For the last two decades, the 11 countries of the Southern Mediterranean (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey) have recorded the highest growth rates in inbound world tourism, with domestic tourism increasing rapidly too. The economic performance of tourism in the 'MED 11'  has been astonishing, given the security risks, natural disasters, oil prices rises and economic uncertainties in the region and the recent financial crisis.