Exploring Local Community Perceptions of the Social Impact of the Tourism in NEOM, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study’s fundamental aim was to investigate the local community’s perspectives of the social impacts of tourism in relation to NEOM, as well as the extent to which they support tourism development. Accordingly, the community’s perspectives on tourism’s potential positive and negative impacts were investigated, in addition to the demographic variables affecting tourist development support. In the context of the tremendous investment and scale of the development involved in NEOM, it is anticipated that it will benefit the tourism industry’s future in Saudi Arabia, as well as local community development. Hence, citizens’ perceptions play a critical role in tourist development’s success or failure and tourism’s long-term sustainability. This is the first study to undertake an in-depth analysis of tourism in NEOM in relation to its social effects from the perspective of the community. A quantitative survey of Tabuk residents was carried out using a convenience sample technique, with 221 surveys being completed. The results indicated that a positive correlation existed between positive impact and community support, whereas a negative correlation was identified between negative impact and community support. Furthermore, it was evidenced that demographic characteristics (gender, age, education, as well as length of residence) have no significant effect on perceptions of both positive and negative impacts, nor community support. Tabuk residents were discovered as holding more positive perspectives of tourism’s social effects in relation to NEOM compared with negative perceptions. Overall, the majority of residents had a positive perception towards Vision 2030 regarding tourism development.