricultural villages
• Views back to East Bank across agricultural settings
Threats
• Damage to tombs from existing traditional villages (see list immediately above) from water infiltration,
as well as visually inappropriate commercial development (such as brightly painted commercial uses).
• Confusing road access which conveys a poor sense of entry and orientation to the historic resource
area.
• High humidity from visitors deteriorates the wall paintings.
• Parking, vehicular circulation, and retail structures at Deir El Bahiri, which obstruct the view of the
Temple.
• Informal and other settlements too close to archeological sites.
• Inappropriate vending and sales at the entry to the Valley of the Queens, which detracts from quality
of entry experience.
• Poorly sited parking too close to Colossi of Memnon, obstructing views.
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• Intrusion of large tour busses which obstruct key views, conflict with pedestrian movement, and tend
to “take over” the approaches to key sites.
• General intrusion of parking and vehicular traffic on the necropolis setting.
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Visitor Patterns and Impacts
Visitor Patterns
Information has been provided from the Supreme Council on Antiquities and the Luxor Information and
Decision Support Center regarding tourist visitation in Luxor, overall and by specific site. Partial
information has been provided regarding overall tourist volumes indicating the number of tourists visiting
key sites, by month, for the first six months of 1997.
A summary of key aspects of this information is attached in tabular form at the end of this section. Table
6 through Table 11 indicate the visitor volume at key Luxor sites for the first six months of 1997. These
tables indicate that nearly all visitors to Luxor go to both the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple.
Table 12 indicates the relative percentage of tourist visitor volume over this period at key sites for which
data were available, setting the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple at 100% of tourist visitation.
Figure 6 is a graphic representation of relative visitor volumes at the key sites. Key findings and
observations which can be made from this information are as follows:
Nearly all tourists visit both the East and West Banks. This can be concluded because the number
of visitors to the prime sites on each bank (the Valley of the Kings and Karnak Temple) are nearly
identical. However the other sites which they visit (and presumably, the time spent at each) vary
substantially. The Valley of the Kings is visited by nearly all tourists, and its visitation is slightly larger than
that of Karnak Temple. Accordingly, the total visitation to the Valley of the Kings may be assumed to be
an approximation of the total number of tourists visiting Luxor.
The total number of tourists per month (in the first six months of 1997) ranges from a low of 50,000
visitors per month (in June) to a high of 123,000 visitors per month (in April). The high monthly total over
the last number of years has been in excess of 190,000.
Luxor Temple is visited by almost as many people as Karnak Temple , although the patterns of
visitation are somewhat different. If Karnak Temple’s visitation is equal to the total East Bank visitation
(e.g. - 100% of East Bank tourists), then the day visitor volume to Luxor Temple is approximately 68%
that of Karnak Temple, although another 21% visit Luxor Temple at night for a total of 89%. In other
words, nearly all visitors to Luxor enter Luxor Temple, but almost 1/4 of those who do elect to visit at
night, when it is cooler. This leads to the observation that extended night hours for selected sites could
be an effective mechanism to both meet visitor demand and disperse visitors throughout their stay.
Luxor Museum visitation is 21% of the Karnak visitor number. Data was not immediately available for
the recently opened Mummification Museum.
West Bank attraction visitation varies substantially. Compared to visitation at the Valley of the
Kings (defined to be 100% of West Bank visitors), the visitor volume of other West Bank sites is
substantially lower, as follows:
Deir El Bahiri 30-40%

Valley of the Queens 26%
Medinet Habu 18%
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Ramesseum 15%
Deir El Medina 13%
These percentages are relatively consistent, month-by-month. In other words, there is significant
additional capacity to accommodate visitors at the above sites. This matches on-site observations, which
noted that visitor volumes at Medinet Habu and the Ramesseum were very low, in comparison to those
noted at the other West Bank sites. Better “marketing” and information about these Temple sites
might prove to be effective in dispersing West Bank visitors and reducing impacts on overcrowded sites.
The typical tourist visits approximately 5 “sites,” counting the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of
the Queens as single sites (but including additional tickets for individual tombs separately). Clearly, this
varies with length of stay, although specific data is not available on behaviors of different types of tourists.
The average number of tombs visited in the Valley of the Kings is 3-4, whereas the average number of
tombs visited in the Valley of the Queens is 2.
Visitation to individual tombs varies greatly. Only selective data were available (and it should be
noted that data for the visits to the tombs which are included as part of the ticket to the Valley of the
Kings were not available). Those tombs which are ticketed separately for which data are available
include the following (expressed as a percentage of total West Bank visitation):
Tut Ankh Amun Tomb 25%

Nefertari Tomb(limited to 100/day) 4%
This data seems to indicate that visitor choices are quite price sensitive, inasmuch as the Nefertari Tomb
is one of the most expensive, at a price of 100 Egyptian pounds. Additionally, it does appear that if better
data were available about tombs which were available to be visited, it is possible that the capacity of
the Valley of the Kings could be increased, subject to environmental and impact concerns.
Foreign visitors comprise 93%, and Egyptian visitors 7%, of the total visitors to Luxor attractions.
The average revenue per visitor from ticket admissions over the initial six months of 1997 was
approximately 87 Egyptian Pounds. The average visitor buys tickets for approximately 5 sites. Based on
this information, it would appear that a Luxor Passport could be priced competitively to include an
overview presentation as well as the majority of key admissions. Premium tomb admissions might be
priced flexibly, to manage visitor demand.
Some types of information which would be useful, and might be investigated in Phase II, include the ratio
of free and independent to group tourists, the distribution of visitors, by length of stay, and the specific
visitor use patterns, by attraction, by time of day and day of the week.
Visitor and Other Impacts

Numerous impacts and threats to the antiquities have been documented by archeological missions,
Egyptologists, and international study missions. The principal concerns which have been noted include:
• water infiltration (from groundwater and habitation) which threatens the structural underpinnings
of major temples as well as the integrity of underground tombs.
• humidity and carbon dioxide (from inadequately ventilated, contained spaces that have visitor
traffic) which can damage wall paintings.
• vibration (from vehicular and other traffic) which can jeopardize foundations and structural
underpinning.
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• other environmental pollution (from vehicular and industrial emissions) that can damage stone
carvings and exterior decorative elements.
It has been suggested that additional visitor volumes can jeopardize the very quality of Luxor’s resources
and that strict capacity management should be instituted. The most acute areas of risk which have been
noted appear to be the tombs on the West Bank, particularly in the Valley of the Kings, which is subject to
the highest visitation. There are substantial differences of opinion on this matter. Discussions with
representatives of the Supreme Council on Antiquities (SCA) reveal that only 5% of the nearly 500 known
tombs on the West Bank are subject to any significant visitation, and that 37 additional tombs will be
opened by the end of 1998. Potential measures to accommodate additional tourist volumes might include,
individually or severally, expansion of the resources open to the tourist public, ventilation of vulnerable
settings, extension of hours of operation, visitor management, and appropriate resource marketing.
Other, more subtle, impacts include:

• overcrowding that would diminish the visitor experience, by having the perception of visitor densities
overpower the power of the resources.
• additional traffic, both bus and vehicular, that could overcrowd road and parking facilities and intrude
on resource settings as well as risk damages due to vibration.
The severity of these latter types of impacts are debatable; some argue that overcrowding would create
an unpleasant experience that would constrain or limit potentials for tourism growth. However, there is
little empirical evidence in the research literature on precise thresholds where tourists or recreation users
feel so uncomfortable that they are discouraged or leave with negative impression. Vehicular intrusions
also are in the eye of the beholder - tour operators and business interests rarely see a definable limit, even
though historic preservation and conservation interests perceive threats to resources.
Monument and Tomb Capacity and Visitor Projections

The director of the Supreme Council on Antiquities, Upper Egypt section, has cooperated with the study
team by assessing the potential tourist capacities of various Luxor attractions. These estimates have been
documented in the Appendix. A summary of this data, by attraction, is presented in Table 14. Several
observations can be made about this information:
• In many cases, the hourly capacity of monuments, or types of resources, can be increased by adding
and restoring new areas or sites. In the case of the Karnak Temple complex, for example, several
areas (including the entire Temple of Mut) could increase the area which could accommodate visitors
and meet their interests.
• In other cases, the capacity of areas can be increased by adding additional resources, such as
additional tombs in West Bank areas. In the case of the West Bank, this could be accomplished by
opening new tombs in existing areas (such as the Valley of the Kings or the Valley of the Queens) or
by opening areas which do not now receive visitors (such as the tomb areas which are now
interwoven with the occupied Gourna villages in the areas of Qurmet Murai or Sheikh Abd El-Qurna).
The current inventory of 40 tombs open for visitation could be doubled in a relatively short term (5-10
years) and could be substantially increased beyond this period.
• Extension of visiting hours would dramatically increase capacity. Estimates are offered for expansion
of various sites from 10 hours to 16 hours of operations through illumination. This would dramatically
affect capacity and could also contribute considerably to increase visitor comfort by making resources
available for viewing in evening hours, when temperatures are cooler. The experience of Luxor
Temple is interesting; as over one third of the visitors experience the site at night.
89
• In the case of tomb capacity estimates, the hourly and daily figures are based upon SCA best
judgments, taking account of the size, orientation, ventilation, and decorative sensitivity of each tomb.
Additionally, it is assumed that mechanical ventilation would be added as required to protect the
resources within sensitive and highly visited tombs.
Based on the overall visitor patterns to Luxor (as presented in Figure 7) it is evident that the most acute
constraint on overall tourist visitor growth is the capacity of the tombs, inasmuch as existing visitors appear
to most heavily visit the Valley of the Kings and seem to be most uniformly fascinated with the tombs.
Accordingly, several assessments of maximum capacity of the tombs have been prepared, assuming that
adequate ventilation is provided and using the capacity constraints as provided by SCA. Key data of that
analysis are presented in Figures 10-13 and have led to the following observations:
• Figure 10 -- indicates the simple maximum capacity of the tombs on the West Bank, assembling data
provided in the Appendix. The number of tombs which could be open for visitors could be increased
from 40 to 84 within a relatively short time period, nearly doubling the hourly peak tomb visitor
capacity from 1,656 visitors per hour to 2,789 visitors per hour. It is important to note that these
estimates of capacity are conservative - in some cases existing visitor volumes substantially exceed
these capacities in peak months and days. In the long term, the capacity of tombs to accommodate
visitors could be increased to 3,850 visitors per hour, a doubling of existing capacity, by opening
additional tombs, although this number does not include every single tomb on the West Bank.
• Tables 16 and 17 -- provide an assumed model of visitor accumulations and peak visitation to West
Bank tombs, with varying hours of operation. Although this model uses several assumptions which
may require “fine-tuning,” it provides useful insight into probable existing tourist behavior on the West
Bank.
• Table 16 indicates an assumed pattern of arrival, based on several key assumptions, which seem
reasonable based on examination of typical tourist and visitor patterns: (1) tombs are open from 6:00
to 16:00 hours, a period of ten (10) hours; (2) Typical visitors stay approximately four (4) hours on the
West Bank; (3) Sixty percent (60%) of the daily visitors arrive between the hours of 06:00 and 09:00,
with diminishing percent of arrivals over the hotter hours of the day; (4) The typical West Bank tourist
spends one hour within tombs of the total four hours spent on the West Bank. Accordingly, Table 16
shows that approximately 18% of total West Bank tourists are within tombs at the peak visitor hour,
which is between 09:00 and 10:00. Also in this peak hour, approximately 73% of all daily visitors are
on the West Bank, with associated implications for bus and vehicle parking and needs for visitor
services.
• Table 17 shows comparable visitor assumptions for West Bank tomb visitors over a sixteen (16) hour
day, from 06:00 to 22:00, based on illumination of sites. Several differences are apparent, compared to
the ten hour model, illustrated in Figure 11: (1) the 16 hour model assumes that 25% of tomb
visitors would arrive at 17:00 or after, to take advantage of cooler weather, if illumination were
provided; (2) accordingly, even though the peak tomb visitation would still be at 09:00, this would drop
to 14% of the daily volume, due to an assumed dispersion of visitors in night time hours, allowing for
increased daily volume even though the peak hourly capacity remains constant; (3) the peak visitor
accumulation in the West Bank overall drops to 54% of the daily volume, with a corresponding
diminishing of necessary parking and services, compared to the 10 hour schedule.
It is important to note that Tables 16 and 17 illustrate that the total daily capacity of the tombs cannot be
computed by simply multiplying the hourly capacity by the total hours of operation (most visits are
concentrated in the 8:00am to 12:00am period.) Clearly, the opening hours are not likely to be ‘“full,” and
the closing hours are not likely to be fully utilized, inasmuch as late arrivals realize that their hours for
90
visiting will be curtailed. Based on these assessments, it is believed that the “practical” capacity of the
any given tomb is probably no more than 75% of its “maximum” capacity.
• Table 18 provides an estimate of overall West Bank visitor capacity, using the capacity of all potential
West Bank tombs as the constraining factor. As a cross-check on these computations, the computed
capacity of the Valley of the Kings (under existing and future conditions) is shown, inasmuch as the
visitor volume to this attraction is known by historical data. Several sequential computations are
shown for the Valley of the Kings and all West Bank tombs:
Peak hour tomb visitor-hours - using estimates provided in Table 15.

10 hour day maximum tomb visitor-hours - multiplying peak hour times ten hours/day
10 hour day likely tomb visitor-hours - estimated at 75% of the maximum
10 hour day likely West Bank visitors - assuming that typical visitors spend 1/4 of West Bank
time inside tombs, this number equals the previous estimate.
Peak month likely West Bank visitors -- assuming that the peak day is 5% of the peak month
visitation (e.g. - peak month visitors = peak day visitors / 0.05)
Annual visitors to West Bank (and Luxor) -- assuming, based on historical seasonality of
visitation, that the peak month is 14% of the annual visitation (e.g. - annual visitors = peak month
visitors / .14)
Annual visitors, assuming extended hours -- assumes an additional 35% of visitors, based on
spreading peak visitation over a longer visitor day.
The findings of Table 18 include the following:
• Existing annual capacity of the Valley of the Kings is approximately 143,700 per month or 1,026,429
per year. This is somewhat higher than peak monthly visitation to this site during the first half of 1997,
but lower than historical visitation during the highest peaks over the last decade.
• The capacity of the Valley of the Kings could be increased to 1,589,000 per year through opening
additional tombs and to in excess of 2.1 million by extending hours through illumination.
• If the number of tombs in the West Bank could be substantially increased by opening additional tombs
and by marketing them to visitors to relieve the most heavily impacted sites, the total annual visitation
could increase to nearly 3 million with current 10 hour operations and over 4 million with extended
hours in the 5-10 year period. Over a longer term, the annual tomb visitation could increase to in
excess of 5 million.
• Any of these increases would assume that illumination and ventilation would be implemented to protect
resources and that additional tomb areas would be marketed to relieve existing areas which are
heavily impacted in the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. The work to date indicates
that such marketing might be possible, inasmuch as many of the tombs which have not been opened
are large and have substantial decorative interest.
If these volumes of tomb visitation could be achieved, the likely maximum volumes (e.g. - 21,000 likely
visitors/day to the West Bank) would still be less than the approximate practical capacity of the two
combined Temples (Luxor and Karnak) of the East Bank, which could accommodate, together, in excess
of 25,000 daily visitors.
91
Visitor Pattern Supplemental Data
The following tables provide insight into visitor use patterns, tourism expenditures, and the relationship of
monument capacity to overall visitation to Luxor’s antiquity sites:
• Table 6:· Visitors to Selected Luxor Antiquity Sites, January 1997
• Table 7:· Visitors to Selected Luxor Antiquity Sites, February 1997
• Table 8: Visitors to Selected Luxor Antiquity Sites, March 1997
• Table 9:· Visitors to Selected Luxor Antiquity Sites, April 1997
• Table 10:· Visitors to Selected Luxor Antiquity Sites, May 1997
• Table 11:· Visitors to Selected Luxor Antiquity Sites, June 1997
• Table 12: 1997 Distribution of Visitors, by Site for East and West Banks
• Table 13: 1997 Monthly Revenues at Antiquity Sites: Total and per Visitor
• Table 14:· Antiquities Resources and Capacities
• Table 15:· Antiquities Resources and Capacities (continued)
• Table 16: West Bank Tomb Capacity
• Table 17: Assumed Pattern of Arrival to Tombs, 10 hours of Operation
• Table 18: Assumed Pattern of Arrival to Tombs, 16 hours of Operation
• Table 19: Estimate of Overall West Bank Visitation, Based on Tomb Capacity and Seasonal
Patterns
92
TABLE 1: VISITORS TO S ELECTED LUXOR ANTIQUITY S ITES , J ANUARY 1997
Site Foreigners Egyptians Total

visitors student visitors student visitors
Dandara 7,196 176 412 361 8,145
Deir El Madina 16,376 1,280 389 18,045
El Deir El Bahary 5,163 4,746 2,229 2,574 14,712
Habu 14,852 2,132 1,182 18,166
Luxor Museum 14,717 1,399 577 373 17,066
Luxor Temple - Day 55,800 2,418 2,732 798 61,748
Luxor Temple - Night 10,553 806 687 93 12,139
Nefertari Tomb 5,875 217 180 36 6,308
Open Museum, Karnak 658 98 53 21 830
Ramesseum 9,088 1,301 10,389
Seti I Temple 8,770 145 8,915
Temple of El -Toad 36 20 56
Temple of Isna 24,150 471 308 108 25,037
Temple of Karnak-day 80,163 4,719 3,437 1,108 89,427
Tut Ankh Amun Tomb 32,720 4,263 2,227 13,347 52,557
Valley of Kings 80,779 5,334 2,760 497 89,370
Valley of Queens 22,365 2,940 915 753 26,973
Total 389,261 32,465 18,088 20,069 459,883
Source: Supreme Council on Antiquities and Luxor Information and Decision Support Center
93
TABLE 2:· VISITORS TO S ELECTED LUXOR ANTIQUITY S ITES , FEBRUARY 1997

