Tourism and Social Change: The Case of Israeli Ecotourists Visiting Jordan

Abstract

This study evaluated the role of tourism as an agent of change between two countries that have been traditionally hostile to each other—Israel and Jordan. Fifty Jewish Israeli ecotourists who traveled to Jordan for the first time were asked to complete a structured questionnaire that measured attitudes toward Jordanian people, their political beliefs, and their institutions. Each tourist was asked to complete the questionnaire before leaving for Jordan and after returning home. A control group of Israeli ecotourists who did not go to Jordan was also asked to complete the questionnaire twice. The results showed that the tourist experience that the Israeli ecotourists encountered significantly altered their opinions and attitudes toward the Jordanian people and their institutions, in the positive direction. Overall, of 33 attitudinal statements, 15 (45.4%) show a positive change as a result of the tourist experience, while none of the attitudes changed in the negative direction.

Publication Date

1-1-2002

Original Citation

Abraham Pizam, Aliza Fleischer and Yoel Mansfeld, Tourism and Social Change: The Case of Israeli Ecotourists Visiting Jordan.” Journal of Travel Research Vol. 41, No. 2 (2002), pp. 177-184.

Number of Pages

177-184

Document Type

Paper

Language

English

Source Title

Journal of Travel Research

Volume

41

Issue

2

College

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Location

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

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