Consequently, this book seeks to shed light on the different aspects of geotourism and geo-diversity in the Middle East and provides a number of case studies from this region. It assists in bridging the lacuna in the tourism and geology literature and helps planners, marketers, managers, scholars and researchers to enhance their knowledge about such issues. It outlines opportunities for, as well as barriers to, geotourism development in the Middle East as well as providing recommendations for the advancement of geotourism in the region.
Ross Dowling AM is Emeritus Professor of Tourism at the School of Business & Law, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia. He has a B.Sc. (Geology), M.Sc. [Hons] (Geography) and Ph.D. (Environmental Science). Professor Dowling conducts international research in the fields of geotourism, ecotourism and cruise ship tourism and has over 200 publications in these fields including sixteen books. He has a deep interest in the development of Geotourism and Geoparks, and he is Passionate Advocate for the establishment of UNESCO’s Global Geoparks in Australia and around the world. He is Foundation Chair of the Australian Geoparks Network. He fosters regional development through Geotourism globally, and he convened the world’s first three conferences on Geotourism in Australia (2008), Malaysia (2010) and the Sultanate of Oman (2011). For his contributions to tourism education & development, conservation and higher education, he has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (2011) as well as being made Member of the Order of Australia (2019).