International
tourism has become a major industry worldwide and
Travel and tourism
activities generated US$3.6 trillion in 2000. The rate of
Expansion has been
impressive and international arrivals increased annually
Developing
Nations have sought
to take advantage of this strong upward trend, prompted
By an appreciation
of tourism's positive economic consequences which
Include income and
employment creation, foreign exchange earnings and
Inward investment. Tourism
is vigorously pursued as a catalyst to general
Growth and means of
diversification, despite its disadvantages as a vehicle
For economic
development (Harrison,
2001). Of the developing world's exports and more than 40% of its gross
domestic
Product. Countries.
Europe
and America
continue to dominate the industry as both generators
And destinations. The
Middle East recorded 24.1
million arrivals in 2002,
1990s (WTO, 2003). Developed
tourism regions in the world' where leisure travel is rare and
Many Middle Eastern
societies, Western style tourism is considered to be
Fundamentally
incompatible with the Islamic religion and way of life
(Henderson,
2003).
Other barriers in
operation are the absence of infrastructure, harsh
Climate, visa
restrictions and a lack of commercial interest amongst tour
Operators and travel
agents of major generating markets. Regional instability
And the heightened
threat of terrorism worldwide is another critical issue.
Nevertheless, there
is a rich endowment of tourism resources and the
Middle
East offers a host of natural attractions such as deserts,
mountains,
Green valleys and the Red
Sea with its beaches and world class
diving.
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