James M. Dorsey

Brutality Back-Fires: Arab Spring’s Lesson for Erdogan

Brutality Back-Fires: Arab Spring’s Lesson for Erdogan

JAMES M. DORSEY: Once again battle-hardened football fans are taking the lead in confronting a regime. We’ve been here before.

 thehedonista

Dubai’s Top 5 Restaurants: A Personal Choice

Dubai’s Top 5 Restaurants: A Personal Choice

SARAH WALTON: I’m often asked what are my favourite restaurants in Dubai – well then, here they are.

 sarah walton

Jebel Akdar: Exotic, Warm and Welcoming

Jebel Akdar: Exotic, Warm and Welcoming

SARAH WALTON: It’s a place of simple but genuine pleasures, truly a delightful destination in Oman

 The View From Fez

Ifrane: The Arab World’s Own ‘Little Switzerland’

Ifrane: The Arab World’s Own ‘Little Switzerland’

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: The authorities in the town are trying to up its profile and attract visitors with new initiatives

 The View From Fez

‘Exotic’: Orientalist Cliches Still Used to ‘Sell Morocco’

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: If a family of Moroccans were to find themselves on Bondi Beach they’d find it ‘exotic’. But that’s not a word used to sell Australia

 sarah walton

Birkat Al Mawz: Oman’s ‘Totally Cool’ Ghost Town

Birkat Al Mawz: Oman’s ‘Totally Cool’ Ghost Town

SARAH WALTON: They don’t make it easy for you to reach some of Oman’s tourist treasures but with a little effort you’ll find it. Certainly worth the trouble.

 The View From Fez

Moroccan Tourism: Set for Up-Market Boom?

Moroccan Tourism: Set for Up-Market Boom?

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: Are we on the cusp on the major boom for the Moroccan property market driven by cash-rich tourists? Views are mixed.

 The View From Fez

Asilah: The Hidden Moroccan Seaside Gem

Asilah: The Hidden Moroccan Seaside Gem

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: It doesn’t feature too highly on most tourists ‘must sees’ when they come to Morocco but it has many attractions

 Susan Al Shahri

The Salalah ‘Invasion’: Some Planning Please

The Salalah ‘Invasion’: Some Planning Please

SUSAN AL SHAHRI: We’re all suffering from post-invasion stress in Dhofar following the unprecedented influx of tourists during Eid.

 The View From Fez

U.S Fines: Another Blow to Morocco’s Tourism Industry

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: As if the fall-out from the battle with low cost airlines isn’t bad enough the Moroccan authorities have now picked a fight with the U.S Department of Transportation

 Mondoweiss

Tourism: How Most Israelis Experience Occupation

Tourism: How Most Israelis Experience Occupation

REBECCA STEIN, MONDOWEISS: They wandered into Jerusalem as gawping tourists after the Six Day war. 45 years on not much has changed

 The View From Fez

Minister’s Gaffe ‘A Blow’ To Moroccan Tourism

Minister’s Gaffe ‘A Blow’ To Moroccan Tourism

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: It’s just the sort of remark that Moroccan tourism could have done without. Will Mustafa Ramid learn?

 Kim Willis

Interview: A Guide to Visiting the Real Palestine

Interview: A Guide to Visiting the Real Palestine

KIM WILLIS: Through the tours visitors see the reality of life in the West Bank and Israel, uncoloured by any ‘perspective’; they can make up their own minds about the issues.

 James Mullan

News Analysis: Egypt’s Tourism ‘on the Ropes’

News Analysis: Egypt’s Tourism ‘on the Ropes’

NEWS ANALYSIS: It’s been a very rough year for Egypt’s tourist industry and it looks like things are set to get a whole lot worse.

 Rob L. Wagner

Unfazed: Israeli Boycott Little Noticed in Turkey

Unfazed: Israeli Boycott Little Noticed in Turkey

ROB L. WAGNER: Shopkeepers easily transition from Turkish to Russian, Polish and German. Yet Hebrew, once among the languages, is virtually non-existent.

 Layla

Time for Re-Think on Tourism in Saudi Arabia?

Time for Re-Think on Tourism in Saudi Arabia?

LAYLAH: You’ve got to really want to go, be willing to put up with a lot of red tape and meet strict entry criteria before being allowed entry to the Kingdom. Is it time for a re-think?