Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Social and Economic Pull vs Environmental Push: How Riyadh Season Shapes Resident Satisfaction.(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) ALSULAIMI, AMAL; Raman, Sree KalaObjective: This study aims to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the Riyadh Season on population stability dynamics in Riyadh, by analyzing the factors that lead to population pull or push towards relocation. The study seeks to explore the relationship between seasonal events and socioeconomic transformations in urban areas, and to provide practical recommendations for achieving a balance between tourism development and local population stability. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research adopts a descriptive and exploratory design, employing a quantitative approach using questionnaires directed at a sample of Riyadh residents. The analysis will be supported by a theoretical framework based on push and pull theory to understand the determinants influencing residents' desire to stay or leave the city during the Riyadh Season. Results: The analysis was conducted on a sample of Riyadh residents using SPSS. Demographic results showed that most participants lived near event venues. Correlation and regression analysis revealed that environmental factors had the strongest influence on relocation intention, followed by social perception and then economic factors. Congestion, noise, and high living costs contributed to increased relocation intention, while social and cultural factors mitigated this effect to a limited extent. Practical and Theoretical Implications: This study provides a theoretical contribution to understanding the role of mega-events in shaping housing patterns and population movement in major cities. It also offers a practical tool for policymakers to understand the challenges local populations may face in light of tourism development, especially in cities seeking to diversify their sources of income in accordance with Saudi Vision 2030. Originality: The originality of this study lies in its focus on the direct link between seasonal tourism events and population shifts using a pull-pull framework, a perspective that has not been previously explored in depth in the Saudi context, enhancing the research and social value of the study. Keywords: Riyadh Season, population pull-pull, urban stability, seasonal events, population changes, tourism development, Saudi Vision 2030.6 0Item Restricted Future Challenges of Major Tourism Projects in Saudi Arabia: A Prospective Study on Environmental Sustainability(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Alanazi, Bassam; Zadeh, Shiva IlkhaniThis research critically examines Saudi Arabia's largest tourism projects—NEOM, The Red Sea Project, Qiddiya, and Riyadh—under the lens of environmental sustainability, and focuses on their place within the Kingdom's Vision 2030. These massive projects, in spite of their ecological claims, causes serious threats to delicate marine and desert ecosystems. The research reveals a disconnection between the projects' ambitious rhetoric of sustainability and their real-world environmental consequences, and alarms both environmental management and government control. This study employs qualitative case study method, and invokes the Triple Bottom Line, Resilience Theory, and Stakeholder Theory, based on eight in-depth interviews as well as extensive examination of government policies, academic scholarship, and media articles. It evidences widespread gaps in sustainability, such as deteriorated water scarcity, loss of biological diversity, increased energy needs, and deceptive marketing that falsely overhypes environmental success. The study points to a lack of responsibility in the projects, with some initiatives such as quantifiable environmental goals, while others are based heavily on promotional hype. The views among stakeholders differ, with some being cautiously optimistic about new technology while others are seriously worried about the long-term environmental impacts. The study calls for a shift in paradigm—one where real ecological protection is coupled with economic development to ensure that such projects deliver sustainability.92 0Item Restricted The Impact of War and Conflicts on Hospitality Organizations(Saudi Digital Library, 2025-03-20) Aljohani, Samiyah; Burke, KevanThis study examines the impact of war and conflicts on hospitality organizations. Whilst the impact of war can have many negative effects, this is not always the case. This research therefore explores both positive and negative impacts of war and conflicts on hospitality organizations in order to provide strategies that can mitigate those consequences. A literature review was carried out to understand the concept of war and its impacts on the hospitality industry. In order to understand wars and conflicts, the research explored the concept in depth. Apart from that, it highlighted the economic, operational, and psychological impacts of war as well as past conceptual and theoretical frameworks. The study found out that certain positive impacts do exist and that it is important to look at the significance of these in terms of their type and severity, as