The touristification of a conflict zone: The case of Bil’in

Abstract

This study examines the evolution of the Palestinian village of Bil'in as a site that attracts international tourists and analyzes the factors that enable this process. Based on an analysis of primary and secondary sources, this paper shows how the village developed from a site of a local dispute into an international symbol of resistance. The study illuminates the involvement of tourists in shaping a political struggle. Our analysis of the tourist experience demonstrates that Bil'in provides visitors with touristic thrills, but in quite a protected bubble, where the risks are contained and the action is controlled. We conclude that different actors are involved in constructing and staging the events as authentic experiences and that in so doing they generate a suitable platform for the performance of political tourism.