The document provides an overview of tourism in the Middle East and North Africa region. It discusses the region's population patterns, religious influences, cultural diversity, geopolitical issues, economic development, and environmental concerns. Tourism is an important part of the economy for some countries. Religious and historic sites attract many visitors to countries like Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and Turkey. However, political instability and violence have negatively impacted tourism in places like Syria. The document examines tourism trends, statistics and key destinations within the diverse region.
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Lecture 7 tourism in the middle east and north africa
1. TOURISM IN THE MIDDLE EAST
AND NORTH AFRICA
TDM 458
Ara Pachmayer
2. OVERVIEW
The Middle East is one of the original
cultural hearths
Deserts, Arabs, Oil, Muslims and
geopolitical turmoil represent the common
conceptualization of the Middle East
Development of the petroleum industry has
had a large impact on the region
OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries) – member countries profoundly
influence global prices and production targets for
petroleum
4. POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT
Geography of the Population
More than 400 million people
Dominant population clusters around water
Maghreb: more humid areas of the Atlas Mts. and coast
Exotic Rivers - a river that comes from a humid area and
flows into a dry area that otherwise lacks streams, can
support irrigation
Egypt’s Nile River Valley: 70 million live within 10 miles of
the river – one of the most densely populated places in the
world
Jordan River Valley
Kibbutz - Israeli collectively worked settlement that
produce grain, vegetable and orchard crops irrigated by
the Jordan River and feeder canals
Agrotourism
Tigris and Euphrates
5. POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT
Oasis Life
Areas where high groundwater or deep-water wells
provide reliable moisture
Small agriculture settlements
Trading Centers
Al Ain, UAE - Oasis turned resort town
6. POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT
Some of the world’s oldest urban areas
Some are main tourist centers . . . Others are not
Cairo vs. Baghdad
Long Urban Legacy
City life began in Mesopotamia (modern day
Iraq) and Egypt
Rise of trade centers around 2000 B.C.
These cities eventually became Centers of
Islamic religious administration and education
Baghdad, Cairo
Traditional urban core of an Islamic City - medina
Often the main tourist attraction in an Islamic City
Colonialism left European influence
7. POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT
Signatures of Globalization
Urban Centers have become focal points of
economic growth
Oil wealth has added modern elements to
traditional cities
A Region on the Move
Migration
Rural to Urban – like we see in Latin America and Africa
Migration of low-wage workers from other areas (e.g.
Bangladesh workers in Dubai)
Migration of workers from the region elsewhere
9. PATTERNS OF RELIGION
Heart of the Judeo - Christian Tradition
Jews and Christians trace their roots to the
eastern Mediterranean
The emergence of Islam
Originated in Middle East in 622 A.D.
Judaism and Christianity share many of the
same prophets
10. PATTERNS OF RELIGION
The emergence of Islam
Five Pillars
Repeat the basic creed to accept Islam, Pray five times
daily facing Mecca, Give charitable contributions (if
possible), Fast during the month of Ramadan
Make at least one religious pilgrimage to Mecca - the
Hajj
Theocratic State - one in which religious leaders
guide policy - for example Iran
11. PATTERNS OF RELIGION
The emergence of Islam
Major religious schism divided Islam early on,
and until today
Shiites and Sunnis
Conflicts impact stability of the region today
Modern Islamic diversity
Muslim majority in region, except for Israel and
Cyprus
Sunni (73%), Shiites (23%) dominant in Iran, southern
Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan and Bahrain
13. REGIONAL CULTURES IN GLOBAL
CONTEXT
Islamic Internationalism
Islamic communities well established in Central
China, European Russia, the Balkans, Central
Africa, southern Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia
Globalization and Cultural Change
Global economy is having an impact on traditional
cultural values
Fundamentalism is a reaction in small minority
Access to satellite TV, cell phones, the internet brings
global culture to the region
Some cities are trying to balance these complex
cultures – Dubai is pursuing modern growth but still
protecting cultural heritage and religious tradition
14. GEOPOLITICAL FRAMEWORK
The Colonial Legacy
European colonialism came late
Widespread European colonialism after WWI
Many political boundaries set by colonial powers
Imposing European Power
French in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Syria and
Lebanon since 1800
Italians in Libya, Spanish in Morocco
Turkey, Iran (Persia) never occupied
Britain in Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf by
1900
Suez Canal
British instrumental in establishing Saudi Arabia
15.