understanding the crisis helps in mitigating its consequences. As a result of the findings, several recommendations were made. The findings suggest hospitality businesses can promote Dark Tourism to increase their profits. Also, targeting new customers as well as focusing on domestic tourists and offering reasonable prices. Apart from that, hospitality businesses should focus on their humanitarian role during wars and conflict. Also, it is important to acknowledge that while it is hard to avoid the impact of war entirely, hospitality businesses can still make profits through strategies. Also, the research highlights the importance of implementing physical and financial strategies to navigate the economic disruption caused by war.34 0Item Restricted ASSESSING SECURITY MEASURES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON TOURIST EXPERIENCE DURING RIYADH’S MEGA-EVENTS(Sheffield Hallam Univeristy, 2024) Alrehaili, Faizah; Ndeke, AnnThis dissertation investigates the impact of security measures on tourist experiences during Riyadh Season mega-events, a crucial component of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. With the growing emphasis on safety and security in global tourism, understanding the effects of these measures on tourists' perceptions of safety, overall satisfaction, and their likelihood to return and recommend the events is essential. A qualitative methodology was employed, utilising semi-structured interviews with participants who attended the events to gather in-depth insights. The study’s key findings reveal that visible security measures, such as uniformed guards and checkpoints, significantly enhance tourists' perceived safety but can also create a sense of intrusion. In contrast, hidden measures, like CCTV and digital monitoring, contribute positively to overall satisfaction without causing anxiety. Effective communication of security procedures and the presence of visible security personnel were found to reassure tourists, yet their intrusiveness sometimes detracted from the overall experience. The research underscores the necessity for a balanced approach that ensures robust security while minimising disruption to the tourist experience. Transparent security procedures and well-trained personnel are critical for fostering trust and encouraging repeat visits. Recommendations for future research include examining the long-term effects of security measures on destination reputation and developing strategies that optimise security without compromising visitor satisfaction. This study offers valuable insights for tourism managers and policymakers to enhance security protocols, thereby supporting the sustainable growth of tourism in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.39 0Item Restricted Implementation of the Metaverse for Tourism Education and Training in Saudi Arabia(Bournemouth University, 2024-07-10) Aldawsari, Rawabi; Buhalis, DimitriosBackground: The rapid advancement of virtual reality technologies, particularly the Metaverse, offers transformative potentials for various sectors. In Saudi Arabia, aligning with Vision 2030’s emphasis on technological innovation, there is a growing interest in leveraging these technologies to enhance the education and training in tourism sector. This study investigates the adoption of Metaverse technologies in these areas, focusing on their potential to revolutionise traditional practices and contribute to economic diversification. Aims: The primary aim of this research is to analyse the perceptions and experiences associated with implementing Metaverse technologies in Saudi Arabia’s tourism and education sectors. It seeks to identify the benefits and challenges of Metaverse adoption and propose a framework that facilitates its integration into tourism training and educational practices. Methods: Employing a qualitative research methodology, this study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with 45 participants, including faculty members and students from Saudi universities. The interviews were designed to gather in-depth insights into the participants' views on the Metaverse, its applicability in education and tourism, and the factors influencing its adoption. Data were analysed through thematic analysis, allowing for the extraction of significant themes related to the main understanding of this technology, its benefits, its challenges, and the strategic applications of Metaverse technologies. Results: This study's findings show that the participants in Saudi Arabia have a huge understanding of the concept. However, their understanding is associated strongly with their interest and experience as the students are more knowledgeable about gaming while the instructors know the function of such technologies with the training and the education. The other finding is associated mainly with the practical implications for the adoption of Metaverse technologies. Several advantages of Metaverse integration have been found to include having a sufficient cost to be implemented, connecting the participants globally, allowing for cultural exchange, enhancing engagement and interactivity in learning environments, personalizing educational experiences, developing career opportunities, engaging