Governing Middle Eastern hiking trails: community-based tourism, international networks, and state (dis)engagement

This article investigates the governance of adventure tourism in the Middle East through the case study of three long-distance hiking trails in Jordan, Egypt and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. At the crossroads between Political Geography and Tourism Geography, the research draws on qualitative data collected between 2020 and 2025, including field observations, gray literature analysis, and semi-structured interviews with 50 stakeholders involved in these trail initiatives. Initially spearheaded by local hiking communities, the trails expanded by engaging international networks to access technical and financial resources. This networking fostered professionalization and legitimacy but also exposed the trails to donor agendas shaped by soft power, which reframed them as instruments for pursuing geopolitical objectives. Divergent agendas between local associations and international donors reshape governance models, at times undermining community-based tourism principles. The case studies further emphasize that, although marginal in early stages, states ultimately remain decisive for trail viability, with roles ranging from supportive to obstructive, reaffirming their importance in understanding bottom-up tourism dynamics in the Middle East.