SACM - United Kingdom
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9667
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Item 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.18 0Item Restricted An Urban Management Framework for Crowd Movements in Hajj: A User-Centric Approach(University of Leeds, 2024-08) Kadi, Abdulrahman Omar; Selim, GehanThis thesis explores the complexities of urban management in the context of crowd movements during mega-events, with a particular focus on the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj. The research aims to develop a user-centred management framework that enhances both crowd movement conditions and user experience, addressing the limitations of traditional top-down management approaches. Through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates theories from event management, crowd dynamics, and user experience, the study offers a novel perspective on managing large-scale gatherings, where the safety and satisfaction of participants are paramount. The research establishes the importance of urban management in facilitating effective crowd movements during mega-events, particularly addressing the unique challenges of Hajj, a religious event in Makkah that annually draws millions of pilgrims. The study identifies critical variables and correlations within urban management, event activities, and user experience, highlighting the need for a user-centric approach. The research examines urban management variables influencing crowd movements and analyses existing literature in order to identify gaps in the current understanding of crowd dynamics, particularly the formation and impact of collective behaviour during mass gatherings. A significant focus is placed on the pivotal role of user experience in shaping innovative crowd management strategies, employing tools such as User Journey Mapping (UJM) to dissect the collective experiences of pilgrims. The thesis further contextualises the study with a historical background of the Islamic pilgrimage, detailing the Holy Sites' rituals, circulation patterns, and significance. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, and observational studies, to gather data during Hajj in 2021 and 2022. This data presents an in-depth analysis of crowd movement conditions during Hajj, identifying key challenges and proposing strategies to improve crowd control and user experience. The analysis from the user's perspective identifies touchpoints that influence crowd dynamics and underscores the importance of considering users' needs, expectations, and experiences in designing effective crowd management strategies. Moreover, the research introduces an urban management framework comprising three overarching themes: Event Management, Crowd Movement, and User Experience, each divided into sub-themes that collectively form a comprehensive approach to managing crowd movements during mega-events. The research synthesises these findings, relating them to the initial research questions and theoretical framework. It advocates for a user-centric strategy prioritising inclusivity, safety, and user satisfaction. It introduces the User-Centric Management Canvas (UCMC), a practical tool designed to guide event organisers in adopting this new approach. This framework offers a structured yet flexible method adaptable to various mega-event contexts. In conclusion, this thesis marks a significant contribution to urban management, providing a blueprint for future research and practical applications in crowd management. It sets the stage for a paradigm shift towards more empathetic and effective management of mega-events, potentially enhancing participants' safety and spiritual fulfilment at events like Hajj, with global applicability to other large-scale events.56 0Item Restricted A Study on the Differences in Visitors’ Motivation to Attend a Food Festival in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-05-31) Almalki, Almohannad; Williams, MichaelFood festivals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have gained popularity among both domestic and foreign tourists in recent years, primarily due to their focus on showcasing regionally specific harvests. The Saudi Feast Food Festival 2022, held in December 2022, aimed to highlight and celebrate the culinary traditions and diverse cuisines of the Kingdom's thirteen provinces. However, understanding visitor motivation is crucial for the success of such festivals, as it helps attract attendees. Despite the growing number of visitors to food festivals in Saudi Arabia, little is known about the factors that motivate visitors to attend such festivals. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation is to explore the differences in visitors’ motivation to attend the Saudi Feast Food Festival 2022 and to analyse the relationship between their sociodemographic characteristics and motivational factors. To achieve this aim, the researcher adapted a pre-existing theoretical framework based on the push-pull factors theory and modified several motivational items to suit the context of the Saudi Food Festival 2022. This was done after a critical review of the literature relating to the concepts of food, food tourism, food festivals, and the theories of motivation. A total of 100 research participants were voluntarily recruited to complete an online survey via Qualtrics; this quantitative approach helped the researcher achieve the aim of the dissertation. Participants were asked to answer all three sections of the survey. These sections were related to their sociodemographic characteristics, their motivation to attend the festival, and their willingness and primary motivation to attend a future food festival in Saudi Arabia. The collected data was analysed using SPSS after numerical transformation. The findings strongly suggested that the only pull factor in this study—cultural exploration—was the main driving force behind visitors’ attendance at the festival, with the push factors—escape and novelty—following. Socialization, also a push factor, was found to be the least motivating factor for attending the culinary event. Additionally, the study revealed that there were no statistically significant relationships between motivational factors and sociodemographic variables. The dissertation concludes with an interpretation of the key findings and offers recommendations for culinary festival organisers based on the dissertation's primary findings.27 0