Dandara 9,869 297 3,267 391 13,824
Deir El Madina 11,387 1,362 1,603 14,352
El Deir El Bahary 25,133 4,956 2,114 2,079 34,282
Habu 15,662 2,324 2,467 20,453
Luxor Museum 18,983 2,108 1,223 1,843 24,157
Luxor Temple - Day 72,200 3,617 9,391 2,457 87,665
Luxor Temple - Night 7,224 675 2,813 324 11,036
Nefertari Tomb 5,034 170 219 14 5,437
Open Museum, Karnak 895 90 390 1,375
Ramesseum 11,822 1,603 13,425
Seti I Temple 8,972 35 9,007
Temple of Isna 28,450 818 682 280 30,230
Tut Ankh Amun Tomb 18,294 2,704 2,466 23,464
Valley of Kings 91,800 5,479 6,712 3,017 107,008
Valley of Queens 24,504 3,471 2,183 1,646 31,804
Total 442,370 35,275 46,381 15,776 539,802
94
TABLE 3: VISITORS TO S ELECTED LUXOR ANTIQUITY S ITES , MARCH 1997

Dandara 12,269 1,692 386 653 15,000
Deir El Madina 9,161 680 471 10,312
El Deir El Bahary 38,240 4,717 1,900 44,857
Habu 17,716 1,047 932 19,695
Luxor Museum 22,284 28,365 647 1,200 52,496
Luxor Temple - Day 43,450 35,150 2,569 890 82,059
Luxor Temple - Night 10,861 11,480 537 194 23,072
Nefertari Tomb 4,955 247 127 5,329
Open Museum, Karnak 864 830 53 1,747
Ramesseum 22,749 1,377 24,126
Seti I Temple 10,613 25 10,638
Temple of Isna 33,322 2,580 180 40 36,122
Valley of Kings 109,765 5,444 2,970 961 119,140
Valley of Queens 27,506 3,008 828 462 31,804
Total 492,772 161,561 16,590 5,435 676,358
95
TABLE 4:· VISITORS TO S ELECTED LUXOR ANTIQUITY S ITES , APRIL 1997

Dandara 9,929 305 1,844 837 12,915
Deir El Madina 12,084 947 594 13,625
El Deir El Bahary 34,995 4,364 39,359
Habu 19,007 1,172 934 21,113
Luxor Museum 15,986 2,072 650 524 19,232
Luxor Temple - Day 68,300 3,750 4,741 774 77,565
Luxor Temple - Night 10,286 958 1,543 146 12,933
Nefertari Tomb 3,349 381 91 9 3,830
Open Museum, Karnak 699 182 11 892
Ramesseum 17,808 1,233 19,041
Seti I Temple 6,515 214 6,729
Temple of Isna 26,131 858 188 97 27,274
Temple of Karnak-day 90,814 9,305 5,092 895 106,106
Valley of Kings 93,500 5,669 6,310 17,808 123,287
Valley of Queens 14,895 2,890 799 266 18,850
Total 437,837 36,176 24,134 21,356 519,503
96
TABLE 5:· VISITORS TO S ELECTED LUXOR ANTIQUITY S ITES , MAY 1997

Dandara 8,401 132 164 141 8,838
Deir El Madina 8,039 561 8,600
El Deir El Bahary 125,643 2,463 305 128,411
Habu 13,263 648 532 14,443
Luxor Museum 12,818 950 362 158 14,288
Luxor Temple - Day 47,500 135 1,240 58 48,933
Luxor Temple - Night 11,660 852 929 82 13,523
Nefertari Tomb 2,346 285 71 2 2,704
Open Museum, Karnak 313 135 10 16 474
Ramesseum 11,549 673 239 12,461
Seti I Temple 4,876 7 4,883
Temple of El -Toad 24 24
Temple of Isna 1,344 214 124 12 1,694
Tut Ankh Amun Tomb 6,425 30,325 489 37,239
Valley of Kings 71,385 3,350 3,337 1,507 79,579
Valley of Queens 19,300 1,679 383 23 21,385
Total 413,316 45,425 9,726 2,101 470,568
97
TABLE 6:· VISITORS TO S ELECTED LUXOR ANTIQUITY S ITES , J UNE 1997

Dandara 4,984 195 390 246 5,815
Deir El Madina 5,326 777 294 6,397
El Deir El Bahary 15,272 2,435 1,450 19,157
Habu 6,798 558 367 7,723
Luxor Museum 7,060 1,045 373 264 8,742
Luxor Temple - Day 30,852 1,669 1,408 131 34,060
Luxor Temple - Night 6,409 1,050 1,086 96 8,641
Nefertari Tomb 1,161 268 30 1,459
Open Museum, Karnak 126 69 5 200
Ramesseum 6,482 693 7,175
Seti I Temple 2,444 10 2,454
Temple of Isna 12,283 193 191 20 12,687
Tut Ankh Amun Tomb 8,732 840 350 9,922
Valley of Kings 45,765 3,579 545 107 49,996
Valley of Queens 12,293 1,861 572 2 14,728
Total 208,345 18,531 8,626 1,016 236,518
98
TABLE 7: 1997 DISTRIBUTION OF VISITORS , BY S ITE FOR EAST AND WEST BANKS 1
Average Average
Jan-Jun 1997 Jan-April, June 1997
% % % % % %
West East Others West East Others
Dandara 11.42% 11.35%
Deir El Madina 12.89% 13.22%
El Deir El Bahary 55.40% 31.28%
Habu 17.85% 17.71%
Luxor Museum 20.96% 21.40%
Luxor Temple - Day 68.04% 67.76%
Luxor Temple - Night 14.00% 13.39%
Nefertari Tomb 4.32% 4.53%
Open Museum, Karnak 3.84% 4.51%
Ramesseum 15.07% 14.84%
Seti I Te mple 7.42% 7.54%
Temple of El -Toad 0.05% 0.06%
Temple of Isna 22.66% 26.82%
Temple of Karnak-day 100.00% 100.00%
Tut Ankh Amun Tomb 23.85% 26.82%
Valley of Kings 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
Valley of Queens 26.40% 26.27%
West Bank expressed as percentage of visitors at Valley of the Kings East Bank expressed as percentage of visitors at Karnak
Temple.
Data shown in second set of columns omits May, 1997 to remove unusually high visitation at Deir El Bahiri, which is atypical of
other months for which data was available
Source: Supreme Council on Antiquities and Luxor Information and Decision Support Center.
99
TABLE 8: 1997 MONTHLY REVENUES AT ANTIQUITY S ITES : TOTAL AND PER VISITOR
Visitors, Visitors, % Total Revenue Revenue/

Valley of by month L, (000) Visitor
the Kings
January 89,370 15.72% 8,533,997 95
February 107,008 18.83% 9,025,419 84
March 119,140 20.96% 11,116,606 93
April 123,287 21.69% 8,632,041 70
May 79,579 14.00% 7,930,893 100
June 49,996 8.80% 4,124,276 82
Total - 6 months 568,380 100.00% 49,363,231 87
100
TABLE 9:· ANTIQUITIES RESOURCES AND CAPACITIES
Name of monument Current Potential Average Current Current Maximum Maximum Practical Current Maximum
Visit Visit Daily Capacity Capacity Capacity Capacity Capacity Hours of Hours of
Duration Duration Visits, ‘97 per Hour per Day per Hour per Day Per Day Operation Operation
(minutes) (minutes) note 1 note 5 note 8 per Day per Day
EAST BANK
Temple of Luxor 60 90 2,280 500 8,000 750 12,000 9,000 16 16
Temple of Karnak 60 360 3,318 1,000 11,000 1,340 21,500 16,125 11 11
Open Museum of Karnak note 2 note 2 30 note 2 note 2 note 2 note 2 note 2 11 11
Temple of Toad 60 60 2 NA NA 150 1,650 1,238 11 11
Temple of Madamud: 60 60 0 NA NA 73 800 600 11 11
WEST BANK ,
Valley of the Kings 3,411 958 9,580 1,483 22,600 16,950 10 16
th
Tombs of the 18 dynasty note 4
Thutmosis III 30 30 note 3 60 600 60 960 720 10 16
Queen Hatsepsut NA 30 note 3 0 0 60 960 720 0 16
Amenophis III NA 30 note 3 0 0 70 1,120 840 0 16
Amenophis II 20 20 note 3 60 600 60 960 720 10 16
Tutankhamun 10 10 600 60 600 60 960 720 10 16
Ay 25 25 note 3 50 500 50 800 600 10 16
Thutmosis IV 30 30 note 3 60 600 60 960 720 10 16
Horemheb 30 30 note 3 45 450 45 720 540 10 16
Tombs of the 19 th dynasty
Ramesses I 20 20 note 3 30 300 30 480 360 10 16
Sethos I (closed) NA 30 NA 0 0 70 1,120 840 0 16
Ramesses II NA 30 NA 0 0 70 1,120 840 0 16
Son of Ramses II NA 30 NA 0 0 80 1,280 960 0 16
Septah 20 20 note 3 75 750 75 1,200 900 10 16
Queen Tawsert/King Setnakh 20 20 note 7 75 750 75 1,200 900 10 16
Sethos II 20 20 note 3 45 450 45 720 540 10 16
Merneptah 30 30 note 3 70 700 70 1,120 840 10 16
101
Ramesses III 20 20 note 3 60 600 75 1,200 900 10 16
Ramesses IV 20 20 note 3 60 600 60 960 720 10 16
Ramesses VI 20 20 note 3 75 750 75 1,200 900 10 16
Ramesses VII 20 20 note 4 45 450 45 720 540 10 16
Ramesses IX 20 20 note 3 60 600 60 960 720 10 16
Montu Herkhopshef 15 15 note 3 28 280 28 280 210 10 16
Other Tombs (40) NA varies NA 0 0 160 1,600 1,200 10 10
Valley of the Queens 870 208 1,950 363 5,030 3,810 10
Khaemwaset 20 20 note 3 45 450 45 720 540 10 16
Set-Her-Khopshef 20 20 note 3 45 450 45 720 540 10 16
Prince Amun -her-Khepshef 20 20 note 3 45 450 45 720 540 10 16
Queen Tawi NA 20 note 3 0 0 30 480 360 16
Unknown Queen No. 40 NA 20 NA 0 0 45 720 540 10 16
Queen Titi 20 20 NA 45 450 45 720 540 10 16
Additional Tombs (10) NA varies NA 0 0 80 800 600 10 10
Nefertari 15 15 178 28 150 28 150 150 6 6
Deir El-Medina 561 10
Tomb of Senenmut 10 10 note 3 45 450 45 720 540 10 16
Tomb of Inherkhau 10 10 note 3 45 450 45 720 540 10 16
Pashedu 15 15 note 3 45 450 45 720 540 10 16
Additional Tombs (52) NA varies NA 0 0 varies varies varies
Village and temples 45 45 note 3 120 1,200 120 1,200 1,200 10 10
Qurmet Murai
Additional Tombs -short term NA 60 NA 80 800 80 800 600 10 10
(8)
Additional Tombs - long term NA varies NA varies varies 80 800 600 10 10
(12)
Sheikh Abd El-Qurna
Existing Open Tombs (10) 20 20 note 3 235 2,350 235 2,350 1,763 10 10
Additional Tombs -short term NA varies NA 0 0 200 2,000 1,500 10 10
(10)
102
(10)
Additional Tombs - long term NA varies varies varies varies varies varies varies 10 10
(126)
Khokha and Asasif 10 10
Existing Tombs (5) 30 30 note 3 120 1,200 120 1,200 900 10 10
Additional Tombs -short term NA varies NA 0 0 250 2,500 1,875 10 10
(5)
Additional Tombs - long term NA varies NA 0 0 230 2,300 1,725 10 10
(101)
Dra-Abu El Naga
Tombs suitable short term (2) NA varies NA 21 210 21 210 158 10 10
Other Unopened tombs (86) NA varies NA varies varies varies varies varies 10 10
Temple of Nebjepetre 60 60 note 3 70 700 70 700 700 10
Hatsepsut Temple 45 60 1,288 150 1500 200 3,200 3,200 10 16
Temple of Tuthmosis III 45 note 3 10
Temple of Sethos I 45 45 217 65 650 65 1,040 1,040 10 16
The Rammessseum 30 45 427 80 800 80 1,280 1,280 10 16
Colossi at Memnon 10 10 note 3 varies varies varies varies varies 12 12
Temple of Medinet Habu 45 550 2,000 10
Luxor Museum 45 743
Mummification Museum 45 68***
103
TABLE 10:· ANTIQUITIES RESOURCES AND CAPACITIES (CONTINUED )
Name of monument Fees

Egyptian Pounds
F FS N NS
EAST BANK
Temple of Luxor 20 10 1 1
Temple of Karnak 20 10 1 1
Open Museum of Karnak 10 5 1 1
Temple of Toad 20 10 1 1
Temple of Madamud: NA NA NA NA
WEST BANK
Valley of the Kings 20* 10* 1* 0.5*
Thutmosis III NA NA NA NA
Queen Hatsepsut NA NA NA NA
Amenophis III NA NA NA NA
Amenophis II NA NA NA NA
Tutankhamun 40 20 10 5
Ay 10 5 1 1
Thutmosis IV NA NA NA NA
Horemheb NA NA NA NA
Ramesses I NA NA NA NA
Sethos I (closed) NA NA NA NA
Ramesses II NA NA NA NA
Son of Ramses II NA NA NA NA
Septah NA NA NA NA
Queen Tawsert/King Setnakh NA NA NA NA
Sethos II NA NA NA NA
Merneptah NA NA NA NA
Ramesses III NA NA NA NA
Ramesses IV NA NA NA NA
Ramesses VI NA NA NA NA
Ramesses VII NA NA NA NA
Ramesses IX NA NA NA NA
Montu Herkhopshef NA NA NA NA
Other Tombs (40) NA NA NA NA
Valley of the Queens 12 6 1 1
Khaemwaset NA NA NA NA
Set-Her-Khopshef NA NA NA NA
Prince Amun -her-Khepshef NA NA NA NA
Queen Tawi NA NA NA NA
Unknown Queen No. 40 NA NA NA NA
Queen Titi NA NA NA NA
Additional Tombs (10) NA NA NA NA
Nefertari 100 50 10 5
Deir El-Medina 12 6 1 5
Tomb of Senenmut NA NA NA NA
Tomb of Inherkhau NA NA NA NA
Pashedu 10 5 1 1
Additional Tombs (52) NA NA NA NA
Village and temples 10 5 1 1
Qurmet Murai 20 10 2 1
Additional Tombs -short term NA NA NA NA
(8)
104
Name of monument Fees

Egyptian Pounds
F FS N NS
Additional Tombs - long term NA NA NA NA
(12)
Sheikh Abd El-Qurna
Existing Open Tombs (10) 12 6 1 1
(10)
(126)
Khokha and Asasif 12 6 1 1
Existing Tombs (5) NA NA NA NA
(5)
(101)
Dra-Abu El Naga
Tombs suitable short term (2) NA NA NA NA
Other Unopened tombs (86) NA NA NA NA
Temple of Nebjepetre NA NA NA NA
Hatsepsut Temple NA NA NA NA
Temple of Tuthmosis III NA NA NA NA
Temple of Sethos I 12 6 1 1
The Rammessseum 12 6 1 1
Colossi at Memnon NA NA NA NA
Temple of Medinet Habu 12 6 1 1
Luxor Museum 30 15 4 2
Mummification Museum 20 10 3 1
105
TABLE 11: WEST BANK TOMB CAPACITY
Number of Tombs Existing Tomb Visit Capacity Short Term Tomb Visit Long Term Tomb Visit Capacity
Capacity
Area Total Open Total Open Total Open Per Hour Absolute Per Hour Absolute Per Hour Absolute Maximum Per
1997 in 5-10 years in 20 + years Maximum Maximum Day (10 hrs)
Per Day (10 Per Day (10
hrs.) hrs.)
Valley of the Kings 17 22 62 958 9,580 1,333 13,330 1,483 14,830
Valley of the Queens 5 7 17 208 1,950 280 2,800 363 3,630

Note 1
Qurmet Murai 0 8 20 0 0 80 800 160 1,600
Deir El Medina (Nobles) 3 15 55 135 1,350 270 2,700 504 5,040
Sheikh Abd El Qurna 10 20 146 235 2,350 435 4,350 640 6,400
Khokha and Asasif 5 10 111 120 1,200 370 3,700 600 6,000
Dra-Abu El Naga 0 2 88 0 0 21 210 100 1,000
Total 40 84 499 1,656 16,430 2,789 27,890 3,850 38,500
Note 1 Number adjusted to account for reduced visitation to Nefertari Tomb
106
TABLE 12: ASSUMED PATTERN OF ARRIVAL TO TOMBS , 10 HOURS OF OPERATION
Percentage of Total Daily Visitors Present During Each

Hour of Tomb Operations
6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00
Arrival 6:00 20% 20% 20% 20% 20%

% of total 7:00 22% 22% 22% 22% 22%
daily 8:00 18% 18% 18% 18% 18%
visitors 9:00 13% 13% 13% 13% 13%
10:00 9% 9% 9% 9% 9%
11:00 7% 7% 7% 7% 7%
12:00 4% 4% 4% 4% 4%
13:00 4% 4% 4% 4%
14:00 2% 2% 2%
15:00 1% 1%
16:00
Total 100% 20% 42% 60% 73% 62% 47% 33% 24% 17% 11%
Percent of Daily Visitors

in Tombs
during
each one hour interval 25% 5% 11% 15% 18% 16% 12% 8% 6% 4% 3%
107
TABLE 13: ASSUMED PATTERN OF ARRIVAL TO TOMBS , 16 HOURS OF OPERATION
Percentage of Total Daily Visitors Present During Each Hour of Tomb Operations
Time % 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00
Arrival 6:00 15% 15% 15% 15% 15%

