Developing the Nature based Tourism in Minia Governorate: An Analysis of Tourism Potentials and Constraints

Abstract

Nature-based tourism is an important component of the tourism industry in the world and its features vary from one destination to another. However, nature-based tourism destinations are not appropriately developed due to structural and operational difficulties related to local planning. In Minia governorate, location, quantity and quality of natural resources and their required infrastructure for tourism development have not been well documented. So that, this paper identified the potentials and problems which face the governmental authorities in developing and promoting nature-based tourism. Moreover, the nature based tourism activities that are most suitable to be developed in Minia governorate have been determined. The collected data depended on in depth interviews depended on questionnaires with governmental authorities related to nature based tourism development in Minia governorate and the main branches of these authorities in Cairo. These interviews were undertaken from February to April 2020. Analysis of these interviews explained that Minia governorate has many natural attractions for developing nature-based tourism activities. On the other hand, it illustrated three main issues constraining the development of nature-based tourism. These obstacles are lacking of adequate financial resources, lacking of coordination and overlapping of competencies between the authorities responsible for the development of nature-based tourism and lacking of tourist awareness of the importance of nature-based tourism development.