with technology-savvy generations, developing individual learning skills, and having broader accessibility for remote learners. On the other hand, there are other challenges associated with using the Metaverse, including the high costs associated with technology setup, the complexity of the technological infrastructure required, ethical and societal considerations and resistance to change among traditional educational and tourism institutions. These presented challenges have been opposed with different strategies to be solved, which has resulted in the development of a framework. This framework could be adopted to ensure the positive outcome from implementing the Metaverse in the tourism and education sectors. Conclusions: The study underscores the potential of Metaverse technologies to significantly impact Saudi Arabia's educational and tourism sectors positively. However, successful implementation requires overcoming considerable barriers. The proposed adoption framework aims to guide stakeholders, including policymakers and educational leaders, in navigating these challenges, fostering an environment conducive to technological integration, and ultimately supporting the nation's strategic goals under Vision 2030.61 0Item Restricted Evaluation of Ecotourism Opportunities for Sustainable Development: A Comprehensive Approach and Ecotourism Opportunity Index for Alula, Saudi Arabia(RMIT University, 2024-03-09) Sahahiri, Riyan; Griffin, AmyEcotourism opportunity evaluation is essential for sustainable tourism management. However, the inherent complexity of the tourism system presents considerable challenges. This complexity arises from ecotourism opportunities' continuous adaptation, diversification, and interconnectedness. Furthermore, the system's cascading adaptive behaviour makes it difficult to accurately predict future outcomes, adding another challenge for planners seeking to evaluate these opportunities. The current approaches to evaluating ecotourism opportunities depend primarily on qualitative measures and fail to sufficiently capture the system's dynamics. Furthermore, these methods lack a comprehensive understanding of the relationships between local communities, tourists, and the natural environment. This limits the evaluation of ecotourism opportunities as a sustainable development strategy. A more systematic and comprehensive approach is needed to address this complexity. Considering the development of ecotourism opportunities in a Complex Adaptive System (CAS), this study proposes a systematic method for measuring the extent of ecotourism opportunities and developing an Ecotourism Opportunity Index (EOI). Alula, Saudi Arabia, was selected as a case study due to its rapidly expanding ecotourism opportunities, providing an efficient environment to comprehend the system’s complexity. To develop this method, three research questions were set for this study: 1. What types of ecotourism opportunities coexist in Alula? 2. Will these opportunities contribute to sustainable tourism? 3. How can ecotourism opportunities be evaluated to develop an index for assessing potential destinations? The study's threefold methodology begins by identifying ecotourism opportunities using the SWOT-Ecotourism Opportunity Spectrum (ECOS) framework. In the second stage, Sustainable Ecotourism Opportunities Indicators (SEOIs) are compiled and validated in their relation to the identified ecotourism opportunities using the Delphi method. In the third stage, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) is applied to test the validity and reliability of the hypothetical relationships developed by the Delphi method. Data is collected and analyzed using several quantitative methods, including the Weight Scoring Method (WSM), Entropy Weight Method (EWM), Delphi method, and Ecotourism Opportunities Gap Analysis (EOGA), resulting in the measurement of the EOI. The findings of the first research question show that the development of ecotourism opportunities as a CAS is shaped by external (opportunities) and internal factors (strengths). The SWOT-ECOS analysis demonstrated that the destination possessed several variables (95 strengths, 15 weaknesses, 25 opportunities and 10 threats) under five ecotourism opportunity dimensions (nature, environmental education/protection, sustainability, socio-cultural benefits, and tourists' satisfaction) and thirteen criteria. More opportunities have led to more strengths across all dimensions, showing that external factors (opportunities) influence internal (strengths) factors. In addition to this interconnection and adaptive behaviour, the destination’s current ecotourism potential also determines its level of adaptation to internal or external influences. In the second research question, by applying the Delphi method, the study used expert consensus to identify 25 interconnected SEOIs and their corresponding 120 sustainable ecotourism opportunities (strengths and opportunities). It also developed a systems diagram to describe how external or internal factors activate adaptations among dimensions, indicators, and variables (ecotourism opportunities), finally influencing the sustainability of Alula's entire ecotourism opportunities system. The findings demonstrate