% of total 7:00 15% 15% 15% 15% 15%
daily 8:00 15% 15% 15% 15% 15%
visitors 9:00 9% 9% 9% 9% 9%
10:00 7% 7% 7% 7% 7%
11:00 4% 4% 4% 4% 4%
12:00 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
13:00 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
14:00 1% 1% 1% 1% 1%
15:00 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
16:00 4% 4% 4% 4% 4%
17:00 5% 5% 5% 5% 5%
18:00 9% 9% 9% 9% 9%
19:00 8% 8% 8% 8%
20:00 3% 3% 3%
21:00 1% 1%
Total 100% 15% 30% 45% 54% 46% 35% 21% 13% 7% 5% 8% 12% 20% 26% 25% 21%
Percent of Daily Visitors

in Tombs
during
each one hour interval 25% 4% 8% 11% 14% 12% 9% 5% 3% 2% 1% 2% 3% 5% 7% 6% 5%
108
TABLE 14: ESTIMATE OF OVERALL WEST BANK VISITATION, B ASED ON TOMB CAPACITY AND S EASONAL PATTERNS
Valley of the Kings West Bank, Overall
Units Assumptions Existing Short Long Term Existing Short Long Term
Term Term
Peak Hour Tomb visitor-hours 958 1,333 1,483 1,656 2,789 3,850
10 Hour Day Maximum Tomb visitor-hours available visit-hours 9,580 13,330 14,830 16,560 27,890 38,500
10 Hour Day Likely Tomb visitor-hours actual visit-hours 75.0% 7,185 9,998 11,123 12,420 20,918 28,875
10 Hour Day Likely WB visitors 1 tomb visit -hour = 4 hour visit 7,185 9,998 11,123 12,420 20,918 28,875
Peak Month Likely WB visitors Peak Day, % of Mo 5.0% 143,700 199,950 222,450 248,400 418,350 577,500
Annual Visitors Site WB visitors Peak Month, % of Yr 14.0% 1,026,429 1,428,214 1,588,929 1,774,286 2,988,214 4,125,000
Increase, Extended Hours WB visitors extend to 16 hours 35.0% 1,385,679 1,928,089 2,145,054 2,395,286 4,034,089 5,568,750
Note 1: assume that West Bank tomb capacity defines overall capacity
Note 2: assume each visitor spends 1 hour inside tomb; 3 tomb-visits at 20 minutes. Therefore, each tomb visit-hour equals 1 West Bank visitor
109
110
Annex 4: The General Environment for Tourism
Global Tourism
Measures of worldwide tourism indicate a trend of steady growth in the industry in terms of total arrivals,
total receipts and average receipts per arrival. The following two exhibits present data for the period
1992-1998 as compiled by the World Tourism Organization, with a breakdown of tourism into six regions.
Over this period, the world travel volume increased a substantial 26%, equal to an annual average rate of
growth of 4%. Total receipts rose 40% equating to an annual average rise of 5.8%. The main economic
factors underlying this growth trend include rising international trade relationships among nations, rising
personal income levels, falling international airfares [in real terms], a generally peaceful world environment
after the Gulf crisis in 1991, and continuing innovation in the packaging and marketing of international
travel in the key source areas of Europe, the USA and Japan.
Performance of the Middle East

The Middle East’s share of global tourism is a modest 2.4%. Travel to the region had contracted during
the Gulf Crisis of 1990-1, which explains the extraordinary rebound in arrivals in 1992, exceeding 30% that
year. Trends in this region clearly illustrate the fragility of tourism to political and economic adversity, but
also the resilience of the industry in its ability to revive once conditions return to normal. Tourism to the
Middle East has been a strong performer, with arrivals growing 38% and receipts 57% over this period,
leading the world trend. However, as regards average expenditure per arrival, the region’s average of
$533 is substantially below the world average of $692.
Observations on Tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean

In the Eastern Mediterranean Turkey and Greece are the dominant destinations with much of their tourism
focused along the coastlines and on the many isla nds in their territories. They are examples of destinations
offering substantial infrastructure designed for both cultural tourism and also for resort tourism. Turkey in
particular has benefited from substantial World Bank Group support from as early as the 1960s with
respect to development of virgin coastline to equip it to accommodate mass tourism from Europe. Tunisia
has also received similar aid for tourism development along its coastline. There has been substantial
foreign investment in tourism in all of these countries.
111
EXHIBIT 3: INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS ARRIVALS BY REGION 1992 – 1998 4

(Millions of arrivals; percent)
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 growth

index
World 502.8 518.3 553.3 568.5 599.6 619.6 635.1 1.26
% change 8.4 3.1 6.8 2.7 5.5 3.3 2.5
Middle East 10.9 11.4 12.8 13.5 14.1 14.8 15.0 1.38
% change 30.5 4.6 12.3 5.5 4.4 5.0 1.4
Africa 18 18.5 19.1 20.3 21.9 23.2 24.7 1.37

% change 18.0 2.8 3.2 6.3 7.9 5.9 6.5
America 103.6 103.6 106.5 110.6 116.9 118.9 122.7 1.18

% change 7.1 0 2.8 3.8 5.7 1.7 3.2
East Asia/Pacific 64.2 71.2 76.8 81.4 89 88 86.6 1.35

% change 13.8 10.9 7.9 6.0 9.3 -1.1 -1.6
Europe 302.4 310.1 334.3 338.5 353.3 369.8 381.1 1.26

% change 6.9 2.5 7.8 1.3 4.4 4.7 3.1
South Asia 3.6 3.5 3.9 4.2 4.4 4.8 5.0 1.39
% change 9.9 -2.8 11.4 7.7 4.8 9.1 4.2
4
Source: World Tourism Organization, quoted in Egypt Tourism in Figures 1998 [draft].
112
EXHIBIT 4: INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS RECEIPTS BY REGION 1992 – 1998 5

(Receipts in US$ Billions; percent)
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 growth

index
World 313.6 323.1 352.6 403 437.6 438.2 439.4 1.40
% change 13.0 3.0 9.1 14.3 8.6 0.1 0.3
Middle East 5.1 5.7 6.4 7.5 8.2 9.1 8 1.57

% change 32.7 11.8 12.3 17.2 9.3 11.0 -12.1
Africa 6.2 6.3 6.8 7.5 8.7 9 9.6 1.55

% change 23.2 1.6 7.9 10.3 16.0 3.4 6.7
America 85.5 91.1 95.2 102.7 112.4 118.9 120 1.40

% change 9.8 6.5 4.5 7.9 9.4 5.8 0.9
East Asia/Pacific 47.4 53.9 63.4 74.2 82 76.4 68.6 1.45

% change 17.2 13.7 17.6 17.0 10.5 -6.8 -10.2
Europe 166.7 163.5 177.7 207.6 222.2 220.5 228.9 1.37

% change 12.6 -1.9 8.7 16.8 7.0 -0.8 3.8
South Asia 2.8 2.7 3.1 3.5 3.9 4.3 4.3 1.54
% change 19.0 -3.6 14.8 12.9 11.4 10.3 0.0
In this region, Israel is the example of a destination that has had to cope with intermittent outbreaks of
violence causing downturns in tourist arrivals because of security fears. It has managed this problem
through different security and public relations measures and has succeeded in maintaining a general
growth pattern for its tourism industry in past years. Its neighbor Jordan has also emerged as an additional
cultural destination in the region, facilitating surface links to Israel, to Syria and to Egypt to earn a position
along the region’s key touring circuits. The Exhibit below indicates the relative magnitude in terms of
international tourism receipts in selected destinations around the Mediterranean Sea, excluding Italy,
France and Spain. In the near term, once firmly re-established onto a growth path, Egypt might be capable
of overtaking the more mature destination of Greece to capture the second place in revenue generation
after Turkey.
5
Source: World Tourism Organization, quoted in Egypt Tourism in Figures 1998 [draft].
113
EXHIBIT 5: TOURISM RECEIPTS FOR S ELECTED MEDITERRANEAN DESTINATIONS 6

[US$ millions – 1996]
Destination Receipts
Turkey 5,962
Tunisia 1,436
Israel 2,800
Greece 3,660
Egypt 3,200
Cyprus 1,670
World total 425,262

Note: Transport receipts are excluded.
4.2 Tourism to Egypt
Overall Dimensions of Tourism

Selected measures of tourism to Egypt as it has evolved since 1981 are contained in Exhibit 6. These
include tourist arrivals, nights spent by tourists in Egypt, and foreign exchange receipts for the Egyptian
economy.
EXHIBIT 6: AGGREGATE MEASURES OF TOURISM TO EGYPT 1981-1998 7
Arrivals Tourist- Duration of Foreign Exchange Receipts [US$]

nights Stay
[000s] [000s] [nights] Total per tourist Per day change
[millions]
1981 1,376.0 9,805.0 7.1 498.2 362 50.81

1985 1,518.0 9,007.0 5.9 255.5 168 28.37
1990 2,600.0 19,943.0 7.7 1,060.2 408 53.16
1995 3,133.0 20,451.0 6.5 2,298.9 734 112.41
1996 3,896.0 23,765.0 6.1 3,009.0 772 126.61 12.6%
1997 3,961.0 26,579.0 6.7 3,646.0 920 137.18 8.3%
1998 3,450.0 2,941.0
1998 2nd half 2,560.0 17,408.0 6.8 1,927 753 110.68 -19.3%
It was in 1977 that total arrivals first reached the one million threshold, and it took over a decade more
to meet the 2 million threshold in 1989. Growth accelerated and arrivals reached the 3 million threshold
only 3 years later in 1992, just missing the 4 million mark in 1997, Egypt’s banner year. It is very
significant that despite occasional downturns in arrivals caused by violent incidents and regional tension
6
Source: 1997 Tourism in Figures, Ministry of Tourism.
7
Sources: EIU Egypt Quarterly Reports; Egypt Stabilization and Structural Change, The World Bank, January 1999
114
and conflict, the basic trend has been one of clear growth, as Egypt’s tourism diversifies its product line to
expand on a sustainable basis and consolidate its position in the world’s travel marketplace.
The Luxor attack in late 1997 has caused a major downturn in 1998 [arrivals for the nation down 13%,
receipts down 19%] affecting tourism across the country. The year 1999 has been one of rebound in
traffic and some tourism specialists expect the year’s count of arrivals to well exceed 4 million and
possibly exceed the 4.5 million mark. This rebound is evidence of the success of the government’s
remedial security measures and the industry’s success in publicizing the heightened security in the source
markets.
The industry represents one of the country’s prime foreign exchange sources, exceeding US$3.6 billion
[26.7% share] in 1997, ahead of other major generators such as oil and workers’ remittances [Exhibit 7].
The economic damage of the industry’s downturn in 1998 is apparent in Exhibit 7 where tourism has
slipped in ranking behind both of these same categories [22% share]. In its banner year of 1997, tourism
earned an average expenditure per tourist of $920. Recent trends in terms of average length of stay and
spending per tourist are less clear since there has been some fluctuation in these measures. There is some
evidence that the average length of stay is declining, having fallen from 7.7 nights in 1990 to 6.7 nights in
1997. However, the levels of expenditure per tourist and per day have undergone strong growth in the
years before the downturn of 1998 [Exhibit 6].
EXHIBIT 7: TOURISM'S POSITION AS FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNER 8

[US$ millions]
Main Foreign Exchange Earnings 1997 share 1998 share
Tourism 3,646 26.7% 2,941 22.0%

Workers' Remittances 3,256 23.8% 3,519 26.3%
Oil exports 2,578 18.8% 1,728 12.9%
Non-Oil Exports 2,352 17.2% 3,400 25.4%
Suez Canal 1,849 13.5% 1,777 13.3%
Total 13,681 13,365
Source Markets for Tourists

It is the European market that dominates the visitor profile to Egypt; in 1997 representing 60% of tourists
and 63% of tourist-nights far exceeding shares for the second source, the Middle East. In that same year,
the total of tourist-nights in Egypt rose nearly 12% over the year before because of an exceptional 17%
rise in tourist-nights for Europeans. The categories Europe and America taken together represent 67% of
tourists and nearly 70% of tourist-nights. The next source is the Middle East with 22.5% of tourists and
21.2% of tourist-nights. The increase in tour operations and the opening of new scheduled and charter air
services by Egyptian and foreign airlines between different European points and Egyptian airports has
been a major factor for the strong growth in European arrivals.
8
Source: Egypt: Stabilization and Structural Change, January 1999, The World Bank
115
EXHIBIT 8: INBOUND TOURISM TO EGYPT BY MAIN GENERATING GROUPS 9
Tourists Tourists Tourist- Tourist- Average

nights nights nights
1996 1997 change 1996 1997 change share 1997
Middle 828,727 893,351 7.8% 5,649,882 5,645,915 -0.1% 21.2% 6.3

East
Africa 115,808 120,145 3.7% 814,985 868,201 6.5% 3.3% 7.2

Americas 259,057 256,668 -0.9% 1,470,667 1,693,623 15.2% 6.4% 6.6
Europe 2,342,709 2,394,414 2.2% 14,375,407 16,827,259 17.1% 63.3% 7.0
Asia 288,328 260,318 -9.7% 1,433,260 1,523,618 6.3% 5.7% 5.9
Others 61,313 36,520 -40.4% 20,440 20,214 -1.1% 0.1% 0.6
Totals 3,897,938 3,963,413 1.7% 23,766,637 26,580,827 11.8% 6.7
At the core of the lasting popularity of Egypt despite occasional setbacks is its cultural resources lead by
the Pharaonic monuments which are unique in the world. Egypt’s Islamic and Coptic heritage also form
part of the nation’s international appeal. However, it is the monumental heritage of ancient Egypt which
has long been celebrated in western literature and the arts that in the 19th century established the nation’s
image internationally giving it ready worldwide recognition. This positive renown has made it possible for
Egypt to emerge as an economical, successful beach destination offering a seaside resort experience,
available as in many parts of the world, combined with an Arab and ancient Egyptian cultural aspect that
tour operators have found highly marketable. The Western Europe market has responded to this strategy
with rising arrivals and tourist-nights.
International Accessibility
Once the sole international airport in the country, Cairo no longer dominates as the gateway for the
majority of visitors to Egypt. With the opening of land borders in Sinai, and the inception of international
air services into additional points along the Red Sea, in Sinai and in Upper Egypt, the country has greatly
improved access for its different regions from Middle Eastern and European points. In addition, with
improvements in border crossing conditions and ferry services to Jordan, mobility to and from Egypt for
travelers to the region has also improved substantially, helping to de-concentrate the industry from Cairo
and the Nile Valley and spread its benefits to other governorates. Exhibit 9 below presents this geographic
distribution of arrivals by all modes of transport [air, road, rail, and water]. The entry points of the Red
Sea and Sinai make up nearly 40% of arrivals, approaching the share of Cairo. With an 11% share Luxor
clearly serves as the major international gateway for Upper Egypt.
9
Source: 1997 Tourism in Figures Ministry of Tourism
116
EXHIBIT 9: FOREIGN ARRIVALS VIA MAIN POINTS OF ENTRY – 1997 10
Port of Entry Arrivals Share Average per day

Cairo 1,602,647 42.7% 4,391
Sinai 997,867 26.6% 2,734
Red Sea 489,850 13.1% 1,342
Luxor 414,261 11.0% 1,135
Elsalum 184,892 4.9% 507
Alexandria 30,869 0.8% 85
Aswan 14,291 0.4% 39
Suez 11,625 0.3% 32
Port Said 3,202 0.1% 9
Others 135 0.0% 0
Totals 3,749,639 10,273
Geographic Distribution of Tourism
The distribution of tourism and its benefits around the country parallels to some extent the distribution of its
lodging capacity and its usage. Exhibit 10 indicates the distribution of Egypt’s 83,000-room hotel capacity
by major zone, and the tremendous stock of 48,000 rooms under construction. The Greater Cairo area as
the nation’s prime gateway and economic center accounts for 24% of capacity [24,000 rooms]. The
nation’s coastal capacity has been approximated by summing the capacities along the Red Sea, in the Sinai
governorates and at Marsa Matrouh and exceeds 34,000 rooms. This stock amounts to 41% of the
national total. Luxor and Aswan together represent only 8.5% of the total, but if the floating hotel capacity
is included, the Upper Egypt share includes nearly 19,000 rooms or almost 23% of capacity. Exhibit 8
shows figures on tourist-nights in hotels, which reveals a pattern that approximately parallels supply.
The country’s real estate developers are rapidly expanding Egypt’s capacity along the country’s Sinai and
Red Sea coasts in order to compete for the seaside holiday market that is operating on a large scale in
nearly all the nations along the Mediterranean Sea. The development of beach resorts along these two
coastlines has enabled Egypt to compete vigorously for mass seaside tourism, which formerly had
bypassed it. Egypt’s emergence as a seaside resort destination is a major success enabling it to scale up
its industry dramatically.
It is significant that some 34,000 rooms are under construction on the coastlines indicating the industry’s
increasing orientation to resort tourism as opposed to cultural tourism. Spatially the industry is becoming
more concentrated on the Red Sea and South Sinai coastlines, while the extent of construction along the
Nile Valley is quite limited [a combined total of 7,383 rooms in Luxor, Aswan and on the floating hotels].
The resort tourism is quite different in nature from cultural tourism and the two are being promoted in
tandem for mutual benefit since many visitors are combining stays along the coast with visits to the Nile
Valley. This high volume of construction along the coasts only indicates the high confidence the
investment community has in the Egyptian government and in the travel trade to double and triple tourist
volume in the coming years. It also is an indication that the current set of tax incentives offered by
10
source: 1997 Tourism in Figures Ministry of Tourism
117
government is adequate, and that both Egyptian and foreign capital availability is sufficient.
EXHIBIT 10: EGYPT'S LODGING CAPACITY DISTRIBUTION BY REGION – 1998 11
Existing Share Under Share Total Share

rooms Construction
Cairo 11,327 13.7% 1,381 2.9% 12,708 9.7%
Giza 8,425 10.2% 2,337 4.8% 10,762 8.2%
Greater Cairo 19,752 23.8% 4,018 8.3% 23,770 18.1%
Alexandria 4,592 5.5% 528 1.1% 5,120 3.9%

