Residents’ attitudes toward tourism development at Al-Juhfa, Saudi Arabia
International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research
ISSN: 1750-6182
Article publication date: 19 July 2021
Issue publication date: 1 July 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Al-Juhfa is a small village located near Rabigh City, between Makkah and Madinah, Saudi Arabia, with significant archaeological and religious resources. The purpose of this paper is to examine residents’ attitudes toward tourism development at Al-Juhfa.
Design/methodology/approach
The qualitative study uses purposive interviewing to recruit informants. Data was collected using semi-structured interview and open-ended questions. Eight semi-structured interviews were made and a list of open-ended questions was distributed to 134 informants. All data were analysed and no new codes were found after the answer of the first 49 informants analysed.
Findings
The results show that residents’ attitudes toward tourism development in general were positive with residents expecting to receive economic, social and environmental benefits. Residents were aware of potential positive and negative impacts of tourism development and appeared to balance these in developing their attitudes. Tourism was seen to empower residents and the religiosity of the community influenced their perception of tourism development.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by supporting the use of social exchange theory in this context and by recommending the inclusion of religiosity in further studies.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Deanship of Scientific Research at Umm Al-Qura University for supporting this work by Grant Code: (19-ADM-4-9-0001).
Citation
Algassim, A.A., Saufi, A., Diswandi, D. and Scott, N. (2022), "Residents’ attitudes toward tourism development at Al-Juhfa, Saudi Arabia", International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 55-74. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCTHR-01-2021-0023
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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