SACM - United Kingdom
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9667
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Item Restricted Landscape Planning and Characterisation For Ecotourism within Protected Areas in Saudi Arabia: A case Study in Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Royal Reserve(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-10-09) ABU NUHAYYA, AHMED; Dr. Paul BrindleyAbstract This study delivers the first National Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) for Saudi Arabia, adapting a methodology traditionally developed for temperate, Western landscapes to an arid, culturally distinct context. While in the UK and Europe LCA frameworks are primarily based on vegetation, topography, and settlement patterns, this research modifies the approach to reflect the unique ecological and geographical characteristics of Saudi Arabia, where arid geomorphology, shifting sand formations, gravel plains, and rocky outcrops are more influential in shaping landscape character than the vegetation-driven diversity typical of temperate Western contexts. A mixed-methods approach was employed comprising: 1. Desk Study: Review of international LCA frameworks and regional studies to develop a Saudi-specific classification system. 2. Site Investigation: Field investigations were conducted to support both the national-scale LCA of Saudi Arabia (Chapter 4) and the local assessment within PMBSRR, including Wadi Al Disah, presented in Chapter 5. 3. Questionnaire Survey (153 participants): Assessment of public perceptions of ecotourism potential in Wadi Al Disah and PMBSRR. 4. Semi-Structured Interviews (21 participants): Engagement with key stakeholders and government representatives to explore the potential role of LCA in planning policy and ecotourism development. Findings demonstrate that LCA can be effectively adapted for arid environments and that the resulting landscape classifications provide an evidence base for conservation and sustainable tourism planning. At the national level, the research highlights inconsistencies between existing protected areas and landscape character types, while the local-scale analysis identifies zones suitable for ecotourism development based on landscape sensitivity and distinctiveness. This work provides a framework for landscape classification in Saudi Arabia and offers a methodological foundation for future planning, aligning with national goals under Vision 2030. The study underscores the broader potential for applying LCA in Gulf countries with similar climatic and geographic contexts.15 0Item Restricted Assessing the Economic Impact of Vision 2030 on Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Sector: A Case Study of Diriyah’s Tourism Development(Bournemouth University, 2025) Alharbi, Ziyad; Blake, AdamThis dissertation examines the economic implications of Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia in the tourism development of Diriyah, a mega-project centered on heritage development located at the epicenter of the diversification program in the Kingdom. The aim of the work is to evaluate the impact of the Vision 2030 policies on the non-oil fraction of the GDP of Diriyah, labor creation, and comparative competitiveness in the national tourism system. The specific objectives included measuring the awareness of such policies among the stakeholders, exploring the relationship between tourism and GDP, examining the effects on employment, and comparing the performance of Diriyah to that of other Vision 2030 projects such as NEOM and the Red Sea Project. This research adopts a quantitative research design through which the primary survey of 150 respondents (tourists, workers, and business owners) is combined with the secondary economic indicators. Analytical techniques include descriptive statistics, t-tests, correlation analysis, ANOVA, multiple regression models, and the Mann-Whitney U test. The findings showed a strong level of awareness of the stakeholders regarding Vision 2030 and a positive perception regarding the efficacy of policies, especially e-visas and cultural branding. There was a strong positive correlation between GDP and tourism receipts, which demonstrated the importance of tourism in the non-oil growth of the economy. There was, however, inconsistency in employment outcomes; although perceptions were positive, the regression analysis did not justify sustained job security. Diriyah is a leader in heritage tourism, where it lags behind NEOM and Red Sea in size and prominence. Conclusively, the research concludes that Vision 2030 is an effective policy framework, but Diriyah has irregular economic progress due to the delay in implementation, external shocks like COVID-19, and a shortage of workforce skills. Among the recommendations are to speed up infrastructure investment as well as devise specific training for stakeholders, better systematic data that can be used to make inter-project assessments, and a larger stakeholder involvement in the evaluations to be done in the future. Altogether, this study enriches the policy literature on tourism by conducting a localized and evidence-based evaluation of the impacts of Vision 2030, as well as by putting forward an exportable model of evaluating the contribution of tourism to rentier economies’ diversification.46 0Item Restricted Trip To Go(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Bin Mabrouk, Alaa Ali; Manlove, DavidThis dissertation presents the design, development, and evaluation of TripToGo, a smart-tourism web application tailored to the Saudi Arabian context. Tourism is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, yet existing digital platforms offer limited support for fully customised, end-to-end itinerary planning. TripToGo addresses this gap by enabling users to generate personalised daily itineraries based on their preferences, including selected cities, budget, travel duration, and interests. The system was developed using Django for the backend, PostgreSQL for data management, and Bootstrap for the user interface. A service-oriented architecture was adopted to separate concerns between itinerary generation, database persistence, and frontend presentation. Key technical challenges included implementing realistic scheduling of meals and activities and ensuring accommodation logic was both budget-aware and clearly represented in the interface. These were resolved through model extensions, time-slot management functions, and dedicated budget allocation algorithms. Testing was conducted