Luxor 4,309 5.2% 1,971 4.1% 6,280 4.8%
Aswan 2,708 3.3% 962 2.0% 3,670 2.8%
Red Sea 18,731 22.6% 11,810 24.5% 30,541 23.3%
South Sinai 12,597 15.2% 20,218 41.9% 32,815 25.0%
North Sinai 564 0.7% 635 1.3% 1,199 0.9%
Marsa 2,266 2.7% 151 0.3% 2,417 1.8%
Matrouh
coastal total 34,158 41.2% 32,814 68.1% 66,972 51.1%
Others 5,633 6.8% 3,761 7.8% 9,394 7.2%
Floating hotels 11,673 14.1% 4,450 9.2% 16,123 12.3%
Grand Total 82,825 100% 48,204 101% 131,029 100%
EXHIBIT 11: HOTEL NIGHTS IN S ELECTED GOVERNORATES - 1997 12
Governorates Hotel Nights Percentage per day

[000s]
Cairo 6,231.8 31.2% 17,073
Alexandria 1,990.1 9.9% 5,452
Luxor 1,936.1 9.7% 5,304

Aswan 1,634.5 8.2% 4,478
Luxor + Aswan 3,570.6 17.9% 9,782
Red Sea 5,457.8 27.3% 14,953

South Sinai 2,751.9 13.8% 7,539
Total 20,002.2
Government’s Policy for Tourism
11
source: Ministry of Tourism, Information Department [with minor corrections]
12
Source: 1997 Tourism in Figures, Ministry of Tourism
118
There are several main sector issues and government strategies the project will support as well as some
strategic choices that must be made. Tourism continues to be a principal source of foreign currency for
Egypt, playing a vital role in the balance of payments. The government foresees an even stronger role for
tourism with a greater reliance upon the sector as a job creator and foreign exchange earner in the future.
The government is promoting the substantial diversification of supply of facilities in order to equip the
country to compete for new types of tourism having a broad range of interests and activities. This effort is
to be lead by the private sector relying primarily on private investment by a combination of Egyptian and
foreign investors.
The industry must find viable ways to quadruple the volume of national tourism, from a current level of 4
million [1997] to 16 million in 2017 which is the government’s target projection, and which would generate
650,000 new jobs. This pace will require the construction of 315,000 new rooms of lodging capacity at an
investment of about 100 billion Egyptian pounds, and requiring an average annual expansion of 15,750
rooms. This pace appears attainable in view of the current building momentum of 48,200 rooms [Exhibit
10] across the country. The private sector is identifying opportunities and responding to the incentives
offered by the government and this pace of construction appears to be adequate to reach this goal.
Tourism in Luxor
Key Attractions -The Magnets

The antiquities on both banks of the Nile in the region of Luxor constitute the area’s key attraction. Luxor
is an obligatory stop for the first time cultural tourist to Egypt and for many repeat visitors. A second
attraction is the natural beauty of the Theban Mountains and the Nile River, which offer outstanding
scenery for all types of tourists. A third attraction is the local village life present in the town and
throughout the river valley, relevant for the cultural tourist. This beauty is not at all unique to Luxor as it is
found throughout the Nile River valley and in many of the country’s oases. Finally a fourth attraction is the
mild, dry, sunny weather of the region for most of the year particularly in the winter months, but excluding
the summer months.
Measures of Tourism Activity

The Structure Plan for Luxor City has estimated a visitor volume in the 1.0-1.5 million-visitor range for
1997 and bases its planning on a 1.2 million-visitor level. This count includes visitors lodged in local lodging
establishments, in floating hotels, and also day visitors based at points along the Red Sea, in Aswan and
even in Cairo.
Exhibits 9 to 15 provide various measures of tourist activity at Luxor as contained in the lodging statistics
issued by the Ministry of Tourism. To approximate the economic role of Luxor tourism in generating
foreign currency, one can use different measures to allocate to Luxor a share of total national foreign
exchange earnings from tourism [Exhibit 7]:
• its share of hotel capacity, 5.2%

• its share of hotel nights sold, 9.7% [which includes an allocation of floating hotels]
• its share of foreign arrivals, 11.0%
The share of hotel capacity is the best measure since it excludes the contribution of floating hotels which
capture a significant part of the foreign air arrivals to Luxor. The occupancy performance of Luxor’s
hotels as a group has largely paralleled the national trend [Exhibit 9] except in 1998 when with Aswan it
119
suffered a severe downturn in occupancy, sinking to 26% versus the 45% national average. The Aswan
performance is the weakest of them all, while the Red Sea and South Sinai averages are clearly the
strongest ones, which is motivating the continued expansion along the coasts.
EXHIBIT 12: ANNUAL OCCUPANCY RATES OF HOTEL ROOMS 1994-99 [PERCENTAGES ]13
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

5 months
South Sinai 82 75 76 71 61 77
Cairo 67 64 65 67 54 70
Red Sea 65 74 77 72 53 77
Giza 59 62 64 61 49 66
Alexandria 53 56 57 56 50 51
Luxor 41 47 66 66 26 decline 51 rebound
Aswan 21 24 33 45 26 50
Average 55 57 63 62 45 63
Foreign Currency Generation

An estimate of foreign currency generation for Luxor and Aswan is shown in Exhibit 10. For Luxor
tourism only it equals $190 million excluding any floating hotel contribution. In reality a pro-rata share of
the floating hotel contribution could be allocated to Luxor and to Aswan on whose local economies the
floating hotel industry depends. The Luxor share so defined is estimated at $360.7 million if simply half the
floating hotel allotment is allocated to it. This amount equaled a substantial injection of one million dollars
per day of foreign currency expenditure for 1997, falling to less than half that for the depressed industry in
1998. These estimates of foreign currency generation reflect initial injections into the economy, and
reflect no multiplier effect upon it which would be greater.
EXHIBIT 13: ESTIMATION OF 1997 FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNINGS-LUXOR S HARE

[US$ millions]
share earnings
Luxor 5.2% 189.7 Hotels only

Aswan 3.3% 119.2 Hotels only
Luxor + Aswan 17.9% 650.8 Hotels & floating hotels
Floating hotels 342.0 Derived

Luxor + floating 360.7 Derived
National total 100% 3,646.0
Note: Estimate for floating hotels is derived from Min. of Tourism information.
Tourism at Luxor’s Hotels
13
Source: Ministry of Tourism - Computer Center.
120
Some additional indicators of tourism to Luxor appear in Exhibit 14 and 15. A flow of approximately
405,000 tourists to Luxor is estimated by this method, which excludes day visitors staying outside the area
and tourists lodged in the floating hotels. If these two groups can be estimated, a total exceeding 1 million
visitors for 1997 may be a reasonable estimate since the allocation of a share of the floating hotel tourism
alone [having over 11,000 rooms] would more than double this amount. These estimates hold that on an
average day in 1997, 1,135 tourists arrived on international flights at Luxor airport, and an average guest
population in the city’s hotels was 5,547 persons. For 1998 the numbers are drastically lower.
EXHIBIT 14: S ELECTED MEASURES OF TOURISM AT LUXOR
daily
average
Tourist arrivals by air - 1997 1,135 tourists
Occupied rooms -1997, 66% 3,082 rooms
Occupied rooms -1998, 26% 1,120 rooms
Hotel guest count 1997 5,547 guests
Hotel guest count 1998 2,017 guests
Estimated hotel guests: year total

1997 year total 404,914 guests
1998 year total 147,213 guests
Change -63.6% decline
Notes:
1. Average stay assumption is 5 nights.
2. Guests per room assumption is 1.8.
Exhibit 15 below indicates the geographical composition of guests lodged at the hotels in Luxor. It is
notable that visitors from Europe and the Americas make up a 57% share of total resident nights. The
Arab share is only 6.3%. The average length of stay is 5 nights.
121
EXHIBIT 15: LUXOR HOTEL RESIDENTS BY GEOGRAPHIC GROUP - 1997 14
Residents Res.-nights Average Res.-nights

nights Share
NS&W Europe 103,176 491,211 4.8 25.4%
Egyptians 55,945 263,169 4.7 13.6%
North America 55,193 233,657 4.2 12.1%
Australasia 53,425 223,571 4.2 11.5%
South America 39,350 193,990 4.9 10.0%
Arabs 29,398 186,115 6.3 9.6%
East Europe 26,107 184,723 7.1 9.5%
Africa 25,013 159,680 6.4 8.2%
Total 387,607 1,936,116 5.0 100.0%
The Functions of Luxor for Egypt’s Tourism
The Luxor area fulfills different functions regarding the tourism that it serves. The listed functions
describe the role Luxor currently is playing for Egypt’s tourism; they do not include any potential or
unrealized ones.
• A Prime Destination for Cultural Tourism: Traveling in organized groups or individually, these
tourists use hotels and guest-houses and are motivated by their interest in the Egypt’s past. Luxor
serves as the primary gateway to Upper Egypt.
• A Base for the Cruise Industry: Luxor serves at the main port for Nile cruisers. Nearly all cruises
operate between Luxor and Aswan as the extended cruise between Cairo and Upper Egypt has been
discontinued.
• An Emerging Destination for Long-stay Vacationers: The long-term vacationers favor the
Mövenpicke Hotel on Crocodile Island, and a number of homes and guesthouses located on both
banks of the river. As temporary residents for several weeks or months, their average daily
expenditure is typically much less than the general average for tourists.
• A Prime Destination for Day-long Excursions: Tourists lodged in Cairo, on the Red Sea coast or
in Aswan can easily purchase day-long excursions by bus or airplane to visit Luxor. These generate
the least benefit for the local economy.
The gateway function for Luxor is highly important as Luxor links Upper Egypt with the outside world
through three channels. Firstly, air and rail links to the country’s prime gateway, the capital city Cairo,
form the key domestic travel corridor between Lower and Upper Egypt. Secondly, the road link between
Luxor and the Red Sea coast is growing in importance as the country’s largest concentration of tourist
capacity expands. Finally, international air services into Luxor link Upper Egypt directly with major
metropolitan areas in the Middle East, Europe and Britain with nonstop flights of from 3 to 5 hours, a major
14
source: 1997 Tourism in Figures, Ministry of Tourism
122
advance in travel efficiency. If conditions remain peaceful, the foreign carriers that canceled scheduled
services after the 1997 attack will reinstate them and provide direct flight connections from cities in North
America and Japan into Luxor.
Aspects characterizing tourism to Luxor representing its strengths and weaknesses are summarized
below.
Strengths:
The enduring popularity of its cultural attractions: Luxor will retain its prominent status in
international promotions and along the main touring circuits for the foreseeable future.
Mild wintertime climate: The climate of Upper Egypt is mild and pleasant throughout the winter season;
the industry regularly increases prices during the peak season.
Excellent Transportation nexus: Luxor functions as a good transport hub for all modes [international &
domestic air, road, cruise and rail] and enjoys easy road proximity to the Red Sea coast.
Factor availability: Labor and land are plentiful and unhindered by binding shortages enabling further
expansion in the scale of tourism in the area as the demand for more services grows.
Low price level: This is true of all parts of Egypt excluding the metropolitan Cairo area. Hotel and
restaurant prices are very competitive internationally during most seasons of the year.
Weaknesses:
One -dimensional product: The offering of attractions and activities at Luxor is quite limited since it
consists mainly of the extraordinary antiquities and the Egyptian village life with little more. There is an
absence of facilities and activities such as cultural events and performances, sports facilities, meetings and
conferences, language schools or cultural institutes, or health spas.
Substandard service quality: The unfamiliarity of foodservice and hotel staff with international
standards of service results in unsatisfactory service in tourism establishments and dissatisfaction of
visitors.
Both of these weaknesses have solutions. The second falls in the realm of human resources development
[training]. The first one was identified in interviews with hotel managers and tour operators familiar with
Luxor and Egypt generally. It is the first of these two weaknesses that the El Toad project will address
squarely if it is implemented as recommended in this report.
The Projection of Tourism to Luxor
The CDCL has examined the MOT’s growth target in arrivals and has measured the implications for
tourism to Luxor taking into account a number of factors such as the volume of day visitors, the visitor
capacity at the ancient tombs, and the increase in cruise ship capacity. This plan foresees a need for a
total of 6,600 additional rooms in hotels to be located in the Luxor area. Exhibit 16 below indicates the
ideal allocation of capacity to Luxor City, New Luxor, Other Markhaz [Khuzam and West Bank], and to
the project site at El Toad.
123
EXHIBIT 16: ESTIMATED HOTEL CAPACITY REQUIREMENT, 201715
Hotels in Cruise Ships Total

Luxor Study (rooms divided
Area by 3)
Existing Hotel Room Supply 3,858 3,386 7,244
1997 Tourists/day=12,420
Planned Additions to Hotel Room Supply
Add 100 cruise ships likely 1,693 1,693
Add rooms planned 1,348 1,348
Sub-total, Supply 5,206 5,079 10,285
2017 Hotel Room Demand

Total Room Demand, based on increased 11,804 5,079 16,883
capacity of West Bank tombs in 2017
Tourists/day=28,875
Required additional rooms in Study Area 6,598 Rounded = 6,600
Approximate Distribution of Estimated New Rooms:

Luxor City 500
New Luxor 700
Other Markhaz 900
Khuzam 600
Other West Bank 300
El Toad 4,500
Total 6,600
Plus rooms already planned or started in Luxor City 1,348
This increase of 6,600 rooms represents a 127% rise over the 5,206-room level in existing and planned
projects. This increase is far below the 300% rise in total arrivals to Egypt targeted by the MOT because
of the buildup of substantial new capacity along the coastal areas of Sinai and the Red Sea, and also
because of the continued expansion of the floating hotel industry. The distribution of this added capacity
by category is contained in Exhibit 17 below, which depicts the dominance of the four and five star
categories.
15
Source: CDCL Phase II, Draft Structure Plan Report; Table 4.
124
EXHIBIT 17: DISTRIBUTION OF NEW HOTEL CAPACITY BY TYPE16
Breakdown by Hotel Type Total New Rooms

Five Four Three New
Stars Stars Stars Hotels
Typical Size, rooms/hotel 300 250 200
Luxor City 2 2 500
New Luxor 2 1 3 700
El Toad 7 4 7 18 4,500
Other Markhaz 2 2 4 900
Totals 7 10 10 27 6,600
.
4.6 Existing Economic Pressures and Impacts
A number of factors influencing the economic environment for tourism in Upper Egypt and specifically in
Luxor are discussed below.
Limited Employment Opportunities for South Egypt

There is an exodus from South Egypt of new entrants into the labor force to Cairo and the delta area,
more recently to the Red Sea coastline, or abroad to jobs in foreign countries. The amount of entry-level
job opportunities in the region is inadequate to absorb the expanding labor force. Many people are partially
occupied in low-yield agriculture, in minor retailing activities or in the informal sector. As a result pay
levels are low. As tourism makes major use of unskilled and low-skill labor, the industry benefits from the
low prevalent wage level.
Insufficient Dispersal of Activity and Participation of Rural Citizenry

In Luxor, most of the food, lodging and entertainment needs of visitors are met by businesses in the central
part of the city itself and only secondarily by establishments on the West Bank or in rural areas. The
same is probably true for the cruise industry, which is using both Aswan and Luxor for basing purposes.
Most commercial tourism activity is quite concentrated in the immediate areas of Luxor and Karnak
temples, and at a limited number of ancient sites on the West Bank. Rural areas of Luxor are basically
bypassed by tourist activity.
Hotel Development Activity

Despite these pressures, but in view of the reviving hotel occupancy figures, investors are proceeding with
several hotel construction projects that will directly expand the capacity for international tourism. Some of
the existing hotels are undergoing renovation programs as well to remain competitive. Projects under
construction and proposed ones with permits are listed in Exhibit 18. It is significant that a few of the
projects are stalled or proceeding very slowly. Construction ceased on the largest one, the Sofitel site,
some 3 years ago. It is apparent that an unclear legal environment has slowed and even stalled some of
these projects. The decision to proceed for all or most these projects was taken prior to the tourist attack
of November 1997. The ultimate completion of all of them is uncertain. In view of the problems some of
16
Source: CDCL Phase II, Draft Structure Plan Report; Table 5
125
these projects are facing, a situation of over-building and over-supply in the hotel industry does not appear
probable over the short run.
EXHIBIT 18: NEW HOTEL PROJECTS IN LUXOR17
Project, sponsor Status Size Comments

1 Sofitel, Construction 350 rooms Semi-rural site north of town
Intercontinental Co. Advanced, stalled 3 Low-rise design
years in litigation riverside site
2 Memphis, I. Dusuki Proposed 55 rooms Salaheldin Square
3 Marriott, Egyptian Proposed for site 268 rooms Riverside site adjacent to
General Org. for involving litigation Novotel
Tourism & Hotels
4 Queens Valley, B. Fakri Under construction 60 rooms Yusef Hussein St.
5 Meridien Nile Palace, Construction 296 rooms Narrow river frontage,

Dr. Galad Zaki advanced between Isis, Sonesta hotels
6 Sunrise, P. Markos Under construction 25 rooms City location on river
7 El Abte, Mohamed Proposed 118 rooms River site in Awameya

Shaba
8 King Tut, Egyptian Proposed 300 rooms River site in El Bogdadi

Projects for Tourism
Co.
Total rooms 1,472 rooms
Total under 731 rooms

construction under
construction
Other Tourism-related Developments
Two other developments in the Luxor area of major importance for tourism to Upper Egypt are described
below.
The Royal Valley Golf Club

The Royal Valley Golf Club is a private development situated north of the airport on a 500-feddan site east
of the city. This project is an undertaking of the Tulip Co. of Cairo, which undertakes other real estate
development including villa and golf course development, some of which is in the greater Cairo area. Tulip
is using a desert site for this project, which eventually will have as many as 3 hotels, villas, and a museum,
17
Source: Ministry of Tourism, Luxor City Office
126
in addition to the club house and 18-hole golf course which is now nearing completion. Its strategy is to
use the golf course to market the other components of the project and it intends to build this resort
community fully up to international standards. This golf club intends to serve as the pioneer golf resort in
Upper Egypt and establish the name of Luxor internationally as a golfing destination. This project
significantly parallels the subject project of this report. It is evidence of the confidence that the private
sector has in the future of tourism to Upper Egypt. Its completion is a major step towards the needed
product diversification for tourism at Luxor that the MOT holds as an objective.
Cruising Port at the new Nile River Bridge

