الإدارة المتكاملة للمناطق السياحية : رؤية للتقدم في التنفيذ على الساحل الإردني من خليج العقبة

Abstract EN

Aqaba is of great strategic importance to Jordan and represents the country’s only maritime outlet to the world.

It is therefore essential to establish balanced management of all coastal activities such as those related to industry, trade, fishing and tourism, while at the same time protect the valuable marine environment at such a geographically narrow area.

Practical measures have thus been put in place to institutionalize planning and implementation, responding to the need for a plan that deals with effectively executing the coastal zone activities together with preserving the natural resources.

This is to support a broader set of national objectives targeting optimum non extractive exploitation of the Jordanian coastal resources.

An important tool for keeping activities under regular check has been the implementation of the National Coastal Environment Monitoring Program.

The Program has been regularly undisturbed running since 1999.

It is supported by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority “ASEZA” and executed by the Marine Science Station “MSS” of the University of Jordan and Yarmouk University.

It is a legal obligation of ASEZA established in the Law 32 of the year 2000 and Regulation 21 of the year 2001 for protection of the environment.

The present paper discusses the main features of the currently applied coastal zone management practices and attempts to identify improvements that need closer attention.

In addition to national efforts sound coastal zone management is heavily dependent on regional and international cooperation.

Qualified personnel, adequate commonly applied monitoring techniques, effective exchange of information and of management resources are essential for an ecosystem based approach management.