at three levels: unit testing of itinerary generation logic and error handling, manual testing of interface components, and user testing with ten participants. The user evaluation employed the System Usability Scale (SUS), achieving a mean score of 78, which exceeds the industry benchmark of 68 and indicates above-average usability. Qualitative feedback highlighted the system's intuitive design while suggesting future enhancements such as transportation integration and booking functionality. The results demonstrate that TripToGo successfully delivers a minimum viable product (MVP) that supports intelligent, user-centred itinerary planning for Saudi Arabia. The project establishes a robust foundation for future expansion into a comprehensive travel ecosystem, incorporating real-time data, adaptive budgeting, and booking integration capabilities.8 0Item Restricted Landscape Planning and Characterisation For Ecotourism within Protected Areas in Saudi Arabia: A case Study in Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Royal Reserve(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) ABUNUHAYYA, AHMED; Paul, BrindleyAbstract This study delivers the first National Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) for Saudi Arabia, adapting a methodology traditionally developed for temperate, Western landscapes to an arid, culturally distinct context. While in the UK and Europe LCA frameworks are primarily based on vegetation, topography, and settlement patterns, this research modifies the approach to reflect the unique ecological and geographical characteristics of Saudi Arabia, where arid geomorphology, shifting sand formations, gravel plains, and rocky outcrops are more influential in shaping landscape character than the vegetation-driven diversity typical of temperate Western contexts. A mixed-methods approach was employed comprising: 1. Desk Study: Review of international LCA frameworks and regional studies to develop a Saudi-specific classification system. 2. Site Investigation: Field investigations were conducted to support both the national-scale LCA of Saudi Arabia (Chapter 4) and the local assessment within PMBSRR, including Wadi Al Disah, presented in Chapter 5. 3. Questionnaire Survey (153 participants): Assessment of public perceptions of ecotourism potential in Wadi Al Disah and PMBSRR. 4. Semi-Structured Interviews (21 participants): Engagement with key stakeholders and government representatives to explore the potential role of LCA in planning policy and ecotourism development. Findings demonstrate that LCA can be effectively adapted for arid environments and that the resulting landscape classifications provide an evidence base for conservation and sustainable tourism planning. At the national level, the research highlights inconsistencies between existing protected areas and landscape character types, while the local-scale analysis identifies zones suitable for ecotourism development based on landscape sensitivity and distinctiveness. This work provides a framework for landscape classification in Saudi Arabia and offers a methodological foundation for future planning, aligning with national goals under Vision 2030. The study underscores the broader potential for applying LCA in Gulf countries with similar climatic and geographic contexts.22 0Item Restricted The Impact of Tourist Influx on the Quality of Life of Local Resident in Saudi Arabia(Bournemouth university, 2025) Albalawi, Abeer; Hande, TurkogluThis research explores the impact of tourist influx on the quality of life (QoL) of local residents in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on the social, economic, environmental, and psychological dimensions of this relationship. The study is grounded in the context of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which positions tourism as a key driver of economic diversification and national development. While tourism offers opportunities for growth, it also raises concerns regarding social equity, environmental sustainability, and cultural transformation particularly in high- density religious tourism destinations like Mecca. The study adopts a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional research design to address these gaps. Primary data will be collected via a structured electronic survey distributed to a random sample of residents from both urban and rural areas across Saudi Arabia. Secondary data from governmental and academic sources will supplement this analysis. The methodology is supported by Social Exchange Theory and the Bottom-Up Spillover Model, enabling a theoretical framework to assess the perceived benefits and costs of tourism on local populations.13 0Item Restricted Mutual Reinforcement of FDI and Tourism in the GCC.(Saudi Digital Library, 2024) Alharbi, Raghad; Dymaski, GaryThis dissertation investigates the dynamic relationship between Foreign Direct Investment FDI inflows and tourism in GCC countries, with a focus on their strategic efforts to diversify economies traditionally dependent on oil. By employing the Tourism-Led Growth Hypothesis and the FDI-led tourism concept, this study examines the mutual reinforcement between FDI and tourism. A range of econometric tools, including co-integration analysis, Granger causality tests, Pooled Ordinary Least Squares POLS, and Fixed Effects FE estimations, are employed. The results indicate a bidirectional relationship between FDI and tourism, marked by lagged effects. Specifically, Fixed Effects estimation reveals that FDI stimulates the growth of the tourism sector, and a thriving tourism industry, in turn, attracts additional FDI after a two-period lag. This positive feedback loop enhances economic resilience and supports diversification. The findings suggest that GCC countries should consider integrated policies that concurrently promote tourism and attract FDI.14 0Item Restricted Enhancing the Pilgrimage Experience: An In-depth Analysis of Religious Tourism for Hajj in Makkah, Saudi Arabia(Middlesex University, 2024) Farea, Fahd; Terzidou, MatinaExecutive Summary Hajj is one of the most important events in the Islamic calendar, often requiring Muslims to attend the event at least once in their lives. Each year, the event attracts millions of people, leading to congestion especially due to the growing number of unauthorised pilgrims. Although the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MHU) is responsible for planning Hajj during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah from the 8th- 12th day of the month, some of the