Politically-oriented tourism in Jerusalem

Politics plays an important role for a growing number of visitors, Israeli and otherwise, who have been coming to Jerusalem over the past few years. ‘Politically-oriented tourism’ in the city includes private or organized excursions to sites related to the Israeli—Palestinian Conflict. While most politically-oriented tourists come to Jerusalem to show their support for either of the two main belligerent ethnic groups residing in the city, others are more politically ‘neutral’ and are just curious to learn more of the conflict and how it manifests itself in the high-profile Jerusalem setting. In the city, both Israeli and Palestinian official bodies and private tour operators exploit tourism as an opportunity to propagate partisan political agendas. More often than not, ‘political’ tourist interest in Jerusalem differs from that in other politically unstable locales in the high degree of involvement felt by many towards this city of great religious and spiritual importance.