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Tourism along the geopolitical barrier: implications of the Holy Land fence

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Abstract

Geopolitical borders in the form of physical barriers greatly influence tourism, mainly as an obstacle to free transborder movement of tourists but can constitute a tourist attraction. The main aims of this article are to describe, analyze and propose a typology of consequences on tourism as a geopolitical barrier through a case study of the fence in the Holy Land. The security fence dividing Israel and the Palestinian Authority is also called a separation fence or wall and it is located in the heart of a tourism region of global interest. The methodology is based on a review of literature that deals with the ramifications of such a fence in general and specifically with reference to tourism. The study provides an understanding of the new reality created by the fence, its varied influences on tourism planning and its ramifications on physical, environmental, administrative and image-related aspects of reality in the area.

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Correspondence to Alon Gelbman.

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Gelbman, A. Tourism along the geopolitical barrier: implications of the Holy Land fence. GeoJournal 81, 671–680 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-015-9644-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-015-9644-4

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