Title: Integrated quality management and sustainability for enhancing the competitiveness of tourism in Egypt

Authors: Mohammed I. Eraqi

Addresses: Tourism Studies Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Fayoum University, Fayoum Governorate, Egypt

Abstract: Improving the quality of Egyptian tourist destinations is essential in satisfying tourists| needs, making the Egyptian tourism industry more competitive, and ensuring that tourism development is in a balanced and sustainable way. This research aims to explain how Integrated Quality Management (IQM), as an integrated management tool, can improve the level of sustainability in Egyptian tourism to enhance competitiveness. Statistical tests such as reliability, statistical mean, Qi² test, regression analysis and the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) have been used to examine the research findings. The findings reveal that the level of indicators of IQM and of sustainability in Egyptian tourism is weak because the level of cost and externalities of tourism development is high and the transport system is poor and operates in an inefficient manner. Together, IQM and sustainability provide the basis for building community, industry and agency capacity to manage tourism resources in a more integrated manner to improve the competitiveness of Egypt as a macro tourist destination.

Keywords: integrated quality management; IQM; tourist destinations; competitiveness; sustainability; Egypt; sustainable tourism; sustainable development; transport systems; tourism resources.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2009.021623

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2009 Vol.5 No.1, pp.14 - 28

Published online: 30 Nov 2008 *

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