Middle East and North Africa. Tourism increased slowly in the last decade 1990s, this region represented only about 5.7% of total global international

Middle East and North Middle East and North AfricaAfrica

Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa

• Tourism increased slowly in the last decade

• 1990s, this region represented only about 5.7% of total global international arrivals

• North Africa constituted for nearly 35%

• Specific destinations e.g. Iraq, Iran, Lebanon have been affected by the political turmoil

Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa

• Region dominated by Islamic religion• Muslims enjoy visiting the cities of their

region and the world for both pilgrimages and business purposes

• Businesses capitals of the Islamic world such as Damascus, Syria; Beirut, Lebanon, and Cairo, Egypt are the centers of trade and commerce carried out under Islamic law

Geographic characteristicsGeographic characteristics

• Middle East evokes images of oil-rich sheiks, conflicts between Arab and Arab and Israeli terrorist groups, and

• Most of the area is dry, with precipitation totals under twenty inches per year

• Population is concentrated in riverine or oasis locations, and the vast majority of the people have little to do with camels, or the Sahara Desert

Landform CharacteristicsLandform Characteristics

• Landforms of the Middle East and North Africa, influence the local climatic conditions and affect the availability of the lifeblood of the region - water


3 landform regions :-

1) Generally level terrain associated with deserts in North Africa and the plateaus of Arabia, Iran and Turkey

2) Mountain ranges in northwest Africa

3) Riverine basins of the Nile, Euphrates, Tigris and smaller streams


• Mountains of North Africa and the Middle East are the primary geographical factor affecting the distribution of water and consequently the population

• The Nile, one of the most important rivers in the world starts south of the North African region in mountains that provide it with water


• Provides water for irrigation, for drinking, for transportation (including for tourism), for the fishing industry, and for the hydroelectricity upon which industry is based

Climate characteristicsClimate characteristics

• Region does have a dry climate

• Predominant climatic type is desert or steppe with precipitation totals of ten inches or less per year

• Important areas of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey, Syria, Israel and Jordan have Mediterranean climates

Organisation of lifeOrganisation of life

• 3 distinctive lifestyles :- city, village and nomadic

• For tourists and residents, the cityscape is dominated by narrow streets, the mosque and the bazaar

• Mosque is the focal point of the city and its neighborhoods, for Muhammad revealed that the faithful Muslim must bow in prayer five times daily which facing Mecca


• Streets remained narrow because the Koran (the words of Allah to the prophet Muhammad) did not provide for public space greater than that needed for a laden camel to pass

• Second lifestyle (which tourists generally only glimpse) is found in the villages.


• Focus on agriculture – wheat, barely, and other small grains and vegetables for local and national consumption


• 3rd major lifestyle is found among the nomads

• Nomads account for only 5% to 10% of the population of the region, and national boundaries and politics are pressuring to become sedentary

Tourism in the middle EastTourism in the middle East

• World attention is focused upon this region of the world both because of the political situation and its potential

• Continuing stress in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Israeli-Arab dispute, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, and difficulties between the moderate and radical Arab states combined to inhibit tourism in many areas of the region


• Egypt, Israel, and Turkey, Syria’s tourism dipped significantly in the early 1990s, then recovered

• Major tourist countries of the Middle East today are Egypt, Israel and Turkey

• Syria’s tourism dipped significantly in the early 1990s.


• Affected by a) conflict erupted in the region in 2000 b) Politically unstable due to the movement of Israeli troops into the West bank and a number of suicide bombings by the Palestinians

EgyptEgypt

• Capital : Cairo

• Government : Republic

• Size : 386,650 miles

• Language : Arabic, English, French

• Tourist Season : Year-round

• Currency : Egyptian pound

• Population : 69.8 million

Physical CharacteristicsPhysical Characteristics

• Desert country bisected by the Nile Valley and its delta

• Hot and dry in the summers and winters are moderate

Tourism CharacteristicsTourism Characteristics

• In the 1990s, serious economic problems, decline in tourism caused by a fear of terrorism and political conditions resulting from the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East

• Constrained because of the high cost of travel from the main tourist-generating countries of the US and Western Europe


• Egypt’s treaty with Israel in 1978 and increased ease of travel between Egypt, Jordan, and Israel caused rapid growth in tourism from 1975 to 1985.

• Visit to the pyramids and either a cruise up the Nile River or quick trip to Luxor or the Aswan Dam can be easily completed in a week or less

Tourist Destinations and Tourist Destinations and AttractionsAttractions

• Nile cruises between Luxor and the Aswan Dam, or Cairo to Luxor and then on the Aswan reservoir are the most popular, especially for North American and West European visitors


• Important regions e.g. Cairo and the surrounding area, Luxor and Aswan

• Cairo, Egypt’s capital is the political and cultural center of much of the Arab world, although it has lost some political leverage because of its treaty with Israel


• In Cairo, the two major attractions are the Egyptian Museum (one of the world’s great museums, featuring a collection of ancient artifacts) and the Khan Khalili Bazaar (variety of gold and silver works, embroidered clothing leather and other handicrafts)


• Developing holiday villages along the Mediterranean and Red Sea

• Combination of dramatic mountain scenery and the clear blue waters of the Red Sea combine to provide a rich resource for tourism development in this area

AlgeriaAlgeria

• Capital : Algiers

• Government : Republic

• Size : 918,497 square miles

• Language : Arabic

• Ethnic Division : Arabs

• Religion : 99% Sunni Muslim

• Tourist Season : Year-round

Physical CharacteristicsPhysical Characteristics

• Mediterranean coast is a narrow plain

• Behind the coastal plain is a mountainous and high plain region

• Southern portion is desert

• Climate is hot and dry with some rain along the coastal areas


• Differs from Morocco and Tunisia in that its tourist sector is entirely state controlled

• Host of rich natural attractions for tourism – expansive beaches on the Mediterranean


• Offers the tourist a variety of scenery

• Broad beaches, rocky coves, scenic mountains, cascading waters, and desert sand dunes

• Picturesque fortified villages, such as Constantine (which sits on a precipitous rock overlooking a deep canyon)


• Capital full of narrow winding lanes full of craftspeople and shops

Documents

Middle East and North Africa. Tourism increased slowly in the last decade 1990s, this region represented only about 5.7% of total global international