Is the Inland Waterways System Primed for Mitigating Road Transport in Egypt?

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the possibility of using hybrid transportation modes depending on inland waterways transport to reduce the dependency on road transport in Egypt focusing on environmental, economic, and social measures. Design/ methodology/ approach: The research is considered inductive qualitative research that employs a focus group tool to collect interactive and in-depth insights from experts in the field of transportation within different sectors in Egypt. Findings: The study reveals that, while Egypt’s inland waterways have significant potential to reduce reliance on road transport, significant challenges require being addressed, such as infrastructure improvements, fleet modernization, labor training, and government incentives, all of which have been recognized as significant opportunities for development this mode in Egypt. Research implications/ limitations: One of the major research limitations encountered in this study was a lack of comprehensive and up-to-date data on inland waterway transport in Egypt. The data accessible from diverse sources, such as government bulletins, reports, and scholarly publications, are often inconsistent. Practical implications/ limitations: Many practical limitations were involved during the study, including the socioeconomic elements that form perceptions regarding inland waterways transport, which may have influenced participants’ perspectives. Originality: This study fills a significant gap throughout the existed literature by investigating the integration of inland waterways transport with road transport in Egypt. It is a stakeholder-centered approach focused on Egyptian experts’ comments about both modes. This study provides practical insights that could improve and promote sustainable transportation in Egypt.