Introduction

Tourism is becoming an increasingly global and complex phenomenon, with political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, and educational dimensions. Robinson (1998: 31) considers tourism to be the 'largest of multi-national activities.' When Lanfant (1995b: 26) explains about the omnipresence of tourism, she added that tourism on a world scale makes itself felt at geographical, ecological, and technological levels – as well as in the less visible and symbolic processes. Sheller and Urry (2004: 3) added that "'Travel and tourism" is the largest industry in the world, accounting for 11.7 per cent of world GDP, 8 per cent of world export earnings, and 8 per cent of employment.' They emphasized that the mobility produced by tourism affects almost everyone everywhere. 'Internationally there are over 700 million legal passengers' arrivals each year (compared with 25 million in 1950) with a predicted 1 billion by 2010' (Sheller & Urry, 2004: 3). AlSayyad (2001b: 1) considers the twentieth century to have

The Middle East, regardless of how it is defined, has been identified as the geographic arena for this edited volume on tourism. Tourism in the Middle East, within a global culture and competitive world economy, is faced with many challenges such as the leakage of tourism revenues and benefits into First World multi-national agencies and enterprises. Yet, tourism in the Middle East could also be the driving force for valuable opportunities leading to 'progress' and 'development.