Political dimensions of tourism: The perspectives of international relations and political economy in the interpretation of tourism crises in Egypt

The study is based on the fact that despite the growing interest in politics and tourism, mutual focus has been placed on practical topics related to terrorism and violence or related to a specific situation, while neglecting other aspects of the policy affecting tourism, The theoretical aspects of some of the external political dimensions of tourism, the most important dimension of international relations and political economy. The research in the Egyptian case reveals that many of the tourism crises are due in part to the international dimension in the exploitation of tourism as an instrument of economic pressure on Egypt, which creates a state of dependency abroad. The research problem can be shaped by the question: How can one aspect of the tourism crises in Egypt be interpreted from the cognitive perspective of political science in its international dimension: the theory of international relations and the theory of international political economy? The study concluded that the theory of dependence is the most prevalent model in the literature of tourism development, which can explain a large part of the problems of tourism in developing countries, including Egypt. If external borrowing is needed, this dependence can be further exacerbated by the requirement that the Western policy approach to modernization be pursued by strengthening the trend towards capitalism by reducing spending and maximizing revenue. Policies that may have adverse internal effects that could be counterproductive to the tourism sector, as the disruption of such policies could cause further negative impact on tourism. From the perspective of international relations, the study has shown that tourism can be exploited as a political tool and negatively used in international inter-State relations. Thus, following the policies of monetary institutions, which are controlled by Western countries, can make the state of dependency not only limited to economic dependence but may extend to the subordination of the external political decision and the tourism decision.