Some berths for cruise ships have been built on the down-river [north] side of the new bridge on the east
bank, but are not as of yet in full use since few shore facilities are installed. The prospect of development
of the immediate vicinity on either side of this bridge as a functional facility for the cruise ship industry has
several tangible advantages such as:
• sufficient land for a well-designed shore base containing all needed facilities
• excellent road access to the berths for vehicles of all sizes
• proximity to the Cairo-Aswan highway in an uncongested environment
• proximity to the West Bank and its ancient sites
• accessibility to Luxor airport in 15 minutes
• space for complementary activities [retail, food outlets, etc]
International Airline Access

The initiation in recent years of nonstop charter flights into Luxor from European points is a major advance
for Upper Egypt, substantially improving the logistics of moving volumes of tourists between the region and
the source countries. The domestic air service on the Cairo-Luxor run is not sufficient in all seasons of
the year for moving groups handled by the tour operators or cruise operators. The capability for tourist
flows to reach Luxor directly and entirely bypass Cairo is a major advantage for tour operators managing
flows of travelers to Upper Egypt in groups. The reinstatement of regularly scheduled flights, on either a
seasonal or year-round basis, between Luxor and regional and European points [Athens, Tel Aviv, Beirut,
Frankfurt, London, Paris, etc] is to be encouraged to gain ready access for Upper Egypt to those markets,
and to facilitate connections from the more distant North American and Far East cities.
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Annex 5: Concept for an International Antiquities Preservation Fund

Overview:
An International Antiquities Preservation Fund will focus on raising funding from the international
community to support: a) antiquities preservation and maintenance in Egypt, b) enhancing visitor
understanding of, and appreciation for, the cultural achievements represented in the antiquities and c)
advancing protection of the antiquities with economic benefits for contemporary society in Egypt. The
International Antiquities Preservation Fund will be a charitable (tax-exempt, non-profit), non-governmental
organization (NGO) with affiliates in Egypt and major contributor nations worldwide. Funds will be raised
from public campaigns, donor agencies and foundations. The Investment Package will provide funding: a)
to support organization of the Fund and affiliates in selected nations and b) for a 2-year initial fund raising
campaign to raise 5 times the investment and establish the Fund as self-sustaining.
Background:
Preservation Issues
The monuments are threatened from natural and visitor causes. After restoration, the monuments become
exposed to the elements and require constant maintenance to preserve. Water infiltration from rainwater
and human wastewater affect many monuments. However, the most severe threat to the antiquities is,
ironically, from the very tourists coming to appreciate them. As political stability returns to Egypt, the
growing world tourism is contributing to an even higher escalation of visitors to Egypt. World tourism is
growing at a projected annual rate of 4.5%. In 1996/97, tourist visits to Egypt increased 13.5% and tourist
nights increased 27.3%. The monuments are being overwhelmed with their popularity. This popularity
may be the seeds of their destruction. In Luxor, it is projected that tourist visits will increase from over 1
million in 1996 to over 4 million in 20 years.
The human threat for the Pharaonic tombs is particularly compelling. Noted Egyptologists have predicted
that the Pharaonic tombs in Luxor could deteriorate to ruin in as little as thirty-five years due to tourism
pressures. The Getty Conservation Institute, in the course of their preservation work on Queen
Nefertari’s Tomb, found that twelve people in the tomb for only one hour increases the relative humidity
by five percent. On a peak hour during the high season, an average of 4,500 tourists will visit the
Pharaonic tombs in Luxor. At this time, there could be as much as 1,500 to 2,000 tourists waiting to visit
the three most popular tombs in the Valley of the Kings. The Getty findings also estimated that the full
visitor load (30 visitors entering the tomb for nine hours a day) will increase the relative humidity level in
the tomb to 100 percent before the end of the day. With tourism projected to increase from over 1 million
visitors to Luxor in 1996 to over 4 million visitors annually in 20 years, the pressures from tourism will only
accelerate deterioration of the antiquities.
The Pharaonic tombs are particularly vulnerable to humidity. The Pharaonic artisans covered the walls in
plaster and painted their magnificent hieroglyphics on this surface. Humidity causes the formation of salt
crystals in the plaster and, over time, these salt crystals cause a peeling away of the plaster. Despite
several attempts to save the art work, at least a fifth of the wall paintings have been lost. In the majestic
temples, underground water erodes the column bases and renders them unstable. This underground water
is from the water table rising in human settlements around the monuments and wastewater. Solutions to
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the underground water problem are expensive. For example, work continues on stabilizing the columns in
Luxor Temple and, to date, to preserve 22 columns, approximately LE 7 million (US $ 2.1) was required.
Human settlements have encroached on even the most popular monuments in Egypt. There are
settlements near the Pyramids, Karnak Temple, Luxor’s Pharaonic tombs and many other of the most
significant monuments. These settlements are built over antiquities and their presence contributes to
deterioration of the buried antiquities. To relocate residents from monument areas is a complicated and
very expensive process. The need for basic survival overrides concern for the unearthed antiquities.
Luxor Antiquities
Luxor is the major antiquities area in Egypt. The Pyramids are near Cairo, but the vast repository of
antiquities in Luxor makes it the most unique and fascinating location to appreciate Pharaonic culture and
art. Luxor contains the world’s most significant Pharaonic temples and buried tombs. The Valley of the
Kings, Valley of the Queens, Tombs of the Nobles, Karnak Temple (the largest Pharaonic temple in
Egypt), Luxor Temple, Queen Nefertari’s Tomb, Tutankhamun’s Tomb, Temple of Hatsepsut, and Colossi
of Memnon represent a partial list of some of the most popular monuments in Luxor. Tutankhamun and
Nefertari are two symbols of Pharaonic culture that are almost as well revered as the Pyramids. There
are many other antiquities in various stages of restoration and many more unexcavated. Of the estimated
over 500 tombs in Luxor, only 40 have been restored. Many foreign archeological missions continue
restoration work in Luxor. However, as indicated above, these missions have no resources to continue to
maintain the restored treasures after their archeological work is completed.
The Economics Of The Antiquities

Tourism to Egypt in 1996 resulted in revenues to the nation of US $3,009 million. This is approximately
10% of total Gross Domestic Product and the major source of foreign exchange earnings for the nation.
Tourism is one of the major employers, both for full-time and part-time employment (1 of 7 Egyptians are
employed in the Tourism Sector). Egypt is confronted with a rapidly growing population that is projected
to increase from 65 million people in 1996 to over 100 million people in 20 years. The development needs
of the nation are extensive to raise the standard of living of its citizenry, where poverty remains an
intractable reality. Political stability largely depends on the ability of leaders to successfully address the
country’s urgent social and developmental needs. The antiquities are important to Egypt, but funds for
their preservation and maintenance must compete against all the vital needs of the nation.
To simply call for Egypt to devote the necessary financial resources to preserve the antiquities, or limit
tourist access to monuments to preserve them, does not address the reality of Egypt’s situation. In fact,
the Government’s budget for antiquities maintenance and operations does not accommodate even modest
plans and programs. Egypt depends in large measure on tourism to improve its economy and, therefore,
will continue to promote tourism to the maximum. The private sector is being called upon increasingly to
finance much of Egypt’s development requirements. There are no direct financial returns for the private
sector investing in antiquities preservation and, consequently, funding for preservation must be raised
internationally from private and government contributor sources.
Prospects For An International Antiquities Preservation Fund

There are many successful funds worldwide for a myriad of social and cultural causes. There is even a
World Monument Fund, which raises substantial funds for preservation and lists Old Gourna in Luxor, as
one of its 100 worldwide target sites. It is estimated that over 50 billion US dollars are contributed
worldwide for good causes each year. There is no special fund, however, focusing on raising contributions
and grants for Egypt’s antiquities. The global reverence for Egypt’s antiquities, the continuous and
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extensive media, museum and university attention focused on Egypt’s antiquities and the allure of
preserving some of mankind’s most cherished cultural icons provide a clear opportunity to attract
contributions on a consistent and long-term basis through an International Antiquities Preservation Fund.
There are numerous foreign missions funding archeological projects in Egypt. There are foundations and
donor agencies contributing millions of dollars for specific archeological and restoration projects in Egypt,
but none on a consistent annual basis to meet on-going preservation requirements of restored antiquities .
There are organizations in Egypt attempting to raise funds for cultural projects. For example, the
American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) has for many years raised funds, at a modest level, for
projects and recently was awarded a sizable endowment from USAID for its role in preservation in Egypt.
ARCE, however, has no international fund-raising campaign and does not have sufficient resources to
conduct the many worthwhile preservation projects on its agenda. Other local efforts are in various stages
of development, e.g. a prominent businessman in Cairo is attempting to create an international fund named
Friends of the Royal Tombs; this organization has small affiliates in Switzerland and Scandinavia. There is
not, however, a prominent voice to give international expression to the need for contributions and to
establish a mechanism through which contributions can be made for antiquities preservation, maintenance
and protection in Egypt.
There are many prestigious institutions worldwide that would endorse efforts to raise funds for
preservation of the antiquities in Egypt, even if they, themselves, could not be major contributors.
Museums, universities and historical societies could contribute their prominence as members of a board-of-
directors. Wealthy persons are searching for causes that have universal appeal, e.g. Ted Turner’s recent
commitment to donate US $1 billion to the United Nations. George Soros has a foundation which
contributes tens of millions of dollars to development in Eastern Europe. Many corporations worldwide
have foundations to contribute to causes of interest to their executives, for example, American Express
contributes US $ 1 million annually to the World Monuments Fund. The recognition of need, the prominent
supporters and the benefits are evident, now the mechanism to channel contributions must emerge to save
Egypt’s antiquities.
Investment Description and Preliminary Cost Estimate:
An International Antiquities Preservation Fund should be established and a 2-year fund-raising campaign
financed, through an investment by a donor agency, foundation or other source. It will be a non-
governmental organization (NGO), with charitable purposes that should be accorded tax-exempt status in
many nations. The Fund will have affiliates in a number of countries to pursue fund-raising and to sponsor
education, exhibitions and Egyptian antiquities tours in their individual countries.
Purposes of the Fund
The Fund will have several purposes:

• International fund-raising for antiquities preservation in Egypt;
• Provide funding for preservation, managing and maintenance of restored antiquities in Egypt;
• Provide funding for restoration of antiquities sites;
• Provide funding for mediation and financial resources necessary to accommodate the needs of
communities for relocation from antiquities sites in accord with their traditional cultural values and
economic concerns;
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• Provide funding for measures to accommodate tourism growth that minimizes impacts on
monuments;
• Provide funding to develop and maintain museums, replicas and other interpretative facilities to
enhance visitor understanding of, and appreciation for, the antiquities;
• Provide funding to develop and conduct education programs to enhance Egyptian understanding
of, and appreciation for, the antiquities;
• Provide funding to develop and conduct training programs to expand the number of qualified
Egyptian Egyptologists, restoration experts and antiquities site managers, maintenance personnel
and guides; and
• Provide funding to develop media, exhibition and other presentations to promote global
understanding of, and appreciation for, the Egyptian antiquities.
Phase I - Organization of the Fund
The International Antiquities Preservation Fund would be organized with Egyptian and international
sponsorship. The Fund will be a non-profit, non-governmental organization. The Fund will be an umbrella
agency with affiliates in a number of countries, e.g. Egypt, USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Greece,
Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Scandinavian countries and Japan. The Fund will be responsible for
programming, and accounting for, applications of the funds raised from global campaigns. Celebrity
spokespersons would be sought to improve visibility.
The investment from a donor agency or foundation would be used to engage an experienced fund
development expert, public relations advisors and legal and accounting advisors to: i) coordinate Fund
organization with appropriate Egyptian authorities and prominent organizations / individuals involved with
preservation activities in Egypt, ii) organize the International Fund and sponsoring affiliates, iii) obtain tax-
exempt status for the Fund and affiliates, iv) prepare an action agenda of projects to be funded and v)
prepare a business plan to sponsor fund-raising campaigns and administer activities in Egypt. This will be
an 18-month effort.
Preliminary Cost Estimate for Phase I: LE 1.5 (US $450,000)
Phase II - Initial Fund-Raising Campaigns And Activities

The investment from a donor agency or foundation would be used to sponsor a 2-year fund-raising
campaign. The investment could be a grant, non-recourse loan or a combination of the two. The objective
is to raise 5 times the amount of the initial investment from international contributions. The proposed
investment of LE 850,000 (US $ 250,000) in year one, and LE 1.7 million (US $ 500,000) in year two, are
expected to generate contributions of US $ 3.75 million over the 2-year initial period. After this 2-year
period, the Fund will be self-sustaining. Funds raised would be programmed for activities approved by the
Fund’s Board-of-Directors and activities would commence to demonstrate the Fund’s on-going role in
Egyptian antiquities preservation. This would be a 2-year effort.
Preliminary Cost Estimate for Phase II: LE 2.55 million (US $750,000) (US $250,000 in year one and
US $500,000 in year two)
Closing Remarks
Accessing some of the annual US$ 50 billion in worldwide donations for worthy causes would provide
significant, continuing and long-term financial resources to augment Egypt’s contributions to maintaining
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and restoring the antiquities. An International Antiquitie s Preservation Fund would provide the
mechanism to access worldwide donations. Global fascination with Egypt’s antiquities translates into
many individuals, corporations and foundations that would be willing to contribute to the preservation of
the antiquities. Many creative gift-giving campaign can be initiated. Global marketing of Egyptian
antiquity symbols could further revenue generation. Television, movies and other media presentations,
museum collections and special exhibitions and university programs continue to provide free marketing of
antiquities and keep them in consciousness of prospective contributors. Contributors are willing, now only
a vehicle needs to be established to allow them to give expression to their generosity and concern for such
beloved icons of civilization. A relatively small donor investment in establishing an International Antiquities
Preservation Fund would be the impetus for accessing global contributions.
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Annex 6: The National Plan for the Development of the South of

Egypt, 2017 18
South Of Egypt Strategy, 2017
The Government of Egypt's general strategy for the development of Egypt over the coming two decades
calls for a “Comprehensive Development” approach; not only at the sector level but also at the regional
level. This strategy has received specific focus in those regions that have received equitable development
resources. This strategy attempts to transform these regions into “population attracting” ones and also to
achieve a better and balanced population distribution outside the inhabited Nile Valley.
Within the framework of this general strategy, several national projects have been planned and are
currently underway. At the forefront of these is the National Project for the Development of Sinai, the
National Project for the Development of the South of Egypt, the National Plan for Rural Development and
others.
Objectives
These National Projects share a number of objectives:
• To boost the private sector’s role in development and to create a favorable environment for
private sector participation;
• Mobilizing Governorates’ resources for effective utilization at both the local and national levels;
• To achieve balanced development for various Governorates and resolve problems resulting from
population and activities centralization;
• To achieve an equitable distribution of investments and services among Governorates; and
• To offer the chance for regional institutions for effective participation in development activities.
Strategic Directions
The major strategic directions for Comprehensive Development are:
1. To raise the real growth rate of GDP to an average of 8% annually

2. To create more than 12 million jobs;
3. To construct about 4 million housing units;
4. To provide potable water to each settlement, no matter how small it is and to provide sewerage
facilities and treatment in all cities, districts and villages;
5. To achieve complete absorption (full enrollment) in primary education, to eradicate illiteracy and to
18
Ministry of Planning, Summary National Plan for the Development of the South of Egypt to the Year 2017,
February 18, 1996 (in Arabic).
133
lower classroom density in all education levels to about 30 students per class;
6. To develop and upgrade universities, emphasis on scientific research and linkages to community and
development needs.
7. To improve health indicators, emphasis on preventive health;
8. To disperse population outside the inhabited Valley to achieve balance and emphasizing rural
development as one of the bases for national development;
9. To reclaim and cultivate around 2 million feddans;
10. To develop industries at a real growth rate between 10% and 14%;
11. To increase attention given to tourism and tourism infrastructure to reach an overall tourism flow of 15
million in 2012 and around 129 million touristic nights;
12. To increase generated electricity;
13. To upgrade and improve road networks, railroads and telecommunications; and
14. To gradually increase rural citizens’ participation in the development process.
Background
The South of Egypt encompasses two planning regions:
1. South Upper Egypt Region: including the Luxor City, Governorates of Sohag, Qena, Aswan, and the
southern part of the Red Sea Governorate, and
2. Middle Upper Egypt Region (Assiyut Region): including the Governorates of Assiyut and El Wadi El
Gedid (New Valley), in addition to the remainder of Red Sea Governorate.
The overall area of the South of Egypt is slightly more than half the total area of Egypt. However, the
population of the area is no more than 10 million inhabitants, or 17% of total Egypt’s population. Most of
this population is concentrated in the Nile Valley whereas only less than 0.25 million reside in the Red Sea
and El Wadi El Gedid Governorates.
The region encompasses one of the two major areas for out migration; that is, Assiyut, Sohag and Qena
where population density is very high. The Red Sea is the only Governorate positively impacted by
migration. With proposed developments, it is expected that the total population of the South of Egypt
would reach approximately 16.2 million inhabitants by 2017.
Principals and Objectives
The principals and objectives of the National Project for the Development of South of Egypt are
summarized as:
• Improvement locals’ living standards and minimizing economic and social gaps between them and the
rest of Egypt’s population;
• Transforming promising zones of this region into attracting areas for activities and population;
• Exploring new horizons for agriculture, industry and tourism to participate in national development;
• Attracting the private sector to participate and support the development of the region;
• Contribution to the resolution of security problems within the framework of economic and social
development;
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• Improvement of comprehensive development management and local administration and supporting

local administration.
Economic Resources
Tourism represents one of the most important activities in the South of Egypt region. There are two main
types of tourism: cultural tourism in antiquity sites in Luxor and Aswan and resort and water sports tourism
in Hurghada and along the Red Sea shores.
The South of Egypt encompasses some 1.3 million feddans of agriculture land, primarily in the
governorates of Assiyut, Sohag, Qena and Aswan. Agriculture land, on the other hand, is minimal in the
two desert governorates of El Wadi El Gedid and Red Sea. However, these two governorates hold the
largest potential for land reclamation. El Wadi El Gedid governorate, alone, has some 365,000 feddans of
land suitable for reclamation. The other four governorates, between them, hold some 951,000 feddans of
land suitable for reclamation.
The South of Egypt also includes two major fishing grounds, namely Lake Nasser and the Red Sea shores.
The region is also rich in its mineral resources, particularly in the southern parts of the Eastern Desert:
gold, copper, iron, phosphate, zinc, lead and others, in addition to quarries for marble, granite, white sands
and gypsum. El Wadi El Gedid governorate has the richest deposits of phosphate in Abu Tartour.
Although processing industries do not constitute a major element of the region’s economic structure, the
region is not void of some important industries such as sugar in Qena and Aswan, aluminum in Nagaa
Hammady (Qena), cement in Assiyut and fertilizers and chemicals in Aswan.
Human Resources
Governorates of the South of Egypt region enjoy a pool of human resources that can aid in the
establishment and operation of many productive projects, which will lead to considerable social and
economic improvements in the region.
Tourism
Major Issues
• Importance of diversifying the tourism product.
• Support/Expand Nile tourism.
• Upgrading and landscaping of antiquity sites and environmental preservation.
• Importance of integration and linkages between tourism areas in El Wadi El Gedid, Red Sea and the
Western Desert.
Sector Objectives
• Achieving effective utilization of tourism resources, with emphasis on existing infrastructure and public
utilities.
• Directing tourism development away from congested, fast growing areas to alleviate environmental
135
pressures on natural and cultural resources.

