Power Structures in the Tourism Industry in the Context of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

With reference to war theorist Clausewitz’ (1832) considerations, Thurot stated that “tourism is a simple continuation of politics by other means” (quoted in Edgell 1978: 171). Cohen-Hattab (2004: 62) confirmed this position by arguing that “tourism may be, and often is, exploited in order to create and export images that both correspond to and advance distinctive political and ideological goals”. He examined the Zionist utilization of the Arab dominated tourism industry in Mandatory Palestine to promote Jewish national ambitions and to alter the world opinion in their favour. He showed how Zionist organisations influenced the oral, visual and written tourist media by launching guidebooks, tourist maps and films which focused on their Jewish state’s vision. Furthermore, he emphasised the role of the tour guides whom he considered “a key element in the complex interaction between ideology and tourism” (2004: 71) as they can influence the tourists and use them as multiplier of their perspective in their home countries.

Now, nearly 100 years after the beginning of the mandatory era, the power relations have reversed and the once struggling Zionist minority turned into the ruling majority.

Against this backdrop, I will analyse which tools are used – and how they are used - by the conflict partners to instrumentalise the tourism industry for ideological and political purposes in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

This concept paper aims to illustrate the current power structures in the tourism industry within the context of the mentioned conflict by a two-level approach: Firstly, a media analysis will help identify the images created by both conflict partners in order to shape the perception of the region abroad. Secondly, participatory observations of conducted tours in the region will provide detailed insights on the transmitted ideological perspectives.