Evaluating GIS as a Tool to Support Sustainable Coastal Planning: Climate Change Awareness as a Moderator

In light of the increasing interest in climate change issues and their impacts on the tourism sector, especially in coastal cities that have become at risk of drowning as a result of sea level rise, one of those cities was Alexandria in Egypt. Therefore, officials of the local authorities have recently begun to search for supportive tools that contribute to activating sustainable coastal planning. among these tools, GIS got the most attention in previous studies related to tourism planning and sustainable planning. Hence, the main purpose of this study is to assess the availability of geographic information system (GIS) in local authorities for supporting sustainable coastal planning. This study also aims to evaluate the awareness of technicians and application experts in tourism authorities on climate change issues as a moderator variable and its effects on sustainable coastal planning. This study relied on a quantitative approach through the use of a survey method for collecting data. The questionnaire has been distributed to administrators, technicians, and application experts of GIS at local authorities. Results have shown that hardware, software, and people have significant positive effects on sustainable coastal planning. By contrast, there was a lack of data and procedures, which had negative effects. Additionally, a lack of awareness among administrators, technicians, and application experts about climate change issues has a negative effect on sustainable coastal planning. The results of the current study provide significant recommendations for local tourism authorities in coastal areas for mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change.