The Impact of Changes in International Relations on External Tourism Demand During the Syrian Crisis (A Field Study on the Syrian Coast)

Abstract

Tourism is an important source of income for many countries, on which many countries’ economies are based. However, many previous studies have indicated that there is a great impact on changeable international relations and the occurrence of crises on external tourism demand. Accordingly, the main objective of the current study is to illustrate the international relations between the Syrian government and other countries in light of the current Syrian crisis. Moreover, it aims to determine the impact of international relations changes and sanctions imposed on the Syrian government on external demand during the current crisis. However, the descriptive analytical approach was used in the study, and the characterization and analysis of a time series before and during the Syrian crisis was utilized to show the different consequences and effects of changing international relations on external tourism demand during the crisis in Syria. Additionally, the following findings have been confirmed, international relations and economic and political sanctions significantly affected external tourism demand on the Syrian coast and all of Syria during the crisis period; external tourism, both Arab and foreign, clearly deteriorated due to the breaking off foreign relations with the Syrian government and the closure of embassies; in addition to the long war and the complicated crisis in many Syrian governorates. Finally, Arab external tourism demand between 2022-2023 was more active than foreign one.