• Definition of tourism centers with promising potentials to accommodate tourism growth in the region.
• Achieving integration among tourism areas through linkages between circulation networks.
• Distribution of tourism products and their integration among different areas.
Planned Projects to 2017
Tourism Accommodation
Projected new accommodation for the South of Egypt is estimated at 228,000 new rooms, 88% of which in
the Red Sea mainly for resort and recreational tourism and 11% in Aswan and Luxor for historic tourism.
These new rooms are distributed as follows:
TABLE 1: PROJECTED NEW TOURIS M ACCOMMODATION IN THE S OUTH OF EGYPT, 2017
Governorate No. of Rooms Pe5rcentage

Red Sea 200,000 87.92
Aswan * 15,741 6.9
Luxor 9,259 4.07
Qena 800 0.35
Sohag 724 0.32
El Wadi El Gedid 575 0.27
Assiyut 375 0.16
Total 227,474 100.00
* Inclusive of cruise ships with new capacity of up to 5,000 rooms.
Luxor:
• Construction of a Nile docks complex.
• Establishment of a golf course and areas for recreational facilities.
• Construction of a Nile port south of the City.
• Streetscape and paving of city roads.
• Shading areas on the West Bank.
Aswan Governorate:
• Construction of a repair and maintenance center for Nile ships.
• Improvement and upgrading of roads leading to antiquity sites in the cities of Aswan, Kom Ombo,
Esna and Edfu.
• Construction of a new dock in Aswan and repair of existing ones.
• Streetscape of roads leading to hotels.
• Construction of a bridge over the Nile.
• Construction of Kalabsha bridge and Kalabsha Institute.
Red Sea Governorate:

• Development of Sahl Hashish area.
136
• Development of Ras Benias area.

• Development of Marsa Alam area.
• Development of Abu Soma area.
• Development of Wadi El Gemal area.
Assuit Governorate:
• Construction of a cruise ships port and development of docking area.
• Upgrading and landscaping of antiquity areas around Mir area.
• Completion of the Assiyut Wadi road.
• Construction of a bridge on Nagaa Hammady El Sharkeyia.
• Grading and paving of the governorate’s roads.
• Construction of a fence for the touristic project in El Haggameyia.
Sohag Governorate:
• Paving of Akhmim area roads.
• Expansion of El Baliana dockings and completion of the Corniche.
• Completion of Akhmim cafeteria.
Qena Governorate:
• Establishment of a control, communication and rescue center.
• Construction of a cruise ships port.
• Corniche Qena bridge.
• Construction of gates at Qena entrance.
• Construction of gates at Esna City entrance.
• Completion of El Kallabeyia Canal Corniche.
• Development of Denderra Temple area.
El Wadi El Gedid Governorate:

• Establishment of an advanced center for desert safari in El Dakhla and El Kharga, in addition to
recreational and facilities areas.
• Establishment of an emergency and accidents medical center.
Urban Fabric and Development
The National Plan for the South of Egypt aims to put in place new bases for the urban fabric an structure
so that the Nile would become a major source of water but the only attracting factor influencing the urban
structure. The objective being to re-distribute population in a way that preserves the Valley and allows
use of desert and coastal stretches that have not received their fair share of development.
Spatial Distribution of Population

The population of the South of Egypt resides in a total of 867 settlements, a third of which (303
settlements) are of more that 10,000 inhabitants each – as of January 1994 – accommodating nearly 70%
of the total population. The remaining settlements (564) accommodate about 30% of the region’s
population. These two facts put together indicate the concentration and imbalanced distribution of
population. Further, nearly 86% of the population are concentrated in the three governorates of Assiyut,
Sohag and Qena. Luxor, El Wadi El Gedid and Red Sea accommodate only 4% of the population and the
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remainder 10% resides in Aswan.
The continuation of this pattern will lead to either of two possibilities, or both:
• The South of Egypt will continue to be a rebelling region for population leading to more pressures on
the northern regions, or
• More agricultural lands will be encroached upon for urban development and land holdings will be
further fragmented.
Projected Urban Structure, 2017

While redirecting population growth outside the narrow Valley remains a driving objective; the
establishment of new communities in desert areas requires substantial investments. Therefore, the
projected urban structure have been based on a number of assumptions:
• Population growth rates will remain low.

• Preservation of existing agricultural lands and the antiquities.
• Preservation and safeguarding the environment.
• Integration between the South of Egypt and the rest of the country’s regions.
• Gradual change in the urban structure and concentrated growth at the edges of the Valley.
The main bases for the proposed urban structures are:
• Creation of two corridors parallel to the Valley at the edge between agriculture and desert serving as
a starting point for attracting growth through environmentally sound plans.
• Creation of west-east corridors in the Eastern Desert linking the Valley to the Red Sea and start
development of new communities along these corridors.
• Development of large cities at the edges of desert; that applies for Assiyut and Qena.
• Preservation of the touristic character of both Luxor and Aswan by absorbing growth in New Aswan
and New Luxor cities and enforcement of laws and regulations that safeguards the protected zones in
these two areas.
• Emphasis on the development of Al Owinat – Kom Ombo – Bernis corridor to become an
international circulation route, and encourage urbanization along it through the development of new
communities.
• Urbanizing El Wadi El Gedid and development of most existing settlements and creation of large urban
centers in six main cities: El Farafra, Abu Tartour, Moutt, Shark Al Owinat, Paris and El Kharga.
• Development of the Red Sea coast in an environmentally sound approach. Safaga and Bernis are to
absorb 40% of population. New communities are to be established away from the coast to
accommodate industrial and commercial growth to safeguard the shores.
The projected spatial distribution of population would be as follows:
• Settlements of less than 10,000 inhabitants, in 530 villages all of which in the Nile Valley governorates.
• Settlements of 10,000 to 100,000 inhabitants, mainly urban ones, totaling 289 towns.
• Settlements of more than 100,000 inhabitants. These are eight (8) main cities in the Valley
governorates including Assiyut and Qena (more than 400,000 inhabitants), Sohag and Aswan (250,000
to 400,000 inhabitants) and Luxor, Guerga, Tahta and Akhmim (100,000 to 250,000 inhabitants). This
138
group of settlements will accommodate nearly 12% of the total region’s population, or 10% of the
expected growth.
• Existing settlements to be developed: including 62 towns and villages, 23 of which in the Valley and the
remainder in El Wadi El Gedid and Red Sea. This group will accommodate 2.1 million inhabitants
(13.3% of total population, or 21.4 of the expected growth.
• New agricultural settlements: this group is linked to land reclamation and expected to accommodate
1.35 million inhabitants, primarily in El Wadi El Gedid and Aswan representing 8% of the region’s
population, or 20.7 of expected growth.
• New towns: including 27 new town totaling 2.15 million inhabitants and ranging from 25,000 to 250,000
person/town. This group includes some of the towns that are currently being developed: El Safa in
Assiyut, New Sohag/Akhmim, New Luxor and New Aswan. These towns will accommodate 13% of
the region’s population, or 32 of expected growth.
To accommodate the expected population growth, and to substitute for loss in existing urban stock, nearly
1.69 million new housing units will have to be constructed.
Agriculture
Major Issues
1. Imbalance between cultivated land and population, especially in the governorates of Assiyut, Sohag,
Qena and Aswan.
2. Small agriculture land holdings depriving the sector from large-scale economics.
3. Low productivity per feddan.
4. Decreasing agricultural lands due to all sorts of encroachment.
5. Inefficiency of transportation and storage facilities leading to an increasing loss of crops.
6. Imbalance between livestock and poultry production and population.
7. Minimal fishery production compared to the fast fishing ground available in the region.
8. Minimal available investment resources.
Sector Objectives
• Horizontal expansion in agriculture with the reclamation of nearly 1,25 million feddans.
• Increase economic revenue of available agricultural resources, which will be reflected in an increase
of production and individual’s share of income.
• Increase agricultural production through development and upgrading of current production systems.
• Increase both self-sufficiency ratio of strategic crops and, export of other crops.
• Increase the added value of agricultural production through industrial and agricultural integration,
especially in newly reclaimed lands.
• Creation of more job opportunities.
• Increase the inhabited area of the region/nation through relocation in newly reclaimed lands.
• Building the capacity of the private sector through the establishment of large companies to allow for
optimum utilization of agricultural resources.
Planned Proje cts to 2017
Vertical Development Projects

These projects aim to increase the productivity of existing agricultural lands:
139
• Inventory and classification of lands: in light of recent changes to soil characteristics.

• Soil Improvement.
• Generalization of covered drainage systems.
• Improvement of irrigation system.
• Completion of substitution and renewal of the High Dam and Aswan Dam infrastructure/facilities.
• Support research in the field of high-value crops.
• Veterinary Care projects.
• Agricultural marketing.
• High-productivity seeds production.
Horizontal Development Projects

In light of current and foreseeable ground and water resources, some 600,000 feddans can be reclaimed,
using primarily Nile water and partially underground water, in the Nile Valley and adjacent desert lands
and in some areas of the Red Sea governorate. 350,000 feddans can also be reclaimed on underground
water East of Owinat and the oases of Kharga, Dakhla and Farafra. Additionally, about 300,000 feddans
can be reclaimed south of the El Wadi El Gedid (Paris) on Nile water, through a new canal to be dug.
Livestock Development Projects:

Fodder resources in newly reclaimed lands is estimated at 16 million tons (green fodder) which is enough
for nearly 1 million units. In light of these resources, the private sector can be encouraged to invest in
these projects in newly reclaimed lands.
Development of Fishing Resources

This projects aim to increase fish production from around 45,000 to 70,000 tons. The program includes:
• Construction and development of fishing ports on the Red Sea, improvement of the current fishing
fleet and intensive cultivation of natural and man-made lagoons.
• Establishment and development of incubators for Lake Nasser supply, three incubators in Garf
Hussein, Amada and El Alaqui areas and construction of fishing ports inclusive of ice factories,
refrigerators and services that facilitate handling.
• Fish incubation/cultivation in cages in lagoons and small bays along the Nile and canals is an important
means to increase fish production.
Potable Water and Sewerage
Potable Water
The overall capacity of water plants in the region is 960,000m3/day whereas current needs are estimated
at a total of 1,340,000m3/day – assuming an average consumption rate per individual of 115 liter/day and
190 liter/day for rural and urban residents, respectively.
Water plants are located in Assiyut, Sohag, Qena and Aswan. There are no plants in either the Red Sea
or El Wadi El Gedid governorates; the former depends on pipelines from Suez and El Korimat.
The National Project for the Development of the South of Egypt aims at raising the average consumption
rate to 200 liter/day and 240 liter/day per individual in rural and urban areas, respectively.
Sewerage
140
The National Project for the Development of the South of Egypt aims at raising the average rate of
sewerage to approximately 192 liter/individual/day, or nearly 2.9 million m3/day.
Social Services
Strategic Objectives
• Provision of basic facilities to correspond to expected population growth so as to raise the standard of
facilities in the region.
• Meeting the expected needs of settlements in promising areas of the region.
• Achieving an acceptable level of balance in the distribution of facilities and services between rural and
urban areas and between populated and remote areas.
• Raising the standard of quality and improve operation.
Planned Projects, 2017
Educational Facilities
1. Increase the carrying capacity of primary and secondary schools by increasing number of schools and
classes, which will lead to:
- meeting expected needs,
- lowering class density to 30 students/class,
2. Increase number of teachers and upgrade general and technical education curriculum.
3. Emphasis on women’s education and eradication of illiteracy.
4. Achieving an acceptable balance in distribution of educational facilities between different areas of the
region.
5. Application of new approaches in education that are more suitable to the region’s characteristics and
needs.
6. Expansion in one- or two-classes primary schools in rural and remote areas.
7. Move towards community colleges, rather than new universities, as being more suitable to the local
community’s needs.
8. Upgrading of technical and technological institutes in Aswan and transform them into a technological
university.
In light of these, the demand for educational facilities to the year 2017 is estimated as:
• Establishment of nearly 55,300 primary classes (general and Azhar education), 32,500 prep. Classes
and 26,400 secondary classes (general, technical and Azhar).
• Establishment of 20 community colleges in areas not served by university colleges or higher institutes
(2 in Assiyut and Sohag, 4 in Qena, Aswan and El Wadi El Gedid, 3 in Red Sea and 1 in Luxor City).
• Upgrading technical institutes in Aswan and transforming them into a technological university.
• Completion of the South of the Valley University (5 colleges, one of which for Agriculture and one for
tourism and antiquities in Qena).
• Rehabilitation of Assiyut University.
Scientific and Technological Research

• Establishment of regional research branches for the Ophthalmic Research Institute.
• Completion of the National Institute for Marine Science and Fishery in the Red Sea.
• Establishment of Magnetic Observatory and Regional Earthquake Center in Aswan and a main center
141
in El Wadi El Gedid.
Health Facilities
The main objectives for the development of this sector are summed as:
• Emphasis on eradication of health illiteracy, especially in rural and desert areas.

• Provision of health facilities in remote areas and reliance on mobile health units.
• Emphasis on the importance of recording births and deaths, especially in infancy.
• Support of targeted health programs, such as combating malaria, diarrhea and vaccination campaigns.
• Quality and quantity upgrading supporting medical services such as nursing and tests.
• Expansion of the social health insurance umbrella to cover the entire population.
• Achieving an acceptable balance in distribution of medical and treatment facilities between urban and
rural areas and between the region’s governorates.
• Encouraging the private sector to build hospitals, clinics and medical centers.
• Support the privatization of an acceptable percentage of hospital beds for nominal fees.
The total number of beds needed by 2017 is estimated at 46,000 beds.
Religious Facilities
The strategy aims to the expansion in provision of these facilities to relatively deprived and new
development areas, in addition to making available the human resources required for these facilities.
Culture, Information and Youth and Sports Facilities

The development objectives for these sectors are as follows:
• Increase the number of establishments, especially in higher-density governorates.

• Emphasis on cultural centers and convoys and mobile libraries to serve desert and rural areas, in
addition to emphasis on information (media) centers and convoys and the establishment of a sufficient
number in each governorate.
• Expansion in establishing youth and sports facilities, especially in Assiyut and Sohag.
• Making available the human resources required and training these resources.
Social Care Facilities

• Family and Childhood projects to reinforce the role of the family and its educational effectiveness.
• Emphasis on productive families projects and vocational training, bringing to the front the role of local
associations in organizing local efforts.
• Support the role of social and rural units in providing social care facilities in rural and deprived desert
areas.
Vocational Training Facilities

Expansion in vocational training facilities to meet the needs of development projects.
Electricity and Energy
Sector Plan, 2017

This plan aims to extend the National Grid to remote areas of Red Sea and El Wadi El Gedid
governorates, at a total of 4,400km in length of lines. 3,200km of these will be high-voltage power lines
142
and the majority of these will be in El Wadi El Gedid (1,670km) and the Red Sea (770km). The plan also
aims to raise the capacity of existing power plants by 750 Mega Watt.
TABLE 2: PROJECTED INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY GENERATION, S OUTH OF EGYPT, 2017
Governorate Nominal
Power Plant Capacity Notes
(Mega watt)
Assiyut El Walideyia Thermal 300 Third expansion
Assiyut Barrage 40 New
Hydroelectric
Qena Nagaa Hammady 60 New
Hydroelectric 270 New
Nagaa Hammady Thermal
Aswan Diesel Plants (Abu Simbel) 20 Expansion
Red Sea Diesel Plans 60 New
Total 750
Following are projects for transformer stations and lines:
• 20 new transformer stations of 500, 2020 and 132 KVolt with a total capacity of 3,825 Mega Volt
Ampere.
• 38 new transformer stations of 66 and 33 KVolt with a total capacity of 2,425 Mega Volt Ampere.
• Power lines of:
- 500, 220 and 132 KVolt at a total length of 3.192km.
- 66 and 33 KVolt at a total length of 979km.
Studies are currently underway to investigate the potential of unconventional and renewable energy
sources such as solar energy, wind and the biomass.
Transportation, Communication and Storage
Sector Objectives
• Improve the effectiveness of transportation axis in the Valley with utmost preservation of agricultural
lands through the following means:
- Minimizing intersections between roads and between roads and railroads in as far as feasible.
- Improve the effectiveness of Cairo – Aswan railroad, once doubled, by improving communications
and signals and increasing the speed limit.
- Improve the effectiveness of the Nile navigational channel by dredging, construction of Nile ports
and cruise ship ports together with maintenance and repair facilities for cruise ships.
• Creation of a new corridor parallel to the Valley in the form of a new western desert road to absorb
expected growth in traffic volumes and to encourage urban development, with linkages to the Valley.
• Creation and improvement of perpendicular axis to the Valley as a means of population redistribution:
- Safaga – Qena – El Wadi El Gedid as the prime corridor
- Bernis – Aswan – West Coast of Lake Nasser – Abu Simbel – Shark Al Owinat
• Emphasis on Qena area as the intersection point between the Valley and the new prime corridor.
143

• Construction of new roads at a total length of 2,945km, most important of which is the extension of
Cairo – Assiyut west desert road to Aswan.
• Maintenance and rehabilitation of 2,760km of existing roads.
• Cancellation of 30 intersections between roads and between roads and railroads.
• Construction and maintenance of 1,200km of internal roads in governorates.
• Completion of three bridges across the Nile: Assiyut, Luxor and Aswan.
• Construction of four new bridges across the Nile at Quos, Guerga, Tama and Kom Ombo.
• Construction and improvement of about 90 passenger station in the governorates.
• Completion of doubling the railroad to Aswan.
• Re-routing of the railroad in Luxor City.
• Upgrading of Safaga and Bernis ports and small fishing ports.
• Construction and improvement of five cruise ship ports on the Nile.
• Upgrading and development of international airports in Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan and El Wadi El
Gedid, and construction and improvement of domestic airports in Assiyut, Farafra, Al Dakhla, Al
Owinat, Abu Simbel and Shalateen.
• Upgrading of telephone switch boards in cities and villages, and microwave lines.
• Construction and upgrading of post offices, radio and TV broadcasting stations and meteorological
stations.
• Construction of a grain cell in Qena with a capacity of 100,000 tons.
Industry and Mining
Major Issues
Statistics of late 1993 indicate that total number of employees in industry and mining in governorates of the
South of Egypt reached some 82,000, representing about 1.6% of the region’s total population. This
percentage rises to 2% in Qena and Aswan and declines to only 0.8% in El Wadi El Gedid whereas the
national average is 3.9% (7%, 7.4% and 8.3% in Cairo, Alexandria and Damietta, respectively).
It is, therefore, clear that governorates of the South of Egypt require substantial support to increase their
share of industrial and mining activities, especially with their wealth of resources.
Sector Objectives
• Increase growth rates, in general, in the South of Egypt and create more job opportunities.
• Effective use of available resources in each governorate.
• Improve the economic structure in favor of industry and mining and broaden the private sector
participation in the development of this sector.
• Minimize out-migration trends from these governorates and, moreover, to transform them into
attracting centers.
• Raising the technology level and, accompanying that, education, training and scientific research
standards.
Projects Based on Agriculture Resources

• Expansion in sugar industry through expansion in cultivating and processing of sugar beads in addition
144
to rehabilitation and renewal of existing factories.