16. GEOPOLITICAL FRAMEWORK
Imposing European Power
Decolonization and Independence
Europeans began to withdraw before WWII
By 1950 most independent
Algeria independent in 1962
Modern Geopolitical Issues
The Arab-Israeli Conflict
Creation of Israel in 1948
Three wars - 1956, 1967 (when Israel gained most land)
and 1973
Intifada - 1987 - Palestinian uprising protesting Jewish
settlements; Second Intifada in 2000
Ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians
17.
18. GEOPOLITICAL FRAMEWORK
Modern Geopolitical Issues
Conflicts within states in addition to Iraq and
Israel
Lebanon
Cyprus
Green Line - demarcation set up by UN peacekeepers that
divided the capital of Nicosia
Arab Spring
Current Anti-American Sentiment
An uncertain Political Future
International political relations remain complex
Israel, Turkey, Jordan are US allies; Iran, Syria oppose
US
Oil plays a major role
19.
20. ECONOMIC & SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
Geography of Fossil Fuels
Oil unevenly distributed in the area
Saudi Arabia, Iran, U.A.E., Libya, Algeria contribute
significantly to oil production, while Morocco and Sudan
have few developed petroleum reserves
This region has 7% of the world’s population; holds 68%
of the world’s proven petroleum reserves
Regional Economic Patterns
Higher-Income Oil Exporters
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, U.A.E.
Cultural landscape reshaped because of oil wealth
Not all benefit – rural Shiites and foreign workers
High levels of disposable income makes these countries
large tourist source countries
21. ECONOMIC & SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
Regional Economic Patterns
Lower-Income Oil Exporters
Algeria: oil and natural gas are its top exports; but
political instability remains a problem
Iran: has huge oil reserves, but long war with Iraq (1980-
90), and withdrawal from world trade under
fundamentalist government have lowered living
standards
Prospering Without Oil
Israel has highest living standard in the region
Growing hi-tech industry
Turkey has a diversified economy; has seen growth
22. ECONOMIC & SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
Regional Economic Patterns
Regional Patterns of Poverty
Morocco is poorer than Algeria or Tunisia and suffers
from brain drain
Brain drain – phenomenon in which some of brightest young
people leave for better jobs in Western Europe
Egypt’s prospects unclear, with growth in 1990s, but
large gaps between rich and poor
Yemen is poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula
Increasing Islamic Extremists presence
23. ECONOMIC & SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
Global Economic Relationships
Changing Global Linkages
Oil is the major export of the region
Oil makes up 70% of region’s exports
OPEC still influences cost and availability of petroleum
Turkey exports textiles, food products, and
manufactured goods
Israeli exports include cut
diamonds, electronics, machinery parts
Tourism includes religious and historical sites, other
activities
Regional Connections
Relationships with the EU are critical; Turkey asks to join
EU (not admitted, but is a member of NATO)
25. CONCLUSIONS
The Middle East and North Africa played critical role
in world history and globalization
Important cultural hearth and religious center at the
intersection of three continents
Oil plays world role in development of the region
Political conflicts disrupt economic development
Tension between modern ways and fundamentalist
traditions impacts tourism in the country and where
the population travels
Diverse and often harsh and fragile environment
27. REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
Created in 1969
Member Countries
5 Islamic countries ruled by Islamic law -
Afghanistan, Brunei-Darussalam, Iran, Mauritania, Pakistan
9 monarchies -
Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, UAE
41 republics - Albania, Algeria, countries in
Africa, Asia, South America
2 other - Palestine and Libya
Purpose
A UN for Muslims
A separate Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Section which focuses on tourism
28. REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
Member Countries
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE
Purpose
To formulate similar regulations in various fields such as
economy, finance, trade, customs, tourism, legislation and
administration
To foster scientific and technical progress
To establish scientific research centers
To set up joint ventures
To encourage cooperation in the private sector
To strengthen ties between the citizens of member states
To establish a common currency, the Khaleeji by 2010 . . .
