Alon Gelbman

From hostile boundaries to tourist attractions

This study examines the transformation of hostile borders to inviting tourist attractions. It focuses on three cases: the ‘Island of Peace’ on the Israeli–Jordanian border, the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Southeast Asia and the Berlin Wall. All three are located on boundaries that were sites of conflict and instability, formerly closed and fortified but transformed into open and free borders for tourism. The geopolitical changes that have influenced the development of the sites account for the similarities between them. In all three cases, unique attractions have been developed, offering elements such as special demarcation, observation points and commemorations of the heritage of the closed border or a symbolic representation of cooperation and renewed political relations with the neighbouring country. The tourism development at these attractions may constitute an important contribution in terms of awareness and education that could help in strengthening relations of peace and cooperation in places that in the past suffered from a closed and hostile border. By examining the development of intensive tourism at selected border tourism sites, much can be learned about the development of border attractions elsewhere.

Border Tourism in Israel: Conflict, Peace, Fear and Hope

Abstract The main aim of this research is to describe and analyse cultural elements that express the symbolic landscape of Israels border-tourism attractions. The methodology selected is based on the naturalistic approach of landscape interpretation. A descriptive analysis is provided of the symbolism of elements in two case studies of border tourism in Israel. These places have grown into unique tourist attractions, and they illustrate the conflict or the co-operation between Israel and its neighbouring countries. Visits to Israeli border sites usually entail observation and hold a special meaning for tourists, either because they can sense the danger and fear of battles conducted in the past near the border, or because they have a close and clear look at the neighbouring country. On the other hand, these sites are also places of hope for a better future – one of peace and co-operation between the two sides. In many cases the observation points have grown to signify both the core of the conflict and a prayer for peace, a special simultaneity of fear and hope.

Re-envisioning community-based heritage tourism in the old city of Nazareth

This study specifically examines the potential for heritage tourism development to promote cross-cultural dialog in the historic old city of Nazareth (Israel). The paper focuses on a case study of a small-scale heritage tourism venture that seeks to influence tourism development in Nazareths old city. This is an exploratory case study that uses qualitative research methods including extensive participant observation and in-depth interviews with the ventures senior management group and selected employees. Study findings indicate a model of the relationship between community-based tourism development, heritage, and peace-building in a city that has experienced a wide range of cross-cultural conflicts. This model represents an alternative view to the notion that heritage serves to enhance differences and dissonance between different cultural groups. In contrast, findings from this study suggest that heritage in the form of tourism can help create shared interests between different communities in settings characterized by cross-cultural conflict.

Heritage and Cultural Tourism: The Present and Future of the Past

Heritage and culture have long been recognized as core components of tourism. Whether we are dealing with pilgrimages and visits to sacred sites, visits for cultural interaction with ‘other’ host societies, or elaborating on other forms of spiritual activities, tourism has always been an important platform for such meetings and interactions. This report is a summary of the conference ‘Heritage and Cultural Tourism: The Present and Future of the Past’. The conference was held on 17–19 June 2008, at the Brigham Young University, Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies, in Jerusalem, Israel. It brought together 75 tourism researchers from fifteen countries in the Middle East, Europe, North America and the Pacific, and was organized by the Department of Geography at Brigham Young University (Utah, USA) with the assistance and sponsorship of several regional partner institutions. The conference aims were to examine and highlight the magnitude of heritage and culture-based tourism, and stimulate meaningful dialogue. This enables scholars to continue to understand and share their findings regarding how to support principles of social, economic and ecological sustainability by mitigating the negative aspects and enhancing the positive sides of tourism. The conference was designed to be small, to encourage in-depth discussions of critical issues in heritage tourism scholarship. While most attendees were from the Middle East, the subject matter and case materials were broad in their scope, underscoring all aspects of tourism that are found in cultural heritage contexts, with special interest in current practices and policies, and future trends and directions for heritage and cultural tourism. Tom Selwyn, the opening keynote speaker, examined the ideas, concepts, practices and assumptions associated with lessons learnt from experience, in two programmes of work funded by the European Commission in the fields of pilgrimage, tourism and cultural heritage – one in Bosnia-Herzegovina (involving university and other

Tourist lodging, spatial relations, and the cultural heritage of borderlands

This research note examines how international borders have created a unique heritage context within which a number of hotels and restaurants have flourished largely because of their border locations. A spatial typology is presented of border-located lodging and food services to include establishments that lie directly on borderlines, as well as those that are located near international boundaries and whose heritage appeal is affected by their “bisected” or otherwise border-located heritagescapes. Empirical examples are presented from North America and Europe to illustrate the types of borderland establishments that appeal to visitors because of their international border heritage.

