Furthermore, Lebanon enjoyed a considerable increase (+26%) on the already positive trend experienced in 2003, despite a politically rocky patch following the assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri. Minister of tourism, Joseph Sarkis, described the new Beirut government's commitment to "enhancing the promotion of tourism in different sectors and encouraging investments in the country, in order to make Lebanon a first-class tourism destination in the Middle East" (quoted in Wells, 2006 at p. 48).
Even Jordan experienced healthy growth in tourism, and managed to overcome its losses from 2003; an enthusiastic managing director of Jordan's Tourism Board declared at the World Travel Market (WTM), Mazen Homoud, reported that, "As with all the countries that have seen terrorist attacks, the resilience and the professionalism of the (tourism) industry is already shining through and Jordan is back on track" (quoted in Wells, 2006 at p. 48). The proof is in the tourism pudding, so to speak, and the managing director was right with inbound arrivals to Jordan increasing by a whopping 21% to 2.8 million in 2004 and by 9% for the period January-June 2005; it should be noted, though, that not all these visitors were regular tourists. According to Wells, "Jordan's capital Amman has become the centre for many companies and agencies working to re-build Iraq; this business visitor sector has become the country's second-highest earner of foreign exchange --contributing $803m, 10% of Jordan's GDP in 2004" (2006, p. 49).
Egypt's tourist sector continued to experience healthy figures, generating $6 billion in 2004. The country's tourism minister, Ahmed el Maghraby, announced plans to add another 10,000 hotel rooms to the current inventory over the next decade in an attempt to accommodate the continually increasing demand: "Egypt has marvellous potential and can attract 14m tourists a year," the minister said. A huge swathe of dedicated new tourism development is focused on the Red Sea riviera between Hurghada and Safaga. The new umbrella organisation of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organisation of Iran, headed by the country's deputy president, Parvaneh Sattari, exhibited for the first time at the WTM in London in November heralding Iran's determination to make an impact on the international tourism stage" (quoted in Wells, 2006 at p. 49).
Tourism in Oman has also experienced healthy growth patterns, due in large part to the political stability provided by the leadership of Sultan Qaboos, who celebrated the 35th anniversary of his accession to the throne in 2006 (Wells, 2006). The high quality hospitality provided by the industry in Oman was recognized by the Conde Nast Traveller readers' award presented to the Chedi hotel in Muscat. According to Wells, "The Chedi was listed in the magazine's top 10 best resorts and top 10 best spa resorts in the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean at the eighth annual awards ceremony held in London in September 2005. Hot on its heels, the beachside Shangri-La hotel resort development, just outside the city of Muscat, is also wooing the luxury market with a seven-star hotel" (Wells, 2006, p. 49).
Travel and Tourism in the United Arab Emirates.
According to U.S. government analysts, the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) per capita GDP is comparable to those of leading West European nations and expenditures of oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy policies have allowed the UAE to play an increasingly important role in the affairs of the region (UAE, 2007). As Sheller and Urry (2004) note, "The country's oil resources took Dubai into a tremendous spiral of development: paved roads, telephone, water supply, and electricity.... This has provided the incentive to diversify its economy...
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