UNICA Euromaster in Urban Studies 4Cities2nd Cohort 2009-2011submitted in: September 1st, 2011

Muhammad Eldaidamony

Urban Tourism and Strategic PlanningAn Integrated Study of Alexandria and Barcelona

Under Supervision of: Professor: Diego Barrado

2nd reader: Professor: Eric Corijn & Stefan De Corte

Alexandria Barcelona

Taxi story

Alexandria Barcelona

What I am talking about taxis or urban tourism ???

Urban development in Alexandria and Barcelona

1990s

1950s

1920s 1930s

Problem

“Alexandria is not a successful urban tourism destination considering all the potentials and assets it has”.

Alexandria could be a must visit tourism destination with its potentials, while with Barcelona’s advanced & successful position in urban tourism as a “must visit” tourism destination map, the research will try to learn from its experience to escalate up the Egyptian case of Alexandria.

Hypothesis

Questions

Why and how urban tourism in Barcelona is a successful experience?

Secondary questions

Which parts of Barcelona urban tourism have been the most important for this success (the big events like the Olympics or Forum, the recuperation of the city center etc…)?

Have Strategic Planning played a big role in this success of Urban Tourism in Barcelona?

Objectives

Learn from the Spanish case how urban tourism developed in Barcelona by investigating and analyzing strategic plans and statistics, to escalate the Egyptian case of Alexandria.

Beside some other objectives

1- Find a definition for urban tourism

2- Understand how strategic planning can help urban tourism to develop

3- Find an implementation plan to develop urban tourism in Alexandria

Objectives

Quantitative Qualitative

Mixed-Methods-Research

Identify subjectively a description about the past, present and future situation of urban tourism in Alexandria and Barcelona with in deep research in strategic plans and tourism

Using semi-structured interviews and analysis of documents and materials (SWOT Analysis).

Classify and count features to construct statistical models to explain what is observed using and analyzing statistical data, surveys and questionnaires

Using statistical data, questionnaires and surveys

Methodology

Urban Analysis

• Location • Demographics• Climate• Hotels & rooms occupancy• Number of tourists• Purpose of visit• Promotion and marketing• Managing structure • SWOT Analysis• Interviews

SWOT Analysis

Geographical

Human resources

Urban tourism

Urban development, utilities, services, and infrastructure

Social capital

Economic development

Environmental capital

Government and official issues

Alexandria & Barcelona

Interviews

Alexandria

1- Doctor / Manal ElShahatTeacher in Ain Shams University Teaching Assistant in Städtebau Institut (SI) Universität Stuttgart

2- Eng./ Mohamed Meheina Head of GIS and Database Unit in Alexandria and Mediterranean Research Center

Barcelona

3- Assistant Director/ Joana Homms Barcelona Turisme

4- Professor/ F. Lopez Department of Physical Geography and Analysis in Universidad Barcelona

Adding to that some survey questions was distributed among friends, colleagues and PhD candidates in Egypt and Alexandria (25 persons)

Conclusion & Results

Barcelona had a strong strategic plan which paved the road for urban tourism as it provided the sufficient infrastructure for urban tourism development

Barcelona has a strong promotional plan by which promotes its potentials (segmented promotion)

Urban tourism is well recognized and has a big and strong appearance in Barcelona

Alexandria has the motive and opportunity to catch up the track of urban tourism success

The concepts of sustainability should be included in the strategic plan, promotional plan and business plans, in order to give chances to future generations to enjoy what we enjoyed.

Conclusion & Results The 3Plans

• Muhammad Eldaidamony