Evaluating perceptions of residents’ towards impacts of tourism development in Emirates of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper id to investigate the influence of nationality on residents’ perceptions of the impacts of tourism, and their support for tourism development, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from self-administered questionnaires from 407 residents, representing 30 nationalities residing in Abu Dhabi.
Findings
The findings suggest differences in perceptions of the impacts of tourism between national and expatriate residents. Despite these differences, both groups reported support of tourism development.
Research limitations/implications
This paper groups residents into only two groups – nationals and expatriates – which limits the explanation of findings. Tourism officials should customize strategies to reach targeted group of residents.
Originality/value
Extant literature examines residents’ perceptions of the impacts of tourism in homogenous groups, and little research explores the influence of nationality on residents’ perceptions. This study is the first to be conducted in Abu Dhabi – where more than 80 per cent of the population is comprised of expatriates – that identifies differences in perceptions between national and expatriate residents regarding tourism’s impacts.
Keywords
Citation
Hammad, N.M., Ahmad, S.Z. and Papastathopoulos, A. (2017), "Evaluating perceptions of residents’ towards impacts of tourism development in Emirates of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates", Tourism Review, Vol. 72 No. 4, pp. 448-461. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-03-2017-0046
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited