Op-Ed: Travel as a Catalyst for Peace

Aziz Abu Sarah and Scott Cooper are dedicated peacebuilders and co-CEOs of Mejdi Tours, a tour company established on the principle that tourism can foster a more connected and positive global community. In this collaborative op-ed for Dinogo, they share their views on how to constructively address the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

“Hundreds were killed, and a war was declared.” These were the shocking headlines we encountered on the morning of October 7. It soon became clear that many of our friends, colleagues, and family members were directly affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict.

We learned that peace advocate Muhammad Darawshe lost his son—a medic who was killed while providing aid. Vivian Silver, a long-time peacemaker we met years ago, was taken hostage. We know many others who have lost family members in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.

Advocating for peace does not shield you from violence.

In recent weeks, the narrative around us insists that we must harbor animosity. Yet, our partnership stands as a testament to the contrary. Aziz is a Palestinian Arab, and Scott is an American Jew. We are not only business partners but also best friends who consider each other as brothers.

We united under the conviction that travel transcends mere sightseeing; it embodies diplomacy, peacemaking, and dialogue. Our goal was to highlight what our media often overlooks. Thus, in 2009, we founded Mejdi Tours and pioneered a “dual narrative” travel approach, starting in Israel and Palestine. We engaged both Israeli and Palestinian guides to co-lead tours, allowing travelers to grasp the historical conflict from multiple perspectives while introducing them to diverse local voices. Now, we conduct these tours globally, including in Sarajevo, Belfast, and Washington, D.C. (navigating the blue vs. red divide)—learning invaluable lessons about peacemaking along the way.

Across the globe, we witness increasing divisions—fear, hatred, and hostility. We are trapped in a false dichotomy of “us versus them.” We echo the political narratives ingrained in us and live out the histories passed down to us. However, there exists an alternative: socially conscious travel, a responsible form of travel that emphasizes the human aspect of destinations and the cultivation of relationships.

There’s nothing more effective at dismantling stereotypes than engaging with “the other” and genuinely listening to their story.

When we initiated the Dual Narrative approach, some of our colleagues in the tourism sector warned us that the guides would clash, arguing throughout the tour, making travelers feel uneasy. This was not the case. Our guides don’t engage in conflict; instead, they share their personal narratives—stories that reflect their life experiences, even when they differ from each other. These narratives create a bridge for travelers to grasp the region's complexities. Participants discover that no location is uniform, and no nation has just one narrative. Every place comprises a tapestry of perspectives and experiences.

Personal stories are often more impactful than anonymous news articles. They foster dialogue, idea exchange, and collaboration. We have seen individuals overcome fear and animosity by encountering the stories of ‘the other’ in a way that cultivates familiarity.

During our Dual Narrative tour in Israel and Palestine, travelers interact with Jewish, Muslim, and Christian individuals. Many travelers have confided in me that they held biases against Jews or Muslims prior to the tour. The vast majority departed with a fresh perspective and significantly reduced fear. Moreover, 93 percent of our travelers reported feeling greater compassion toward ‘the other’ by the conclusion of the tour.

Travelers have the potential to serve as citizen diplomats, forging connections that bridge divides, with each journey embodying an act of peacemaking. Over a billion individuals travel internationally every year. If the travel industry embraces the notion of travel as a means of promoting peace, it could transform the world. Peacemaking should not be relegated to diplomats, nonprofits, and academics alone; that approach is ineffective and unsustainable.

In the past two weeks, we've received countless messages from our travelers expressing concern for the safety of their guides, the experts they met, and the hosts who shared meals with them—even from individuals who visited the region over a decade ago. This is particularly meaningful as our travelers represent a diverse spectrum of political, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. We witnessed those from more “Pro-Israel” communities checking on their Palestinian friends, while “Pro-Palestine” supporters reached out to their Israeli friends.

As antisemitism and Islamophobia resurge in communities around the globe, we can reach out to our Jewish, Muslim, and Arab neighbors. While we may not be able to travel to Israel and Palestine at this moment, we can explore local restaurants, participate in events in our communities, listen to relevant podcasts, or read literature about the region. The world requires citizen diplomats who engage, learn, forge friendships, and share those experiences.

Experiencing the world is a form of education. Caring for and understanding its inhabitants is the essence of peace.