ABSTRACT

This chapter surveys tourism in desert and drylands regions which are characterised by low amounts of rainfall, sparse vegetation, and harsh weather conditions including sandstorms and extremely high and low temperature gradients. Deserts, however, contain a surprising array of animal, bird and plant species that have adapted to these conditions. In addition, deserts host various geological structures not found in other environments, or obscured by vegetation and soils, such as wind-sculpted rocks (ventifacts), sand dunes, multicoloured sedimentary rock striations, mesas, buttes, canyons, wadis and arroyos. Therefore, deserts are attractive to adventure tourists, ecotourists, and hikers, campers and trekkers interested in experiencing new and unique landscapes. Some desert tribes in North Africa, the Levant, Iran and Pakistan still maintain traditional and nomadic ways of life, providing opportunities for tourists to experience authentic uninterrupted cultural patterns from the past. In addition, dry climates have preserved some of the world’s oldest and most intact archaeological monuments, such as the pyramids of Egypt, the sculpted sandstone buildings of Petra, Jordan, and the palace at Persepolis in Iran. Desert ecosystems are particularly fragile, since damage to plant life can be permanent, the disturbing of thin soils can exacerbate wind erosion, and exploitation of underground water sources can lead to their rapid long-term depletion since they do not regenerate through rainfall. Thus, desert resources must, above all, be managed according to sustainable tourism principles, with particular attention to maintaining their natural state as much as possible, and minimising human impacts.