events have been marred with casualties as stampedes result in thousands of people being injured. Furthermore, the event occurs during the summer which means extreme heat, often affecting the elderly. In recent years, technologies have been used in an attempt to improve the experience and organisation of pilgrims. To investigate the social phenomenon, this study adopted an interpretivist approach through a descriptive design, an inductive approach and qualitative semi structured interviews. The goal was to provide the participants an opportunity to explain their ideas, beliefs and experiences. The current study also includes twelve participants purposively selected from three agencies that organise or facilitate the Hajj experience in one way or another. From the thematic analysis of the interviews, the current research found that the expectations of Hajjis play a crucial role in shaping their experience during the pilgrimage. Finally, the study found that communication challenges from non-Arab speakers particularly, climate issues and infrastructural issues account for some of the main challenges that affect the pilgrim experience for Hajjis in Saudi Arabia.34 0Item Restricted A Study of Revitalizing and Protecting Historical Sites in Al Ahsa for Tourism to Achieve Saudi Vision 2030(University of Sheffield, 2024-09) AlOmran, Abdulaziz; Williams, GlynThis study investigates the revitalization and preservation of historical sites in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, to promote heritage tourism and support the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. It also highlights the vital role of local community engagement in preserving and revitalizing historical sites. The study focuses on three main areas: (1) how the social and economic benefits of these sites can stimulate local engagement; (2) factors that contribute to declining visitation rates; and (3) community attitudes, behaviours, and motivations toward heritage conservation. Using semi-structured interviews with heritage and tourism sector officials and opinion polls of Al Ahsa residents, the findings reveal a generational gap: younger residents show less interest in historical sites than older residents, who have deeper cultural and historical ties. The study suggests that enhancing economic opportunities associated with these sites could attract younger people to participate in their preservation, while older residents are more motivated by cultural pride. In addition, poor marketing, inadequate facilities, and limited services were identified as significant barriers to increasing visitor numbers. These insights underscore the need for comprehensive strategies that balance economic development with heritage preservation, enhance community engagement, and improve infrastructure to ensure sustainable tourism growth. The study findings contribute to understanding how Al Ahsa’s historical sites can be leveraged to enhance local identity, pride, and economic growth, which aligns with the broader goals of Saudi Vision 2030.46 0Item Restricted Understanding the role of branding in shaping perceptions of Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination(University of Leeds, 2024-09) Alharthi, Dalia Talal; Papadopoulou, ChristinaThis dissertation aims to understand the role of branding in shaping perceptions of Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination from the citizens’ point of view and to highlight the Vision 2030 goals and how they have affected these perceptions. Given that Saudi Arabia is the second most popular destination for tourists in the Middle East and that the leisure tourism industry is rapidly growing and expanding, it is important to examine the impact of this growing industry local culture. This study is significant as it provides valuable insights into the real perceptions of Saudi Arabian citizens and how these perceptions may shape their future. It also highlights the goals of the promising Vision 2030 and how it will impact the economy and reduce the dependence on oil as an alternative source of revenue. The study used a quantitative research approach, collecting data through a questionnaire survey of 194 Saudi Arabian citizens from different ages and backgrounds, including both the general population and experts in the tourism industry. The results were analysed using the SPSS, and it was concluded that there is significant relationship between variables studied in Saudi Arabia. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into understanding the role of branding in shaping perceptions of Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination and highlights the the potential outcomes.69 0Item Restricted Assessing Environmental Degradation and Sustainability Claims in AlUla City(University of Leicester, 2024) Bakhsh, Talah; Gosh, AdityaThis study explores the impact of tourism activities on biodiversity in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, with a focus on understanding how different tourism components, such as heritage site visitation, infrastructure development, adventure tourism, and event-related activities, affect the region's natural environment. Employing a quantitative research design, the study gathers data from 262 stakeholders, including local residents, tourists, businesses, and environmental organizations. Data was collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using statistical methods, including descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis. The findings reveal significant correlations between tourism activities and biodiversity degradation, highlighting the role of infrastructure development and adventure tourism in exacerbating environmental pressures. Event-related activities were also found to contribute to biodiversity challenges, though to a lesser degree. These results underscore the need for sustainable tourism practices that balance economic growth with environmental conservation. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on sustainable tourism by providing empirical evidence from the unique context of AlUla, a region rich in cultural heritage and biodiversity. The insights gained offer practical recommendations for policymakers, environmentalists, and tourism stakeholders aiming to develop tourism strategies that mitigate negative environmental impacts while promoting sustainable growth. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating environmental sustainability into tourism planning to preserve the region's biodiversity for future generations.18 0