Politically-oriented tourism in Jerusalem

Abstract

Politics plays an important role for a growing number of visitors, Israeli and otherwise, who have been coming to Jerusalem over the past few years. `Politically-oriented tourism' in the city includes private or organized excursions to sites related to the Israeli—Palestinian Conflict. While most politically-oriented tourists come to Jerusalem to show their support for either of the two main belligerent ethnic groups residing in the city, others are more politically `neutral' and are just curious to learn more of the conflict and how it manifests itself in the high-profile Jerusalem setting. In the city, both Israeli and Palestinian official bodies and private tour operators exploit tourism as an opportunity to propagate partisan political agendas. More often than not, `political' tourist interest in Jerusalem differs from that in other politically unstable locales in the high degree of involvement felt by many towards this city of great religious and spiritual importance.