Our recent run of entries ended with a focus on Egypt's tourist industry. This offers an excellent case study of the tensions that often arise in tourism development. How can a location’s assets be harnessed for the benefit of the local and national economy, without degrading them for use by future generations? How can the interests of local populations be prioritised when these developments are planned? Who stands to benefit from the revenues produced by tourism development in fragile areas? Economic imperatives, political corruption and the sustainability of tourism - all covered here.

Ethical tourism is one thing, but this and other cases reveal levels of corruption that incensed many Egyptians, leading in part to the overthrow of an entire regime. The Fayoum Oasis on the shores of Lake Qarun provides much to ponder.