The World Tourism Organization (WTO) estimates that there were more than 595 million international travelers in 1997. Spending by these tourists was estimated at more than $425 billion. While tourism overall has been growing at an annual rate of 4%, ecotourism is increasing at an annual rate between 10% and 30% according to a recent report by the World Resources Institute (WRI), making it the fastest growing sector of the international travel and tourism market.    Ecotourism is a nature-based form of specialty travel defined by The Ecotourism Society (TES) International “as responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people.”   The ecotourism market requires a sensitive type of development, one that is in harmony both with the natural environment and the expectations of visitors interested in experiencing nature. What this market has come to demand are ecolodges.   An ecolodge is located in a natural area, designed and furnished to suit the natural environment, with an emphasis on ecological sensitivity. Naturally the growing field of ecotourism has attracted the attention of the tourism investment community in Egypt and with it, their interest in ecolodges as well.    The concept of ecolodges is one that the Tourism Development Authority (TDA) has introduced to the investment community in Egypt previously. Building on its earlier success at providing investors and the Egyptian community as a whole with information on the subject, the TDA is now organizing a three-day Ecolodge Forum to be held March 25th – 27th, 2000 at the Cairo Sheraton Hotel. The Forum is a collaborative effort between TDA and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).   The Ecolodge Forum will be the most comprehensive gathering of national and international experts in the field of ecolodges to be convened in Egypt. The vision for the Forum is that entirely new approaches to the accommodations industry will emerge to distinguish ecolodges from other types of traditional resorts.    The event has been designed to take an in-depth look at the viability of ecolodgesin Egypt. Several Egyptian experts and international guest speakers will present, including: Megan EplerWood, Executive Director, The Ecotourism Society International. Ms. EplerWood will speak about the International Ecotourism Market and opportunities for Egypt to attract this new and growing market to the natural wonders of Egyptian parks and protected areas. Dr. Ashraf Salama, Professor and Chair, TDA Ecolodge Working Group. Dr. Salama will speak about the future of ecolodges in Egypt and highlight unique design criteria to distinguish ecolodges in the Egyptian environment.  Dr. Edward Sanders, President, Ecotourism International. Dr. Sanders is an internationally recognized authority on ecolodge financing. He will address the financial viability of this type of lodging in Egypt, based on research undertaken as part of a year long global study. Architect Hitesh Mehta, Associate, E.D. Stone & Associates, Florida. Mr. Mehta is the editor of the 2nd Edition of  The Ecolodge Sourcebook, recognized as the definitive work on the subject of Ecolodge Design and Construction.    As we begin the new millennium, it is imperative that all forms of human activity become sustainable – and tourism is no exception. Ecotourism as an approach to travel and ecolodges as an approach to lodging, are efforts on the road toward sustainability.    The Ecolodge Forum has been organized for the benefit of tourism investors, developers, architects, financial institutions and all parties interested in the further development of ecotourism, ecolodges and sustainable development in Egypt.