The Impact of Vision 2030 on Sustainable Tourism and Community Development in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This dissertation examines the impact of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 on sustainable tourism and community development, focusing on Al Ula, Diriyah, and the Red Sea Project. A quantitative survey generated 127 valid responses. The study tests how Vision 2030 initiatives relate to outcomes in sustainable tourism and community development, with stakeholder engagement treated as a mediating mechanism. Multiple regression and mediation analysis were conducted using the Hayes PROCESS macro with bootstrap confidence intervals. Results show strong explanatory power for sustainable tourism R2 =0.770, p<0.001 and solid explanatory power for community development R2 =0.525, p<0.001. Stakeholder engagement functions as a partial mediator in both models. The indirect share equals 32 per cent for sustainable tourism and 45 per cent for community development, indicating a stronger dependence of social outcomes on engagement processes. Respondents acknowledge environmental protection efforts and economic gains in employment and entrepreneurship, while 85.8 per cent report concern about higher cost of living. The study contributes to sustainable tourism and stakeholder theory by showing outcome specific mediation patterns within a state led transformation context. It also offers actionable guidance. Recommendations include greater transparency in decision making through public portals and documented consultations, community benefit agreements that set local hiring and MSME procurement targets, skills programmes for residents, and affordability safeguards in project regions. These measures can enhance the translation of national initiatives into inclusive and sustainable community outcomes.