Since the middle of the 20th century, tourism has grown rapidly in the world. In 2019, almost one and a half billion tourists were recorded around the world. Although this number decreased with the spread of Corona, it is reaching its previous position again. Anthropologists have become interested in the field of tourism due to the intercultural communication between hosts and guests. First anthropologists investigated more the negative consequences of tourism on the lives of natives; but slowly the motivation of tourists to travel, the positive consequences of tourism on the host countries, the motivations of the local community to participate in tourism, were considered by anthropologists. For example, many articles and books have been written that consider tourism based on Van Gennep’s theory of Rites of Passage, as well as Victor Turner’s theory of social drama, which consider the experience of the tourist as passing a threshold condition. Tourism in the Middle East is expanding, in spite of all the events that happen in the area, making The Middle East now one of the main tourism hubs in the world. We should also consider that about 30% of the world's tourists are Muslims, most of whom live in the Middle East. Some countries in the Middle East such as Turkey, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, etc. are among the attractive destinations for European tourists. The Middle East, as the origin of urbanization, Abrahamic religions and civilization, is today the main place of religious fundamentalism, which undoubtedly has an effect on tourism in this region. These complications highlight the need for a stronger presence of anthropologists in the study of tourism of the area. In the “Tourism and Tourists in the Middle East” panel, we are looking to examine some of these issues and complexities from an anthropological perspective. Papers could be within the following themes: • Cultural and social contexts of tourism growth in the Middle East • Middle East, from the historical travelling to the modern tourism • Pilgrims in Middle East • Cultural patterns of tourism in the Middle East • Intercultural communications of tourists in the Middle East • Cultural and social impacts of tourism in the Middle East • Cultural and social problems in Middle East tourism • The situation of women in tourism of Middle East • Halal tourism in the Middle East • Religious restrictions in Middle East tourism
