The Middle East needs a thoughtful discussion regarding tourism and how to involve local communities and ethnic enclaves within this industry with an eye towards economic development, ecological preservation, and cultural empowerment. The proposed project will help the people of the Middle East to choose and implement appropriate tourism strategies that are sustainable and equitable. The focus is upon active engagement of local peoples to control their destinies in ways that simultaneously mesh with and reinforce national strategies in an equitable manner. Doing so will advance bottom-up development and is an excellent method of defusing potentially adversarial relationships while encouraging cooperation.
