Aqaba Gulf

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Area	Aqaba Gulf
Place	Aqaba
Country	Jordan
Topics	Tourism Industry
Author(s)	Mohammad, Nawar & Reem

Rationale

• Aqaba is a primary tourist destination for locals and foreigners and one of the key diving locations in the world, due to its world-known coral reefs. In addition, the Gulf of Aqaba is the only seaport in the country of Jordan, which led to the presence of international trade in the area. Moreover, it is considered as international waters with Israel which is raising political conflicts and competitions in tourism strategies in the past few years. These factors are demanding and leading to an accelerating economic development to transform the area into a sustainable economic growth and touristic engine for the country, leaving heavy pressures on the coastal landscapes in the area, and as a result, it has raised our curiosity to understand the coastal landscape management plan in the area.

Location and scope

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A Landscape System Analysis

A.1 Landscape layers and their system context

Geomorphology, landscape units and coastal typology

• Description of evolution, status quo and driving forces, is the coastal typology changing? Why is that? (approx 200 signs)

- The Gulf of Aqaba (GOA) is one of the two waterways that originate from the northern margin of the Red Sea ,which is about 180 km long, has an average width of 20 km and a mean depth of 800 m. This structure is a part of the Syrian–African rift valley, which is flanked by a mixture of mountains and deserts both to the east and west. The southern end of this important waterway is separated from the Red Sea by a shallow sill at the Straits of Tiran (Berman, Paldor, and Brenner, 2000).

• add 1-2 graphical representations to the image gallery, you can add more if you like

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Land use

• settlements, infrastructure, agriculture, resource extraction, natural areas, energy production...
• description of evolution, status quo and driving forces, is the land use likely to change? Why is that? (approx 200 signs)
• add 1-2 graphical representations to the image gallery, you can add more if you like

• Yourcase landuse1.jpg

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• Yourcase landscapeunits2.jpg

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• Yourcase landscapeunit3.jpg

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Green/blue infrastructure

• What are the major potential elements of a green/blue infrastructure network? Are these likely to change/disappear? Why is that?
• You find my background material on green infrastructure in our reading list
• add 1-2 graphical representations to the image gallery, you can add more if you like

• Your case green blue infrastructure1.jpg

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• Your case green blue infrastructure2.jpg

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Actors and stakeholders

• The main driving forces behind the change of the Landscape in Aqaba are the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZA) which is the main authority body in the city, as well as, the investors and the shareholders who are dramatically investing in the Recreational and Touristic sector. Local residents are the most affected by these changes since all the public beaches are now being transformed into 5 Stars resort beaches, which can only be used by the resorts' guests.

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  This Diagram illustrates the Stakeholders on the Regional, Municipal and local levels, and it is important to mention that the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) acts as a separate authority body, whereas other ministries act on a Regional level.

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  This Powermap demonstrates the interested parties and their power in terms of Touristic and Recreational developments taking place in Aqaba city

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  This Diagram also represents the Stakeholders but in terms of the level of impact and effect.

Sacred spaces and heritage

• Which places/elements hold cultural value and to whom?
• You may add a map and some images, please also explain in your caption why these elements are valuable

• Your case sacredspace1.jpg

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  Aqaba Church is the world's oldest purpose-built Christian church dating back to the third century. One of the last destinations that tourists usually make a visit to after their route that starts all the way from Wadi Rum

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  Mamluk Castle or Aqaba Fortress, a 16th century partially built castle that served as a military site and caravanserai for traveling pilgrims to Mecca. A castle that dates back to the Arab revolt time.

• === Visual appearance and landscape narrative ===
• *''Which elements are essential for the landscape character?''
• *''Has the landscape been painted or otherwise depicted, when and whom? Which elements are essential?''
• *''Which narratives exist? Who has written about this landscape or depicted it in some way?''
• *''You can add text and images''
• Your case character1.jpg

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A.3 Theory reflection

• Reflect on at least three international policy documents in relation to their local landscape case
• choose one international, one European and one national document
• You can choose references from our reading list
• Scope: 250 words

A.4 References

• give a full list of the references you have used for this section

Phase B: Landscape Evaluation and Assessment

B.1 Assessment Strategy

• Based on the hypothesis derived from your previous landscape systems analysis you are now asked to define the goals for assessing the landscape. Your assessment is the basis for evaluating the landscape status.
• Which elements and phenomena need to be mapped, why and how?
• This a text contribution, max 250 words

B.2 Mapping

• As defined by your assessment strategy you conduct the mapping and present your findings here
• As a minimum, at least three different themes need to be mapped, you may choose more if needed

• Your case your assessment mapping themel.jpg

  briefly explain the findings of your mapping

• Your case your assessment mapping theme2.jpg

  briefly explain the findings of your mapping

• Your case your assessment mapping theme3.jpg

  briefly explain the findings of your mapping

B.3 Problem definition and priority setting

• Give a summary of the major findings of your mapping process, what are the problems/potentials identified?
• Draw a problems/potentials map
• Set priorities for the most relevant issues

• Your case problems potentials map.jpg

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B.4 Theory reflection

• Please reflect the assessment and evaluation methods used based on at least three readings
• Did you encounter limitations'
• 200 words test contribution

B.5 References

• give a full list of the references you have used for this section

Phase C – Strategy and Master Plan

C.1 Goal Setting

• Define strategic planning objectives based on the evaluation findings
• Link back to your original targets from section one and the Development Goals
• 150 words text contribution

C.2 Spatial Strategy and Transect

• translate your strategic goals into a vision
• develop a spatial translation of your vision
• exemplify your vision in the form of a transect with concrete interventions
• add map(s) and visualizations

• Your case spatial translaton vision.jpg

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C.3 From Theory of Change to Implementation

• For implementing your vision: Which partnerships are needed? Which governance model is required?
• Who needs to act and how? Draw and explain a change/process model/timeline
• Which resources are needed? On which assets can you build?
• add 150 words text and visuals

• Your case spatial your governance model.jpg

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• Your case spatial your process model.jpg

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C.4 References

• give a full list of the references you have used for this section

D. Process Reflection

• Reflect in your intercultural and interdisciplinary team on the outcomes of your study
• Which limitations were you facing?
• What have you learnt from each other?
• What would you do differently next time?
• You can also use diagrams/visuals
• 250 words text

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