The Development of Tourist Destinations in the Gulf: Oman and Qatar Compared

This paper is concerned with destination development processes and underlying dynamics. It presents a comparative case study of Oman and Qatar, Persian (sometimes called Arabian) Gulf States in the Middle East, which are actively pursuing growth. The tourist attractions of the two countries, government policies, the size and scale of the tourism industries and future prospects are reviewed within the context of the debate about globalisation. International tourism emerges as an outcome of and catalyst for the globalisation which is introducing sometimes radical change in the Gulf, yet local forces remain strong and are reflected in tourist products and marketing. Differences are observed in approach, however, and suggest alternative tourism development models. Findings afford insights into the defining and distinctive qualities of tourism in a region of the world which tends to be neglected, yet justifies attention given its apparent untapped potential.