Middle East Tourism…

With so much violence taking place around the Middle East and North Africa, the tourist industry has been decimated across the region. As a result, many are now wondering if tourism in the Middle East can ever recover. It’s not just violence here in the Middle East that’s scaring tourists away — in the wake of the Paris attacks, I personally heard of several acquaintances and students from the United States canceling upcoming trips to the Middle East — including Oman (which I can assure you is safe, as I live here). Unfortunately, the drop in tourism is sure to lead to even greater economic instability — a prime catalyst for further desperation and radicalization. It’s sad to see so many of my favorite spots in the world suffering from violence and a subsequent loss of revenue — and sadder still to see so many tourists missing out on some of the greatest sites and landscapes on earth…