THE TOURISM

GEOGRAPHY OF THE
MIDDLE EAST
Countries of the Middle East
Bahrain
Cyprus
Egypt
Iran
Iraq
Iraqi
Kurdistan
(autonomy
within Iraq)
Israel
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Oman
State of
Palestine
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Turkey
United Arab
Emirates
Yemen
The Middle East-Cultural
Features
Vast petroleum resources
All but two (Israel and Iran) of the countries in
the region are Arabic-Speaking
Predominantly Muslim in Religion, except for
Israel and Lebanon
There are substantial ethnic and religious
minorities
Cultural Features
Aspects of Islam that influence tourist
experience:
The obligation of Muslims to pray five times a
day with special emphasis on Friday
The requirement to fast between sunrise and
sunset during the month of Ramadan
At least once in a lifetime, Muslims should
make the pilgrimage or haj to the holy city of
Mecca
Tourism Demand and Supply
The region accounts for a relatively small
share of the world tourism almost 3% of
arrivals
Dubai invests heavily in tourism
Oil-based prosperity of Saudi Arabia and the
Gulf states attract a large business travel
market
There is considerable volume of travel
involving business tourism, returning migrant
workers, visiting friends and relatives,
pilgrimages and health tourism
Tourism Demand and Supply
With only modest progress in education, most
countries in the region are ill-equipped to meet
the challenges of globalization
Foreign investors and national governments
have provided much of the infrastructure
needed for international tourism
Cheap oil: more vehicles
Tourism Resources
A wealth of cultural attractions: the region gave
rise to the worlds earliest civilizations and 3
major religions Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam
A generally favourable climate for beach
tourism, although in some countries this is
restricted by cultural and religious attitudes
(except Israel and Dubai)
The mountains in the north of the region
provide opportunities for winter sports
Tourism Resources
There is also a scope for adventure holidays in
the more accessible mountain and desert
areas
Ecotourism in practice has made little progress
Main Threats to Tourism
The political situation has been a major factor
in preventing the region realising its tourism
potential. Terrorism resulted in much negative
publicity
The unique appeal of the region lies in its
antiquities and cultural sites. These need
careful management and have a limited
capacity to receive visitors.
Tourism Geography of Egypt
It is a meeting place of East and West:
mysterious yet highly accessible
The most populous of the Arab countries and
the cultural center for the Arabic-speaking
world
Its people is the inheritors of an ancient
civilization that flourished many centuries
before the rise of Islam
The bulk of Egypts territory is desert
The Gift of the Nile
Egypt
Egypt is the dominant destination of
international tourists in the Middle East
Egypt is attempting to widen its resource base
by encouraging conferences and special
interest tourism
Nile River
Tourism Resources of Egypt
The Pyramids of Giza the only survivors of
the seven wonders of the ancient world
The temples and other antiquities near Luxor,
including the world famous Valley of the Kings
The temple at Abu Simbel near Aswan, which
UNESCO campaigns saved from inundation by
the Aswan High Dam Project
Pyramids of Giza
LUXOR TEMPLES
ABU SIMBEL TEMPLES
Other Tourist Resources
Fayyum (Fayoum) Oasis
Sailing in traditional felucca on the Nile
Trekking in the Sinai Dessert
Great potential: The Mediterranean Coast and
the Red Sea coast (Red Sea Riviera)
FAYYUM OASIS
FELUCCA ON THE NILE
SINAI DESERT
Red Sea Riviera
TOURISM GEOGRAPHY OF
ISRAEL
ISRAEL
The country is poor in natural resources, but
has a workforce that is enterprising and highly
skilled in the latest technology
Offer a variety of scenery and climate,
including the snows of Mount Hermon, the
sub-tropical Galilee, and the heat and aridity of
the Dead Sea
Security is a major consideration for travel in
Israel itself, and El Al, the national carrier,
routinely carried armed air marshals on its
flights long before 9/11 made it a global issue
Mount Hermon
Sea of Galilee
Dead Sea
The Demand for Tourism
Israel can offer a great variety of tourist products
including:
Summer holiday resorts along the
Mediterranean coast at Herzliya and Netanya,
and Ashkelon to the south
Eilat, Israels outlet to the Red Sea, has
become a popular winter sun destination, with
facilities for underwater photography, diving
and water skiing

Herzliya
Eilat
The Demand for Tourism
Spa Tourism has been developed around
picturesque Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee)
and the Dead Sea
Working holidays on kibbutz, the uniquely
Israeli experiment in communal living
Spa on the Dead Sea
Mud Hut - Kibbutz
Trekking in the Negev Desert
Cultural Tourism
Archaeological sites many of which are mentioned in the
bible

Herod the Greats Hilltop
Fortress
Historic port of Acre (Akko)
Christian Pilgrimages

