ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the socio-cultural traditions that define the region, including the religious, linguistic and cultural heritage and provides a historical geography of its role as a major transportation corridor in ancient times as a precursor to modern-day tourism. It examines the role of culture and cultural landscapes in the identity formation of the region and in how tourism has developed. It provides insight on how the development of empires and colonial spheres has affected life and tourism development in MENA and develops an overview of the main cultures, ethnicities, religions and geopolitics that most affect tourism and regional development.
