Eco-lodging as a Solution for Sustainable Ecotourism Development in Al-Fayoum Egypt: Indoor Air Quality Simulation

Abstract

Ecotourism development provides opportunities to diversify the tourist base, particularly in desert areas such as Egypt’s Al-Fayoum Oasis. Therefore, the study’s aim is to enhance Ecotourism in Al-Fayoum, Tunis Village, by providing environmental Eco-lodges, which are an important aspect of sustainable ecotourism development process. Thus, the study investigates three successful examples for Eco-lodges that clarify key principles for Eco-lodging design guidelines with respect to pillars of sustainability. Moreover, a concluded framework is proposed as assessment tool for new or renovated Eco-lodges in Al-Fayoum. The study focuses on Tunis village Eco-lodges’ rooms indoor air quality and the excessive use of air-condition units, therefore the study examines the natural cross-ventilation airflow circulation system for two Eco-lodge's indoor rooms using Ansys Fluids/ computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation program. The simulation embodied the indoor air movement of each room thus the final configurations of contour lines of parameters, such as velocity and pressure, are observed. Based on simulation results, Kom El-Dikka is estimated to provide for approximately 57% of total internal ventilation performance, whereas Zad El-Mosafer accounts for around 42%, implying that the Kom El-Dikka room is better ventilated. The study proposes recommendations for optimizing thermal comfort in Ecolodges in Al-Fayoum through natural ventilation patterns.