haven’t yet
29. TOURISM IN THE MIDDLE EAST &
NORTH AFRICA
Ancient historical sites and globally significant
religious localities are a large draw
Tourist hotels and condos on the Mediterranean
Tourism is a large part of the regional economy in
Turkey, Israel, and Egypt
30. TOURISM STATISTICS & TRENDS IN THE
MIDDLE EAST (Excluding Turkey and Israel)
5.6% of total global international arrivals (small
increase from 2011)
Set backs in growth but still the Fastest growing
region in world
Average of 7.3% annual growth 2005-11 in terms
of arrivals
Tourism down
41% in Syria, 32% in Egypt, 24% in Lebanon
But tourism up
60% in Saudi Arabia - efforts to increase role of
tourism in the country’s economy
9% in Dubai specifically (only emirate reporting)
Continued investment in tourism
(UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia)
31. MIDDLE EAST AS A SOURCE MARKET
Emerging source market
People in the region have money to spend!
36 million people traveling internationally
8.1% annual growth 2005-11 (highest in world)
32. INTERNATIONAL TOURISM
EXPENDITURES
Highest expenditures
Turkey - $23 Billion
Saudi Arabia - $8.4 Billion
UAE (Dubai) - $ 9.2 Billion
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE (Dubai) account for 57%
of tourism expenditures in Middle East (not
counting Turkey)
36. Crossroads of Europe/Middle East
Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Ottoman
Empire
Archaeological and history sites are the
foundation of tourism in Turkey
EU Rejection…(somewhat more economically stable
then many of EU nations)
Very Diverse Attractions
Istanbul (Constantinople)
Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia
Mediterranean Coast (Turquoise Coast)
Black Sea Coast is underdevelopment
Cappadocia
TURKEY
37.
38. Continued Violence
Israel entry stamp
Sacred sites and cities
Pilgrimage destination for Jews, Christians, and Muslims
Perception by Westerners
TV media coverage leads most to conclude it is not a safe
place
Diverse tourism in Israel
Source and destination for Backpackers- Traditionally long-
term, young, middle class on an independently organized
budget orientated trip
Kibbutz
Cruise
Dead Sea and Spa Tourism
Jerusalem and Bethlehem
ISRAEL
39. Over 2 million annual visitors to Israel
Relationship with USA major driver of demand
VFR and Birthright
Many international connections to Tel Aviv
National Carrier El Al
US Airways started flights from Philadelphia-Tel Aviv
Large source of outbound tourism
3 million annual outbound tourists
Lots of VFR tourists
ISRAEL
40.
41. Abu Dhabi and Sharjah concentrated on business and
conference tourism
Dubai Explosion of mass tourism
Heavy investment for development of state-of-art
infrastructure, facilities, and man-made attractions
Transportation Hub
Cruise Terminal
Emirates airlines and Dubai International Airport
50+ A380s on order/delivered
$9 billion investment in new A380 dedicated terminal
Shopping Malls (Mall of Emirates and Dubai Mall)
Nightlife (Playground of Middle East)
Sport Tourism (golf, racing, tennis, yachting, marinas)
Artificial Islands (Palm Islands and World Islands)
Desert Safaris
Iconic buildings (Burj Khalifa - the tallest building in the
world and Burj al Arab - the most expensive hotel in the
world)
UAE AND DUBAI
45. EGYPT
Population of 70 million people
20 million in Cairo
Nile River
Pyramids
Luxor
Alexandria
Oasis tourism
Red Sea Coast (dive and resort tourism)
Religious sights (Mt. Sinai)
Tourism concerns
Reef destruction
Rise of fundamentalism among lower social classes
Overloaded infrastructure
Pollution and Urban sprawl of Cairo for Pyramids
46.
47. JORDAN
Significant oil resources so money to invest in infrastructure
Two diverse populations
Palestinian refugees and Bedouin Tribes
Participate in tourism through camel guiding, overnight
experiences to Bedouin camps
King Hussein instrumental in development of tourism
Relatively progressive government
Major attractions
Petra (Indiana Jones/Transformers 2 temple)
Dead Sea
Wadi Rum
Roman city of Jerash
Pilgrimage sites on Jordan River (where Jesus was
baptized)
Beach and Resorts on Red Sea (Aqaba)
Most hotel development in capital Amman and Aqaba