• Establishment of paper mills and factories based on sugar-cane fibers (creating some 3,000 jobs).
• Better utilization of palm trees resources especially in El Wadi El Gedid.
• Crop drying factories, especially for onion in Assiyut, Sohag and Qena through small units near farms.
• An integrated complex for food oils, hydrated fats and fodder from sunflower seeds (investment cost
LE 2 billion).
• Factories for cotton fabrics, garments and textiles in cotton-producing governorates.
• Fish processing and packaging and fodder factories especially in Lake Nasser area, and fishing boats
and gear manufacturing.
• Other food processing factories: dairies, juices, jam in addition to traditional and non-traditional fodder.
• Wood and leather products.
• Packaging material.
Projects Based on Mineral Resources:

• Completion of Abu Tartour Phosphate complex.
• Production of bi-ammonium phosphate near Safaga port, with a capacity of 250,000 tons per year and
a cost of LE 516 million
• Application of the Chinese experience studies in Qena – establishment of small cement factories, each
with one production line, or two at most, with a capacity of 44,000 tons annually to fulfill the needs of
remote areas.
• Introduction of the “small mine” concept.
• Building material industries.
• Industries that are based on deposited material.
• Electricity insulator industries
In addition to projects that will be established in the designated 11 “Industrial Zone” projects throughout
the South of Egypt.
Petroleum and Natural Gas
Major Issues
The major issue in this sector is the lack of infrastructure in most areas of current agreements and those
under negotiations as they are remote, uninhabited areas and, consequently, the substantial expenditures
required for provision of infrastructure.
Sector Objectives
• Production of petroleum and natural gas at rates suitable for both local and export demands without
over-use of reservoirs to maintain national reserves.
• Setting up and implementation of a clear policy for distribution of petroleum products without
bottlenecks.
In the Field of Petroleum Agreements:
• Negotiate and sign more agreements with international companies and the Egyptian private sector to
work at new areas at the borders of these governorates.
145
In the Field of Exploration:

• Concentrated efforts and work, especially in areas of current agreements and those under
negotiations.
In the Field of Refineries and Processing:

• Continue work on rehabilitation, upgrading and expansion of the Assiyut refinery.
In the Field of Distribution and Transport:

• Installation of pipelines to cover the rest, or most, of the region’s governorates for various uses
(domestic and industrial) and, construction of more car services stations and propane-gas filling and
distribution centers; in addition to infrastructure projects that go with these projects.
• Studies have also proven the importance of installing a 24 inch pipeline, connected to the national
network near El Saff, heading south to Aswan with a total length of about 860km and a capacity of
240q.ft./day in an estimated investment cost of LE 825 million. This project will serve existing and
future industrial units along the route in addition to development efforts in Upper Egypt.
• Installation of a diesel pipeline from Assiyut to Aswan to serve new industrial zones and power plants,
in addition to a propane-gas line in Upper Egypt to serve residential settlements.
Commercial and Banking Services
Planned Commercial Services, 2017

• Adding about 620 wholesale establishment, creating some 2,480 jobs at an investment cost of nearly
LE 62 million.
• Adding about 38,220 retail outlets, creating some 51,162 jobs at a cost of nearly LE 764 million.
Banking Facilities
Major Issues
• Low density of banking facilities in the region’s governorates.
• Concentration of banking units in the four State-owned banks.
• Low rate of effectiveness in banking units.
• Low saving capacity (average saving/individual is nearly 0.2 of the national average).
• Low role of banking units in credit.

Adding about 116 banking units, with 7,630 jobs at an estimated investment cost of LE 174 million.
Employment and Population
• The total number of job opportunities projected for the South of Egypt to the year 2017 is
estimated at 2.8 million jobs, about 68% of which in agriculture, industry and tourism.
• The corresponding population to these jobs is estimated at 6,3 million, which mean an increase in
the region’s population from 9.9 million in 1994 to about 16.4 million in 2017.
146
TABLE 3: PROJECTED J OB OPPORTUNITIES
Assiyu Sohag Qena Luxor Aswan Red El Total

t Sea Wadi
El
Gedid
Agriculture 27 21 48 3 180 3 140 422
Industry, Mining, 254 2242 321 21 240 66 56 1,200
Petroleum
Tourism 3 3 9.2 6.1 39.8 30.6 208.3 300
Sub-total 284 266 378.2 30.1 459.8 99.6 404.3 1,922
Social & Public 34 36.4 55 11 29.6 29.6 35.4 231
Facilities
Other Facilities 104 103 128 16 187 79 52 669
Total 422 405.4 561.2 57.1 676.4 208. 491.7 2,822
2
TABLE 4: ANALYTIC INDICATORS
Total new jobs 2,822

Estimated unemployment 227
Net new jobs 2,595
Corresponding population 6,264
Current population (1994) 9,980
Natural increase 13,246
In migrants 2,998
Total Population, 2017 16,244
Investments
TABLE 5: INVESTMENTS OF THE NATIONAL PROJECT
Sector
Investment Cost
LE Billion %
Tourism 52.9 17.3
Agriculture 23.9 7.8
Industry and Petroleum 82.7 27.1
Urban Development & Housing 94.2 30.9
Electricity and Energy 7.3 2.4
Transportation & Communications 18.5 6.1
Potable Water and Sewerage 9.0 3.0
Commercial and Banking 1.9 0.6
Social 14.5 4.8
Total 304.9 100
147
Annex 7: Profile of Egypt

Egypt’s economic fortunes have fluctuated sharply during the past two decades, but its economic future
now holds real promise. A decade of rapid growth ended in 1986 when a decline in oil prices caused a
regional economic slowdown. Egypt’s retreat at this time to inward-looking policies, combined with heavy
borrowing, resulted in severe macroeconomic imbalances. Between 1986 and 1992, per capita income
grew by only 10 percent.
The macroeconomic stabilization efforts that Egypt undertook in the early 1990s have been a success, and
longer-term structural reforms are underway. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth accelerated
from 1.9 to 5 percent from 1991–92 to 1995–96. GDP per capita has risen to $1,040, categorizing Egypt
as a middle-income country. During the same period, inflation fell from 21.1 percent to 7.2 percent. The
fiscal balance, foreign reserves, and external debt have also improved. With these positive trends now
well established, Egypt appears to be on the brink of a significant period of growth.
Challenges to the Economy
Unemployment looms as a crucial challenge. Solving the employment problem through growth is critical
not only for the economy, but also for social stability. Current estimates place unemployment at between 9
to 13 percent, and the labor force is growing at around 3 percent annually.
Egypt’s Growth Strategy
Egypt is progressing with privatization, with reducing tariff and other trade barriers, and with streamlining
legal aspects of investment and commercial activities. It is promoting the Egyptian stock market, creating
a more equitable and transparent tax system, and structuring a financial system that is more responsive to
medium- and long-term credit needs. All of these actions will facilitate the transition to a market economy
and reduce policy impediments to economic development.
Egypt is moving to improve its domestic savings rate in several ways, the most important being
privatization. Above all, the expected gains in savings will come from improved productivity and
efficiency. Other reforms to increase savings include establishing a more efficient pension system, and
further developing capital markets.
The government has begun to identify major areas of legislative reform; eliminate obsolete laws; and deal
with commercial law, investment, leasing, acquisition of property by foreigners, and tax petitions.
The upcoming free trade agreements that Egypt is negotiating with the European Union (EU) and, more
recently, the United States, will bring about major opportunities. With these agreements, Egypt will gain
access to the world’s two largest markets and investors will view Egypt as a manufacturing base for
exports to these markets. The agreements will also accelerate the improvement of trade and investment
procedures in line with best international practices.
Egypt already offers major advantages to investors. With a population of 60 million and a per capita
income of more than $1,000, Egypt represents a large market in its own right. It also has very good
relations with other countries in the Middle East and North Africa, thus offering advantages in exporting to
148
the region. And the wage rate of the Egyptian labor force of about $3 per day is highly competitive for
capable, productive workers.
TABLE 8: PROFILE OF EGYPT
Egypt M. East and Lower-

North Africa MiddleIncom
e
POVERTY and SOCIAL
1997
Population, mid-year (millions) 60.3 283 2,285
GNP per capita (Atlas method, US$) 1,180 2,060 1,230
GNP (Atlas method, US$ billions) 71.2 583 2,818
Average annual growth,

1991-97
Population (%) 2.0 2.3 1.2
Labor force (%) 2.8 3.2 1.3
Most recent estimate

(latest year available, 1991-97)
Urban population (% of total population) 45 57 42
Life expectancy at birth (years) 66 67 69
Infant mortality (per 1,000 live births) 51 48 36
Child malnutrition (% of children under 5) 9 .. ..
Access to safe water (% of population) 64 71 84
Illiteracy (% of population age 15+) 49 39 19
Gross primary enrollment (% of school-age 100 97 111
population)
KEY ECONOMIC RATIOS and LONG-TERM TRENDS
Environment
Forests 0 thousands of sq. km
Deforestation 0.0 % change (1990-1995)
Water use 94.5 % of total resources
CO2 emissions 1.7 metric tons per capita
Energy use per capita 638 kg of oil equivalent per capita
Electricity use per capita 924 kWh per capita
149
Labor force:
total: 17.4 million (1996 est.)
by occupation:
agriculture 40%,
services, including government 38%,
Industry 22% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.4% (1997 est.)
150
Table 8: Profile of Egypt (cont’d)

e
Budget:
Revenues: $19.2 billion
Expenditures: $19.8 billion,
Including capital expenditures of $4 billion
(FY96/97 est.)
Industries: textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals,

petroleum, construction, cement, and metals
Industrial production growth rate: .5% (1996 est.)
Electricity—capacity: 13.04 million kW (1995)

Electricity—production: 48.5 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity—consumption per capita: 778 kWh
(1995)
Agriculture—products: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits,
vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats;
annual fish catch about 140,000 metric tons
Exports:
Total value: $5.1 billion (f.o.b., FY96/97 est.)
Commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn,
raw cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals
Partners: EU, US, Japan
Imports:
Total value: $15.5 billion (c.i.f., FY96/97 est.)
Commodities: machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers,
wood products, durable consumer goods, capital
goods
Partners: US, EU, Japan
Debt—external: $30.5 billion (1996/97 est.)
Economic aid:
Recipient: ODA, $1.713 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 Egyptian pound (£E) = 100 piasters

Exchange rates: Egyptian pounds (£E) per US$1—3.4
Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June
151
1976 1986 1996 1997

GDP (US$ billions) 13.4 35.9 67.6 75.5
Gross domestic investment/GDP 28.4 23.7 16.6 17.7
Exports of goods and services/GDP 22.3 15.7 20.2 20.2
Gross domestic savings/GDP 16.7 13.8 10.8 13.0
Gross national savings/GDP .. .. 15.8 18.8
Current account balance/GDP -10.2 -9.4 1.6 0.6
Interest payments/GDP 0.5 2.4 1.5 1.0
Total debt/GDP 47.6 84.8 46.3 39.7
Total debt service/exports 6.4 8.4 11.5 8.9
Present value of debt/GDP .. .. 30.9 ..
Present value of debt/exports .. .. 105.0 ..

e
(average annual growth)
1976- 1987- 1996 1997 1998-
86 97 02
GDP 7.1 4.0 5.0 5.5 5.2
GNP per capita 3.7 2.3 3.6 3.1 4.0
Exports of goods and services 2.7 5.9 1.6 2.4 10.4
STRUCTURE of the ECONOMY

(% of GDP)
1976 1986 1996 1997
Agriculture 28.3 20.8 17.3 17.7
Industry 26.2 26.8 31.6 31.8
Manufacturing 16.1 13.3 24.3 25.2
Services 45.5 52.4 51.1 50.5
Private consumption 58.5 69.6 78.8 76.8
General government consumption 24.8 16.5 10.4 10.2
Imports of goods and services 34.0 25.6 26.0 24.9
Average annual growth

1976-86 1987-97 1996 1997
Agriculture 3.0 2.8 3.1 3.4
Industry 8.4 4.5 4.9 4.6
Manufacturing .. 4.9 6.9 8.3
Services 9.7 3.8 5.6 6.4
Private consumption 6.2 4.7 3.6 3.9
General government consumption 5.0 0.5 2.4 4.8
Gross domestic investment 6.9 -0.4 9.7 10.4
Imports of goods and services 3.2 2.4 1.6 1.9
Gross national product 6.4 4.4 5.5 6.1
PRICES and GOVERNMENT FINANCE
152
Domestic prices
(% change)
1976 1986 1996 1997
Consumer prices .. .. 8.3 4.6
Implicit GDP deflator 12.5 12.8 9.0 6.2
Government finance
(% of GDP, includes current grants)
Current revenue .. 21.3 25.1 23.7
Current budget balance .. -14.2 2.5 2.9
Overall surplus/deficit .. -23.1 -1.3 -0.9
153

e
TRADE
(US$ millions)
1976 1986 1996 1997
Total exports (fob) .. .. 4,608 4,930
Cotton .. .. 110 107
Other Agriculture .. .. 230 164
Manufactures .. .. 1,314 1,304
Total imports (cif) .. .. 14,107 14,718
Food .. .. 2,955 3,193
Fuel and energy .. .. .. ..
Capital goods .. .. 4,100 4,029
Export price index (1995=100) .. .. 127 128
Import price index (1995=100) .. .. 145 145
Terms of trade (1995=100) .. .. 87 89
Trade and finance

trade as share of PPP GDP 18.5 %
trade growth less GDP growth -0.6 average % (1987-1997)
high-technology exports 7 % of manufactured exports
net barter terms of trade 103 (1995=100)
present value of debt 21,265 $ millions
total debt service 1,928 $ millions
short term debt 2,991 $ millions
aid per capita 32 $
BALANCE of PAYMENTS
(US$ millions)
1976 1986 1996 1997
Exports of goods and services 3,319 6,494 15,245 15,644
Imports of goods and services 5,182 11,825 17,541 20,342
Resource balance -1,863 -5,331 -2,296 -4,698
Net income -342 -1,021 539 253
Net current transfers 842 2,995 2,842 4,146
Current account balance -1,363 -3,357 1,085 -299
Financing items (net) 1,049 3,533 -515 2,211
Changes in net reserves 314 -176 -570 -1,912
Memo:
Reserves including gold (US$ millions) .. 1,780 17,867 19,657
Conversion rate (DEC, local/US$) 0.5 1.1 3.4 3.4
154

e
EXTERNAL DEBT and RESOURCE FLOWS
(US$ millions)
1976 1986 1996 1997
Total debt outstanding and disbursed 6,357 30,415 31,299 29,979
IBRD 50 1,228 1,075 869
IDA 126 827 1,090 1,206
Total debt service 267 837 2,283 1,871
IBRD 3 243 272 297
IDA 1 12 23 24
Composition of net resource flows

Official grants 910 0 1,324 ..
Official creditors 841 1,712 -17 19
Private creditors 122 534 -376 -157
Foreign direct investment 61 0 636 ..
Portfolio equity 0 0 0 ..
World Bank program
Commitments 197 617 172 75

Disbursements 78 369 108 260
Principal repayments 0 114 192 241
Net flows 78 256 -84 19
Interest payments 4 141 102 80
Net transfers 74 115 -186 -61
Note: 1997 data are preliminary estimates.
Geography
Area:
155
Total 1,001,450 sq. km

