The attraction of Palestine: Tourism in the years 1850–1948

Abstract

This paper argues for the importance of looking at tourism from a historical perspective within modern historical geographical research. Drawing on the research of Ashworth, Tunbride and Towner, who analysed various aspects of tourism from a historical perspective, this paper proposes that historical geographical research on tourism uses the terms «attraction factors», «supply» and «demand», in the context of the particular time and place, in order to fully understand the tourism infrastructure being considered. In order to illustrate these points, Palestine, within the context of historical geographical research on modern tourism, is considered. Towards the end of the Ottoman period and, more especially, during the British Mandate (1917–1948), tourism in Palestine developed greatly, and the country, which had previously only attracted pilgrims drawn by religious factors, began to attract tourists who were drawn by new and varied attraction factors. This paper shows how Palestine's unique and diverse attraction factors created the condition for the emergence and development of modern tourism.