that no single indicator of sustainability works in isolation because impacts in one part of the system can change another. For instance, Saudi Vision 2030 (an external factor) influenced the sustainable indicator “long-term economic growth” strongly by stimulating long-term planning and infrastructure. However, in an indirect link, Saudi Vision 2030 also affected some other variables. Although protecting threatened species and promoting natural heritage are not a part of Saudi Vision 2030, the long-term planning it provoked with the establishment of the Royal Commission for Alula led to actions to produce these outcomes. This underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach to understanding the sustainability of ecotourism, which is needed because a decision to improve one indicator, such as biodiversity conservation, must consider its effects on others, such as local community engagement or tourist satisfaction. In the third research question, the relationships between the dimensions, criteria and variables are explored quantitatively using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The CFA results validated the hypothetical construct that explains relationships between indicators and variables that was developed in the second research question. From this construct, the EOI was developed. The EOI findings demonstrate that Alula and its districts offer promising ecotourism opportunities, and the correlation between dimensions, indicators, and variables in the ecotourism opportunities system is complex and fluctuates based on internal and external factors. The RCU and other government agencies can monitor the sustainability of each of Alula’s ecotourism districts using the index and the ecotourism indicators, such as the indicator “employment opportunities (N21)”, which can bring economic sustainability to local residents. This indicator can allow the local stakeholders to monitor the percentage of local employment that can enhance economic empowerment in the community. RCU has initiated employment-generating programs such as the Alula Oasis. The RCU’s ambitious aim to create the world’s largest living agricultural museum will necessitate a huge workforce, creating employment opportunities for the local residents. By using an employment opportunities indicator to track how many local people are hired for this project, professionals can see how it helps the local economy. Moreover, measuring these sustainable ecotourism opportunities can optimise resource allocation, help monitor sustainability growth, support risk management, encourage stakeholder engagement, and serve as an effective promotional and marketing tool. The development of the EOI represents an innovative method for evaluating ecotourism opportunities. It introduces a new degree of rigour to ecotourism evaluations, allowing for more accurate comparisons and benchmarking among ecotourism destinations and activities. The application of CAS theory to the interpretation of the results provides a more comprehensive comprehension of the dynamics that shape ecotourism opportunities. It broadens the theoretical landscape of the field and may serve as a crucial step for future research employing this theoretical lens. Given the complexity of ecotourism opportunities, this study contributes by developing comprehensive evaluation approaches, such as the SWOT-ECOS analysis and ECOS-Delphi, that assess ecotourism opportunities qualitatively and quantitatively. These approaches are valuable for ecotourism practitioners, policymakers, and researchers as they provide comprehensive evaluations covering all interconnected ecotourism opportunity dimensions, laying a solid foundation for future sustainable ecotourism initiatives, informed decision-making, practical strategies, and policies. The Ecotourism Opportunity Index (EOI) can be used to identify potential ecotourism destinations and inform sustainable tourism plans. EOI can empower local businesses and community leaders to make informed decisions, fostering cultural collaboration and sustainable practices that benefit local economies while preserving environmental and cultural integrity.80 0Item Restricted The Effects of Travelling on the Wellbeing of Saudi Millennials(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-10-20) Alashahrani, Shuruq; Ladkin, AdeleIn recent decades, the concept of tourism and wellbeing has gained considerable attention. This research assesses the effects of travel on the wellbeing of Saudi Millennials and their perceptions regarding the importance of tourism in aspects of their wellbeing. It also explores the characteristics and motivations of this specific group towards travel. Using quantitative approaches, a survey was distributed to 535 participants, including both genders. The findings reveal that the majority of Saudi Millennials strongly believe that tourism positively affects their happiness and overall wellbeing. The results further indicate that the act of travelling itself is the biggest motivation for this generation, and it is mostly driven by push motives. Notably, the findings also demonstrate that the quality of social relationships significantly influences the overall wellbeing of Saudi Millennial tourists.27 0