STAKEHOLDERS PERSPECTIVES ON COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN AT-TURAIF DISTRICT IN HISTORICAL AD-DIRIYAH, SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

Community participation in the conservation, management, and tourism development of World Heritage Sites (WHSs) increasingly concerns both researchers and international policymakers. Stakeholders’ involvement in the planning of heritage tourism and strategies is vital for sustainable development. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate factors contributing to community participation in At-Turaif district WHS in ad-Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The extent to which community members participate in the tourism development and heritage conservation process depends on motivation, opportunity, and ability (MOA). With the framework of stakeholder theory and the model of MOA, the study was mean to explore the effects of these factors on three levels of community participation: interactive, functional, and passive using mix methods approach. The study identified ad-Diryiah residents, public sector, private sector, and NGO representatives as primary stakeholders. 321 surveys were distributed among residents and 13 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted among stakeholder groups. Findings of the study revealed that MOA factors had different impacts on different community participation levels. Stakeholder representatives showed a positive attitude toward the significance of At-Turaif District and the importance of involving ad-Diryiah residents in the decision-making process. However, findings revealed different perspectives about the mechanism of community participation. The contributions of the stakeholder theory to the body of knowledge include the integration and assessment of various legitimate stakeholders’ input to understand stakeholders’ perspectives and highlight issues and challenges face community participation. Findings from this study asserted that stakeholder theory could inform policy and assist in the implementation of long-term heritage management strategies to achieve sustainable planning, building a foundation necessary for optimizing the benefits of tourism and reducing its negative impact on cultural heritage assets. Increase the perceived benefit and reduce perceived cost from development, increase communication channels among local residents and site management, and provide effective opportunities are key factors influencing the community to participate. In addition, capacity building and educational programs tailored to local residents are recommended to empower individuals in the decision-making process of heritage conservation and tourism development effectively.