Major Cities
Tel Aviv is the Financial Center of the country
Haifa is Israels largest port
Jerusalem-the capital of ancient Judea
TOURISM GEOGRAPHY OF
JORDAN
Jordan is a small, relatively poor Arab country
Tourism plays and important role in the economy
Major attractions now include:
Petra, the ancient city of the Nabatean civilisation
The desert scenery of Wadi Rum
Eastern shores of the Dead Sea
The Crusader Castle at Kerak
Roman City of Jerash
Pilgrim sites on the east bank of the river Jordan
Beaches and watersports of Aqaba on the Red Seas
coast
Ancient city of Petra
Wadi Rum
Eastern shores of the Dead Sea

Crusader Castle at Kerak

Jerash

River Jordan

TOURISM GEOGRAPHY OF
SYRIA
Roughly the size of England and Wales, Syria
comprises a large section of the Fertile
Crescent
Poor infrastructure is a major constraint on
tourism development
Syrias cultural heritage are represented by:
The capital Damascus, the worlds oldest city
Ruins of the ancient trading city of Palmyra
The Krak des Chevaliers-castles built by the
crusaders

Damascus

Ommayad Mosque

Palmyra

Krak des Chevaliers

TOURISM GEOGRAPHY OF
LEBANON
Lebanon is a classic example of a multi-
cultural society peopled toa large extent by
successive waves of refugees from other parts
of the Middle East
Beirut not only the financial capital but also
its main entertainment center
The countrys tourist attraction include:
Mount Lebanon a number of ski centers have
been developed
Bekaa Valley, includes the ancient temples of
Baalbek
Mount Lebanon

Bekaa Valley/temples of
Baalbek

TOURISM GEOGRAPHY OF THE
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
A major player in international tourism
Dubai has done most to attract Western tour
operators, and is an example of economic
diversification
A cruise terminal
World-class golf courses
Yacht marinas
Ultra-modern shopping malls and traditional markets
Sport tourism, including the Dubai World Cup
Dubai


Abu Dhabi is aiming to a centre of cultural
excellence
TOURISM GEOGRAPHY OF
QATAR
The Qatar Tourism Authority has used its
wealth, based on vast reserves of natural gas,
to become a sustainable niche market
destination.
Dohas international airport is designed
specifically to handle the new generation of
Airbus superjumbos
Has hosted a number of sports events,
including the 2006 Asian Games
Doha, Qatar

2006 Asian Games - Doha

Doha Landmarks Doha Pearl

Doha Landmarks Spiral
Mosque
The spiral mosque of
the Kassem Darwish
Fakhroo Islamic
Centre is a recent
construction - It has
become in a few years
one of Doha's most
famous landmarks.
This is not a traditional
Qatari mosque but a
replica of the Great
Mosque of Al-
Mutawwakil in
Samarra in Iraq.
TOURISM GEOGRAPHY OF
OMAN
In contrast to Dubai, Oman can offer the tourist
a more genuine experience of traditional Arab
culture.
The country has a long history of seafaring
traders from the port of Muscat venture widely
across the Indian Ocean.
Batinah Coast- being developed as a winter
sun destination for Europeans.
Dhofar region-appeals to Arabian families
Muscat, Oman


TOURISM GEOGRAPHY OF
SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia has the largest GDP in the
Middle East it has the quarter of the worlds
oil reserves
Primary destination for business travellers,
focusing on Riyadh and Jeddah
Visiting religious reasons to perform the
haj/umrah to the holy cities of Mecca and
Medina

Mecca

Medina

Jeddah and Riyadh

Jeddah Airport

TOURISM GEOGRAPHY OF
YEMEN
Yemen is much poorer than other countries of
the Arabian Peninsula, and tribal traditions
persist to a much greater extent
This mysterious country has much to offer the
more adventurous tourist, namely:
Archictectural heritage of mud-brick tower houses
and palaces in Old Sanaa, Zabid and Shibam
The remains of the ancient Sabean civilisation,
probably the biblical Sheba
Old Sanaa
Mud-brick houses in Sanaa
TOURISM GEOGRAPHY OF
IRAQ
The major part of Iraq is made up of the fertile
plains of the Tigris and Euphrates, historically
known as Mesopotamia
Archeological sites: Ninevah, Babylon
Baghdad is a modern capital, and little
remains of the city of the Abbsahid Caliphs
TOURISM GEOGRAPHY OF
IRAN
Known as Persia until 1935
Different in laguage, ethnicity and culture from
its Arab neighbors
Irans Tourism resources include:
Isfahan the city of mosques
Persepolis remains of the Pre-Islamic Persian
civilisations
Ski centers of Alborz mountains
Summer resorts along the Caspian Sea
The island Kish in the Gulf upmarket winter
destination
Isfahan The City of Mosques
Alborz Mountains
Kish Island