One part of the globe has suffered perhaps the most skepticism from travelers in recent years: the Middle East and North Africa. But this year, the region is experiencing a spike in visitor numbers, astounding Middle East travel experts with its sudden resurgence.
There are plenty of reasons to keep Middle East travel wonders like Egyptian tombs, U.A.E. cityscapes, and Dead Sea shorelines high on your bucket list—and you might want to think about getting there before everyone else does. Here’s why.
Middle East Travel: Then and Now
It’s no secret that Middle East travel took a hit following the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011. The region saw an 8 percent decline in visits that year, according to the U.N. World Tourism Organization, and tourist-frequented monuments became largely empty, from the Great Pyramid of Giza to Casablanca’s Hassan II Mosque.
Related: 10 Most Intriguing Places to Visit in 2018
Fast-forward to early 2018, when the U.N. World Tourism Organization Barometer reported a 13 percent jump in North Africa tourist arrivals, and a 5 percent rise in the Middle East. Compared to the 3 percent increase in travel to the Americas, many of the Middle East’s countries seem to be making big comebacks—and for more than just stabilizing political climates.
So what might be convincing tourists to dive into Middle East travel once again?
New Adventure Options
Emerging adventure offerings in countries like Jordan, Egypt, and Oman are bringing a renewed focus on Middle East travel.
For avid hikers, the new Jordan Trail, a 370-mile trek through monuments and villages, is a 40-day feat boasting desert landscapes and canyon views. But for a less intensive Jordan experience, travelers are snatching up bite-sized experiences on the Jordan Trail, with weekend and day hikes available through local guides from just $40. Stops at the Dead Sea, Petra, and Wadi Rum are also offered by local licensed providers like Discover Jordan, or take to all three by bike with Intrepid Travel’s new nine-day Cycle Jordan itinerary.
As for history-steeped Egypt, G Adventures named the Middle East gem its number one adventure destination for 2018. The list also includes Morocco (sixth) and Oman (10th), the latter of which was added to the company’s roster following a 36 percent rise in Middle East bookings. G Adventures’ Egypt itineraries include Nile river cruising, Nubian ruins, and an add-on excursion to the shorelines of Alexandria. Its new eight-day Oman Highlights trip includes cattle markets, a turtle sanctuary, Grand Mosque tours, and souqs.
Food Tourism
Culinary travel is ramping up in the Middle East, most notably in complex locales like the Palestinian territories. Marking a shift in travel to the area, visitors are
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
On Monday 14 August, when the tide is right, an antique sailing ship will manoeuvre through the lock of Plymouth’s historic Sutton harbour and point herself south-west towards the Canary Islands. It will be the start of a two-year voyage around the world taking in 32 ports and involving thousands of people in a groundbreaking geographical project, Darwin200, which aims, among other things, to inspire the environmental leaders and scientists of the future.
Drive along a one-lane gravel road deep in Oregon's Umpqua National Forest, and you'll find Summit Prairie, a secluded 40-foot fire-lookout tower with three beds, a pee pot, and limited cell service. Over 1,600 people are on the waitlist to spend the night there.
If this morning’s reports from the BBC and other sources have it right, the ban on in-cabin laptops will not be extended to include additional flights from Europe to the U.S.
Emirates has announced it will reduce service between Dubai and almost half its destinations in the U.S. Flights to Boston, Seattle, and Los Angeles will be reduced from two per day to one, and daily flights to Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale will be reduced to five per week each. The total number of weekly flights cut comes to 25.
Wondering which airports are most likely to put you behind schedule during the busy summer travel season? If you’re flying to the Boston, Chicago, New York, or San Francisco areas this summer—or even worse, connecting to another flight there—be especially wary.
AirHelp, the online service that files complaints against airlines on behalf of passengers entitled to compensation for air delays or cancellations, knows a thing or two about air travel. Because it’s hard for the average person to understand air passenger rights and pursue a legal claim when they’ve been wronged, AirHelp is always going toe-to-toe with airlines and airports—and reveals once a year which ones that treat their passengers for the better (or worse).
With rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft taking over, you might be wondering where in the world it’s still possible to take a cheap taxi. Cabs aren’t dead, yet: These countries still heavily rely on them.
Holland America Line will launch a 42-day cruise across the Atlantic Ocean and around Europe and the Middle East from Florida next year, inspired by a journey the cruise line took nearly 100 years ago.
I was immediately enveloped by the scents of the spices in the souks, the bustling of the medina, and the relaxation of a hammam when I touched down in Marrakech. Here in this vibrate Moroccan city, it’s easy to find experiences that teach you about the culture and leave you awe-inspired. Maybe it’s learning how to use those ever-present spices at a cooking class, or maybe it’s riding a camel in the desert. There’s simply no shortage of things to do to get a feel for all that Marrakech has to offer — even if you only have a short time in the Red City (a nickname you’ll quickly understand looking out onto the ramparts and buildings).