Living in Luxor - News: Impressions of the "HU-BTU First International Conference on Heritage Conservation and Site Management: Heritage Tourism: Prospects and Challenges" From 8th to 11th December 2013 in Luxor

by Claudia Ali, 13/12/13

 

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HU-BTU represents the two organisers: HU the Egyptian Helwan University and BTU the German Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg. The two institutions developed the Joint Master programme "Heritage Conservation and Site Management" within the framework of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). The DAAD funded the innovative course with 1 million euro. The project started in the winter term 2013/14 with the support of the German Archaeological Institute in Cairo (DAI) and the Egyptian Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA).

The diagram comes from the lecture by Prof. Dr. Leo Schmidt (BTU - Cottbus) and shows the structure of the course - the colours represent the subjects 'Site and Conservation related subjects', "Site Management related subjects', 'Visitor and Information related subjects' and 'General subjects'.

But now for the conference: 42 speakers from 12 countries and 180 participants (the members of the organising committee included) had registered. The conference took place at the 9th floor of the Sonesta St. George Hotel.

HU-BTU First International Conference at Sonesta Hotel

 

 

Day 1: Sunday, 8th December 2013

The conference started with a Karnak Temple tour. Fortunately, it seems that tourism has recovered a bit because there were numerous visitors besides the conference participants:

Late in the afternoon the Opening Ceremony took place. The honoured guests from left to right: Tarek Saad El-Din (Gouvernor of Luxor), Prof. Yasser Sakr (President of the Helwan University), Dr. Hossam Essa (Minister of Higher Education & Deputy Prime Minister), Prof. Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Ali (Minister of Antiquities), Hazem Ahmed Atteyyat-ullah (Gouvernor of Fayyoum) and Michael Bock (German Embassador in Egypt):

Latter caused general amusement by shortening the usual mention of all dignitaries, sponsors etc. radically but humorously. As he mentioned that he actually had a overland drive from Hurghada to Luxor, which convinced him finally, that Egypt is safe - the German travel advice is still warning against overland drives - he received favourable acclamations.

 

Conference Program:

Below the single session titles are mentioned. Each session had 3 to 5 lectures.

• Opening Session with welcome speeches

Michael Bock (German Embassador in Egypt)

• Session 1: Facilitating Tourism in Historical Sites in Egypt

 

 

Day 2: Monday, 9th December 2013

• Session 2: Facilitating Tourism in Historical Sites in Europe
• Session 3: Facilitating Tourism in Historical Sites in the Arab Region

Podium of Session 3

• Session 4: Heritage Tourism and Academic Programs

Prof. Michael Schmidt (BTU Cottbus): "World Heritage Studies"

Tokie Laotan-Brown (Merging Ecologies – Ireland): "Improving Educational Architectural Studies on the Preservation and Maintenance of African Heritage Sites"

• Session 5: Heritage Tourism and Intangible Heritage

Hanaa El-Behairy (Helwan University): "The Legacy of the Ancient Egyptian Markets in the Contemporary Egyptian Daily Life. Heritage Approach"; Picture: Egyptian bread and its market container in past and present

Mona El-Sayed (Helwan University): "Ancient Egyptian Medicine Still in Practice"

In the evening the conferees were invited for an memorable Gala Dinner in the Luxor Temple:

 

 

Day 3: Tuesday, 10. December 2013

• Session 6: Historic Cities and Heritage Tourism

Podium of Session 6

• Session 7: Tourism Impact and Visitor Management

Rania Dinana (Helwan University): "Utilizing Historical Palaces as Five Stars Hotels"

Dania El-Iraqi (CHM Consultant): "The Role of Visitor Surveys and other Visitor Management Assessment Tools in the Development of the Valley of the Queens’ Visitor Management and Site Interpretation Plan"

• Session 8: Neglected Heritage

Podium of Session 8

Manal Hammad (Helwan University): "The New Valley: An Abandoned Heritage"

• Session 9: Sustainable Tourism and Heritage

 

During the breaks the conference attendees took the chance to enjoy the view on the River Nile:

 

 

Day 4: Wednesday, 11. December 2013

• Session 10: New Technologies for Heritage Tourism

Podium of Session 10

Yasser Elshayeb (CULTNAT - Cairo): "ICT and Cultural Heritage"

• Session 11: Heritage Products for the Tourism Industry

Prof. Nahla Osama (Helwan University): "Preserving the Cultural Heritage through Manufacture of Handicrafts"

Nashwa El-Sherif and Abeer Amin (Helwan University): "Heritage Routes as a Competitive Advantage to the Egyptian Cultural Tourism Product"

• Final Session & Closing Ceremony with words of thanks

My heartfelt thanks to the 40-headed organising committee, which ensured with enormous commitment that the conference ran smoothly. Even the electronic equipment always functioned properly!

Last but not least a west bank visit was on the agenda, namely the visit of the Colossi of Memnon and the Temple of Medinet Habu.

 

 

The conference results will be communicated as recommendations to decision makers in tourism industry and heritage authorities. The publication of the proceedings is planned for the second half of 2014. The HU-BTU Second International Conference on Heritage Conservation and Site Management will take place in Cottbus in 2014.

Conference Website
Conference Program (changes not considered)