A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF LIBERALIZATION OF AIR TRANSPORT ON TOURISM: IRAN, TURKEY AND UAE

Abstract

This paper examine the impact of the liberalization of international air transport on the development of international tourism by comparing Iran with Turkey and the UAE in a 10 year period 2000-2010 , using comparative-longitudinal method. It is assumed that the liberalization of international air transport leads to the development of international tourism through the growth of traffic, mainly via the Growth of the tourist's quantity and quality. Our investigation concludes that First, the liberalization of air transport made air traffic passengers to be increased considerably in the UAE and Turkey, as compared to Iran. This, in turn, resulted to development of tourism in both countries through a considerable increase of their number of tourists and visitor exports. Second, as compared to the UAE, Iran and Turkey have more potential to develop tourism, however, the UAE, owing to the adoption of more flexible air transport liberal policies, could surpass Iran and Turkey in gaining the higher amount of visitor exports.