Marketing Middle East Destinations

The Middle East occupies a place of honor in the world because of its long history, and the fact that various superpowers have long shown a range of political, geopolitical and cultural interests in the region over the years (Al Mahadin and Burns, 2006). The Middle East is home to three major religions, has always been relevant in world affairs and offers unique landscapes and sites that are different from those existing in the global tourism supply system (Freire, 2012). Developing tourism in the Middle East can make a great contribution to the region’s economy, help build a bridge to peace mediation, and create cooperation between countries that have been engaged in prolonged political conflict (Al-Hamarneh and Steiner, 2004; Zamani-Farahani and Henderson, 2010).