THE EXAMINATION OF THE RESIDENTS’ ACTIVITIES AND DEDICATION TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY — AN AGRITOURISM ACCESS TO THE SUBJECT

The paper deals with conceptual guidelines, basic aspects and spatial frameworks of the development of agritourism. The holistic approach, in this regard, includes the integrated and the comprehensive aspects of tourist stays in the countryside. The authors define the impact of agritourism on rural surroundings and analyze the influence of spending leisure time outside urban areas and consuming agritourism activities. Understanding the many components of agritourism is essential for future planning, management, business decisions and strategies. For success in agritourism, knowledge is necessary in many economic fields, including organization, management and marketing, among others. In addition, this article emphasizes products and services in agritourism and provides insight into the facilities and opportunities that are offered to tourists in rural areas. The research findings represent a useful tool for obtaining information about many elements of agritourism development and can serve as a relevant instrument in travel industry research or in academic investigation.

From ideological space to recreational tourism: the Israeli forest

ABSTRACT The forest as a leisure, recreation, and tourist space is growing in significance as part of nature-based tourism. It contributes to social and economic development, particularly in light of the global trend for more recreation and tourism in developed and developing countries. The main aim of this paper is to describe and analyze the evolution of forest development policy and its implications for the function of the forest as a recreation and leisure space, using an Israeli case study. The methodology is based on historic-geographic research to analyze forest tourism over time and into the present. The study finds that the spatial processes that took place over nearly a century in Israel transformed its forests from expressions of an ideology to spaces dedicated to leisure, recreation, and tourism.

Cultural and behavioral differences: tour guides gazing at tourists

ABSTRACT The aim of this exploratory study is to describe, examine, and analyze the manner in which tour guides in Israel gaze at the groups of foreign tourists they lead, in light of their close familiarity and cumulative experience with them. How do Israeli tour guides view different types of tourists, tourist behaviors, and tourist worldviews? The concept of ‘gaze’ refers to the manner in which people view the world around them. When a gaze is focused, it may include both visual and nonvisual elements. The study methodology is based on a grounded theory approach and on in-depth interviews with Israeli tour guides regarding their attitudes toward and perceptions and images of the tourists in their groups. The study proposes a model of five complementary gazes that develop over time, which depicts the processes and elements that help shape how hosts understand the tourists with whom they come in contact. Although the model was based on findings generated by interviews with Israeli tour guides, who are professional hosts, it may also be applicable to other kinds of hosts in different contexts.

The Influence of Social Entrepreneurship in Tourism on an Arab Village in Israel

This chapter explores how social entrepreneurship in tourism can convey societal benefits in an underserved Arab community in Israel. This analysis draws from three theoretical perspectives (i) social sustainability, (ii) theories associated with tourism, development, and economic empowerment, and (iii) the growing body of scholarship on tourism and peace-building efforts, and also includes an empirical case study situated in the Israeli village of Jisr-az Zarqa. The study focuses on the development of the village’s first commercial guest house, which is operated through a special Arab-Jewish partnership. This study employed qualitative research methods such as participant observation and in-depth, open-ended interviews. Findings revealed three categories associated with the influence of social entrepreneurship in tourism in Jisr az-Zarqa. The first category is largely descriptive and identifies the barriers to tourism development in the village. The second category analyzes the role of social entrepreneurship in tourism through the special Arab-Jewish business partnership that operates the guesthouse. The third category offers insights into the impacts associated with Jisr az-Zarq’s first commercial guesthouse.

Differential tourism zones on the western Canada–US border

This paper examines how a single international border can exact different policies, practices, spatial variations, and tourism spaces at various points along its length. Based on an examination of the westernmost portion of the Canada–US frontier, this constructivist study investigates how the juxtaposition of barriers, attractions, transit spaces, and tourism landscapes is created concurrently on a single stretch of an international boundary. Four coterminous ‘zones’ of tourism were identified, including an area of illegal activity, ports of entry or crossing points, the peace park, and the exclave zone. Theoretical and practical implications are drawn from this study for border managers, tourism planners, and border agencies.