Land 995,450 sq. km
Water 6,000 sq. km
Land boundaries
Total 2,689 km
border countries Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km, Sudan 1,273 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone 24 NM
continental shelf 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone 200 NM
territorial sea 12 NM
Climate desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Elevation extremes
lowest point Qattara Depression -133 m
highest point Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone,
gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
Land use
arable land 2%
permanent crops 0%
permanent pastures 0%
forests and woodland 0%
Other 98% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land 32,460 sq. km (1993 est.)
Environment— agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands;

current issues increasing soil salinization below Aswan High Dam; desertification;
oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats;
other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and
industrial effluents; very limited
natural fresh water resources away from the Nile which is the only
perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining
natural resources
Environment— Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,

party to Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling signed, but not ratified.
156
Geography—note Controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and
remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest
sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and
juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern
geopolitics
Government
157
Government type Republic
National capital Cairo
Administrative divisions 26 governorates (muhafazat, singular—muhafazah); Ad

Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al
Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah,
Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash
Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id,
Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal
Sina', Suhaj
Independence 28 February 1922 (from UK)

National holiday Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952)
Constitution 11 September 1971
Legal system Based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes;
judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees
validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch
Chief of state President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981)
Head of government Prime Minister Kamal Ahmed El-GANZOURI (since 4 January
1996)
Cabinet Cabinet appointed by the president
Elections President nominated by the People's Assembly for a six-year term,
the nomination must then be validated by a national, popular
referendum; national referendum last held 4 October 1993 (next to
be held NA October 1999); prime minister appointed by the
president
Election results National referendum validated President Mubarak's nomination by

the People's Assembly to a third term
Legislative branch Bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b
(454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by the president;
members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory Council or Majlis al-
Shura—which functions only in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 elected
by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve NA-year
terms)
Elections People's Assembly—last held 29 November 1995 (next to be held

NA 2000); Advisory Council—last held 7 June 1995 (next to be
held NA)
158
Election results People's Assembly—percent of vote by party—NDP 72%,

independents 25%, opposition 3%; seats by party—NDP 317,
independents 114, NWP 6, NPUG 5, Nasserist Arab Democratic
Party 1, Liberals 1; Advisory Council—percent of vote by party—
NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by party—NA
Judicial branch Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders National Democratic Party (NDP), President Mohammed Hosni
MUBARAK, leader, is the dominant party;
Legal opposition parties
Khalid MUHI AL-DIN; Socialist Liberal Party, Mustafa Kamal
MURAD; Democratic Unionist Party, Mohammed 'Abd-al-Mun'im
TURK; Umma Party, Ahmad al-SABAHI; Misr al-Fatah Party
(Young Egypt Party), leader NA; Nasserist Arab Democratic
Party, Dia' al-din DAWUD; Democratic Peoples' Party, Anwar
AFIFI; The Greens Party, Kamal KIRAH; Social Justice Party,
Muhammad 'ABDAL-'AL
International organizations ABEDA, ACC, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AG

(observer), AL, AMF, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CCC, EBRD,
ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU,
OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMIL,
UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WtrO
Communications
Telephones 2.2 million (1993)
Telephone system Large system by Third World standards but inadequate for present
requirements and undergoing extensive upgrading
Domestic Principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, are
connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
International satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian
Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine cables;
tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel;
participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations AM 39, FM 6, short-wave 0

Radios NA
Television broadcast 41
stations
Televisions 5 million (1993 est.)
159
Transportation
Railways
Total 4,751 km
Standard gauge 4,751 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 951 km double track)
Highways
Total 64,000 km
Paved 49,984 km
Unpaved 14,016 km (1996 est.)
Waterways 3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria -Cairo
Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the delta); Suez Canal,
193.5 km long (including approaches), used by oceangoing vessels
drawing up to 16.1 m of water
Pipelines Crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460
km
Ports and harbors Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta,
Marsa Matruh, Port Said, and Suez
Merchant marine
Total 161 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,225,989 GRT/1,899,818
DWT
Ships by type Bulk 24, cargo 60, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 15, passenger
42, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 15, short-sea
passenger 3 (1997 Est.)
Airports 89 (1997 est.)

Airports—
with paved runways
Total 70
Over 3,047 m 11
2,438 to 3,047 m 39
1,524 to 2,437 m 15
914 to 1,523 m 2
Under 914 m 3 (1997 est.)
Airports—with unpaved
runways
Total 19
2,438 to 3,047 m 2
1,524 to 2,437 m 2
914 to 1,523 m 6
Under 914 m 9 (1997 est.)
Heliports 2 (1997 est.)
160
Military
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, and Air Defense Command
Military age 20 years of age
Military manpower—
availability
Males age 15-49 17,350,925 (1998 est.)
Military manpower—fit for
military service
Males 11,247,896 (1998 est.)
Military manpower—
reaching military age
annually
Males 683,868 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures— 8.2% (FY95/96)

percent of GDP
161
Annex 8: Documents in the Project File

1. Abt Associates Inc., 1998, Final Submittal of the Final Report on the Comprehensive Development of
the City of Luxor Project, (English and Arabic), Abt Associates Inc., Cairo, Egypt
2. Abt Associates Inc., 1997, Avenue of Sphinxes project analysis through the 3 phases, (English), Abt
Associates Inc., Cairo, Egypt
3. Abt Associates Inc., 1997, Draft Submittal of the Final Report on the Comprehensive Development of
the City of Luxor Project, (English and Arabic), Abt Associates Inc., Cairo, Egypt
4. Abt Associates Inc., 1997, ICON Architecture Heritage Framework, (English), ICON Architecture,
Boston Massachusetts, USA
5. Abt Associates Inc., 1996, Technical Proposal on the Comprehensive Development of the City of
Luxor Project - Submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities (English),
Abt Associates Inc., Cairo, Egypt
6. American Research Center in Egypt, 1996, Annual Report of American Research Center, (English),
Cairo, Egypt
7. Bello, Carlos Dr., 1997, Review of Abt Associates Work in Luxor (English), Cairo, Egypt
8. Cabinet Office - Government of Egypt (GOE), 1997, Egypt and the 21st century, (Arabic), Cairo,
Egypt
9. Cairo Times, 1997, Cairo Times, Article on Luxor, (English), Cairo, Egypt
10. Cairo University, 1996, Workshop & Symposium on Radar imaging Training, (English), Cairo
University, Cairo, Egypt
11. Camp Dresser Mckee (CDM), 1996, Action Plan For Institutional Developing of an Autonomous
Local Water Wastewater Authority in Luxor., (English), Camp Dresser Mckee, Cairo, Egypt
12. Camp Dresser Mckee (CDM), 1996, Draft Environmental Assessment Report of Luxor City,
(English), Camp Dresser Mckee Cairo, Egypt
13. Camp Dresser Mckee (CDM), 1997, Final Environmental Assessment Report of Luxor City,
(English), Camp Dresser Mckee, Cairo, Egypt
14. Camp Dresser Mckee (CDM), 1996, A Priority Action Plan for Institutional Development of
Autonomous Local Water Wastewater Authority, (English), Camp Dresser & Mckee, Cairo, Egypt
15. Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), 1997, Preliminary Results of the
1996 Population Census , (Arabic), Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, Cairo,
Egypt
16. Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), 1987, Preliminary Results of the
1986 Census , (Arabic), Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, Cairo, Egypt
17. Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), N/A, Population Estimates for
Qena Government 1996/1996 , (Arabic), Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, Cairo,
Egypt
18. Chemonics, 1996, Environmental Assessment Report for Luxor City, (English), Chemonics, Cairo,
Egypt
19. Chemonics, 1996, Environmental Assessment, Report for Luxor City, (Arabic), Chemonics, Cairo,
Egypt
20. Chemonics, 1996, Water & Wastewater Development Plans, (Arabic), Chemonics, Cairo, Egypt
21. Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority , 1992, Extracts from Annual Civil Aviation Report, (Arabic),
Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, Cairo, Egypt
22. Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, 1993, Extracts from Annual Civil Aviation Report, (Arabic),
162
26. Egypt Hotel Association, 1997, Egyptian Hotel Guide, (English), Cairo, Egypt
27. Egypt Official Newsletter, 1997, Extracts from Egypt Official Newsletter, (Arabic), Egypt Official
Newsletter, Cairo, Egypt
28. Egyptian Geological Survey and Mining Authority (EGSMA), 1997, Geological & Land Use Study of
East of Luxor, (Arabic), Egyptian Geological Survey and Mining Authority, Cairo, Egypt
29. Egyptian Geological Survey and Mining Authority (EGSMA), 1997, Geological & Land Use Study of
West of Luxor, (Arabic), Egyptian Geological Survey and Mining Authority, Cairo, Egypt
30. El Gallala Company, N/A, Proposal for a hotel for the handicapped in New Thebes, (Arabic), Cairo,
Egypt
31. El Kholie, Ahmed, 1997, Heritage Work Paper 1, (English), Cairo, Egypt
32. El Yousr Company, 1997, A New Hotel Construction Projects Benefits
33. Studies, (Arabic), El Yousr Company, Cairo, Egypt
34. Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, 1997, Nile Cruising Plan Sector Aswan - Cairo, (Arabic),
Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
35. George Washington University, N/A, Hotel capacity and Growth Strategies for Red Sea Coast,
(English), Washington, USA
36. HABITAT (UN), 1996, The HABITAT Agenda, (English), Cairo, Egypt
37. Higher Council for Luxor City (HCLC), N / A, Luxor in 21st Century, (Arabic), Luxor, Egypt
38. Higher Council for Luxor City (HCLC), 1996, Relocation of Gorna Residents to El Tarif Area,
(Arabic), Luxor, Egypt
39. Hotel Association, N / A, Membership list of Hotel Association in Luxor, (Arabic), Cairo, Egypt
40. Ibrahim, Amer Dr. 1997, Conditions for conserving the Cultural Heritage in Luxor City, (Arabic),
Cairo, Egypt
41. Ibrahim, Amer Dr. 1997, Preliminary vision about Cultural Heritage, (Arabic), Cairo, Egypt
42. ICON architecture, 1997, Egypt Trip Report, (English), ICON architecture, Boston, Massachusetts
USA
43. Institute of National Planning (INP), 1995, Egypt Human Development Report, (English), Institute of
National Planning, Cairo, Egypt
44. Luxor Information & Decision Support Center (LUXOR IDSC), N / A, List of owners of properties
encroaching on the Kebash Avenue., (Arabic), Luxor, Egypt
45. Luxor Information & Decision Support Center (LUXOR IDSC), 1997, Tables from Luxor Information
& Decision Support Center., (Arabic), Luxor, Egypt
46. Middle East Library, N / A, Investment Guarantees, (Arabic), Middle East Library Cairo, Egypt
47. Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt, N/A, South of the Valley Development Project, (Arabic), Ministry of
Agriculture, Cairo, Egypt
48. Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities/Research and Studies Organization
(MHUUC/RSO) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 1996, Luxor City Profile,
(English), Research and Studies Organization, Cairo, Egypt
49. Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities/Research and Studies Organization
(MHUUC/RSO), 1997, Social funds Paper In financial Support in Luxor City, (English), Research
and Studies Organization, Cairo, Egypt
163
50. Ministry of Housing, Egypt, 1994, Saving Luxor Heritage, (Arabic), Ministry of Housing, Egypt, Cairo,
Egypt
51. Ministry of Housing Utilities and Urban Communities/Research and Studies Organization
(MHUUC/RSO) Egypt, 1997, Private Sector Participation in the prevision of water & wastewater
services in Luxor City, (Arabic), Ministry of Housing, Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
52. Ministry of Housing Utilities and Urban Communities/ General Organization of Physical
Planning(MHUUC/GOPP) Egypt, 1993, Planning Developing of Luxor, (Arabic), Ministry of Housing,
Cairo, Egypt
53. Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, General Organization of Physical Planning
(GOPP)and HPRC, , 1985, Planning and Norms and standard for services, (Arabic), General
Organization of Physical Planning, Cairo, Egypt
54. Ministry of Housing Utilities and Urban Communities/Research and Studies Organization
(MHUUC/RSO), 1997, Private Sector Participation in the prevision of water & wastewater services
in Luxor City, (English), Ministry of Housing, Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
55. Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, 1996, Structure Plan for the city of Marsa Alam, (Arabic), Ministry of
Tourism, Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
56. Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, 1996, Tourism In Figures, (English), Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, Cairo,
Egypt
57. Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, 1997, Age of Tourism, (Arabic), Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
58. Ministry of Tourism / Tourism Development Agency (MT/TDA), Egypt, 1997, Sahl Hashesh & Ras
Abo Soma Water Work and Sanitation program., (English), Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
59. Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, 1996, Egypt Tourism in figures, (English), Ministry of Tourism, Egypt,
Cairo, Egypt
60. Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, 1997, Nile Cruising Plan, (Arabic), Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, Cairo,
Egypt
61. Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, N / A, Tourism in Figures Tables 1987, (English), Ministry of Tourism,
Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
62. Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, N / A, Tourism in Figures Tables 1988-1989, (English), Ministry of
63. Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, N / A, Tourism in Figures Tables 1989-1990, (English), Ministry of
64. Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, N / A, Tourism in Figures Tables 1990-1991, (English) Ministry of
66. Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, N / A, Tourism in Figures Tables 1993, (English) Ministry of Tourism,
Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
68. Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, 1991, A Priority action plan for infrastructure and Tourism - Upper Nile
Valley -Phase II Final Report, (English), Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
69. Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, N/A, A Priority action plan for infrastructure and Tourism Development
in Egypt - Phase III -Cruiseship Tourism, (English), Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
70. Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, 1996, Sahl Hashesh & Ras Abo Soma Water Work and Sanitation
Program - Draft Report, (English), Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
71. Ministry of Tourism, Egypt, N/A, Tourism Development of Luxor City, (Arabic), Ministry of Tourism,
Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
164
72. National Population Council, 1996, Egypt Demographic and Health Survey, (English), National
Population Council Cairo, Egypt
73. OECD, 1996, Shaping the 21st Century The contribution of Development Cooperation, (English)
74. Plan Graph, 1994, City of Cambridge GIS Needs, (English), USA
75. Weeks, Kent Dr., 1993, Conserving Egypt's cultural Heritage, (English), USA
76. Donor, 1996, Chapter from Donor Annual Report, (English), Internet, Internet, USA
77. Donor, 1996, Trends in Developing Economies, (English), USA
78. Yassin, Mahmoud, N / A, Avenue of Sphinxes Papers, (Arabic), Cairo, Egypt
79. Yehia, Ahmed, N / A, Public Participation in the conservation, (English), Cairo, Egypt
165
Prepared by:
Ministry of Housing Utilities and Urban Communities/ Research and Studies Organization
(MHUUC/RSO)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Abt Associates Inc.
ICON Architecture
Baraka Trading and Investments
Abt Associates Inc. staff who worked on the project included:
Gabriel Abraham, Project Director

Howard Kane, Senior Associate
Alan Edmond, Senior Associate
Dr. Ashraf Bakr, Senior Urban Planner
Onsi Thomas Aghabi, Office Manager
Dina Hassanballah, Junior Researcher
Icon architecture staff who worked on the project included:
Jonathan Lane, Principal-in-Charge

Matt Carpenter, Project Manager
Lucia Vasak, Senior Urban Designer
Socorro Alatorre, Landscape Architect
Brian Goldson, Architect
Andrew Kasper, Graphics support
Baraka Trading and Investments staff who worked on the project included:
Nasser Jawhary, Baraka Trading and Investment
166

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Plan Luxor 1999 - 001

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Comprehensive

Development Plan for the

Investment Project #6,

ANNEX 3: LUXOR CITY HERITAGE RESOURCES.............................................................................................78

ANNEX 4: THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT FOR TOURISM..........................................................................111

ANNEX 5: CONCEPT FOR AN INTERNATIONAL ANTIQUITIES PRESERVATION FUND...................128

ANNEX 7: PROFILE OF EGYPT..............................................................................................................................148

ANNEX 8: DOCUMENTS IN THE PROJECT FILE..............................................................................................162

Weights and Measures

Abbreviations and Acronym

Creation of a Open Museum and Heritage District in Luxor City, Egypt

Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities / Research and Studies

Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities

National Counterpart of the Project

National Project Director

Deputy National Project Director

Working Groups Moderator

Principal Project Implementing Agency

For additional information contact:

2. Redevelopment of some government properties and underutilized private parcels to create

4. Traffic and pedestrian circulation system improvements, including vehicular-restricted and

1.3 Management Areas within the Open Museum and Heritage

2. Neighborhood Preservation Area – this area, commonly known as Karnak Village, is

Additional managed residential development is proposed for this sub-area in order to

6. North Corniche Development Area – The sub-area is presently characterized by a largely

1.4 Supportive Improvements in Luxor City

3. An Enhanced Living Environment – In conjunction with planned new development in the

2.1 Organization of this Report

(2) Planned growth promotes sustainable economic development.

• Create new economic opportunities for the citizens of the region.

2.3 The Investment Projects

Project 1: Restoration of the Avenue of the Sphinxes

(1) Purchase of land where necessary to a width of 76 m;

Project 2: Development of The Destination Resort of El-Toad

1. Preservation of cultural resources protects Egypt’s heritage and promotes economic

• An inter-modal transportation facility is built at the intersection of the inter-regional highway

Cultural and Entertainment

Public Service Facilities

Connections and Circulation

Project 3: Development of the New Community of New Luxor

The Proposed Site

Connections and Circulation

Project 4: Infrastructure Services for New Luxor and El Toad

Project 5: Establishment of High-Value Agriculture

This investment project is described in this document.

2.4 Indications of the Egyptian Government's Commitment and

• MOT is continually reviewing, modernizing, and consolidating the regulations governing

3.0 The Project

3.2 Project Development Objectives

3.2.1 Conserve & Enhance the antiquities and their settings

3.2.3 Coordinate visitor and tourism services

Protection of the monuments and accommodation of tourists are important goals to be

3.3 Project Components

3.3.1 Coordinate Open Museum and Heritage District Improvements

Figure 13 identifies the boundaries for the seven areas:

5. North Karnak Development Area – encompassing a traditional village and a largely

6. North Corniche Development Area – The area is presently characterized by a largely

7. No Utilities or Service Area – Informal residential developments are steadily encroaching on

3.2.2 Conserve the antiquities and enhance their settings

no private buildings or improvements would be allowed and priority would be given to

Provide Ongoing Maintenance and Preservation of the Monuments

Key proposed actions: