A systematic approach to tourism policy

The Middle East is the cradle of civilization and the birthplace of the thr ee major religions practiced today. As such, most countries in the Middle E ast have a natural competitive advantage in the global tourism industry. Ho wever for many of these countries the potential of this competitive advanta ge has not been reached. This research is designed to provide policy makers with a systematic approach toward restructuring their tourism strategies. Based on the results of this study, some significant policy implications ar e identified. While the methodology presented in this study is not without some weakness, it can be easily applied to other countries and regions. In this context, four Middle Eastern countries are used to illustrate the appr oach proposed in this study. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights rese rved.