Moroccan Initiatives to Restore Jewish Heritage Sites and Tourism Promotion

Abstract

The article analyzes the relationship between Moroccan initiatives to restore Jewish heritage sites and Jewish tourism from Israel (specifically Moroccan Jews), arguing that the Moroccan Jewish heritage development project is geared toward promoting tourism of Moroccan Jews, since heritage sites are emerging tourist attractions with significant implications for tourism promotion. Drawing on elite interviews and the theory of heritage tourism, the article’s findings suggest that, in addition to national identity, culture, tradition, and political aspects, the Moroccan campaign to restore Jewish heritage sites also played a major role in promoting tourism of Moroccan Jews from Israel to Morocco. The results also show that Moroccan initiatives to preserve Jewish heritage sites, promote cultural exchanges, and foster religious coexistence create a more welcoming environment for Israeli tourists, thus contributing to an increase in tourism flows. In the context of the complex Israeli–Arab relationships, heritage tourism has great potential to remove barriers and increase positive engagement.