Tourism in Saudi Arabia and its impact on the livelihood of local communities

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates the multifaceted impacts of rapid tourism development, driven by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, on the livelihood and well-being of local communities in the Kingdom's rural areas. It aims to explore residents' perceptions of the economic, cultural, and quality-of-life changes to inform a more sustainable and community-centric tourism model. Methodology: Employing a qualitative case study design and guided by Social Exchange Theory (SET), this research conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 diverse community members across five rural regions, including youth, artisans, community leaders, and tourism workers. The data was analysed using a thematic approach to identify key patterns in residents' lived experiences. Findings: The findings reveal a profound duality in the impacts of tourism. Economically, the development has created significant new employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for youth and women. However, these benefits are contrasted by a rising cost of living and growing economic disparity, which negatively affects residents not directly involved in the sector. Socio-culturally, a similar paradox emerges: tourism fosters a renewed sense of cultural pride and heritage preservation, yet it concurrently ignites significant concerns among older residents regarding cultural commodification, the loss of authenticity, and the erosion of traditional values, creating a noticeable generational divide. A critical governance gap was also identified; while the government's investment is appreciated, the prevailing top-down development approach is widely perceived as exclusionary, lacking genuine community participation in decision-making. Conclusion: The study concludes that the social exchange of tourism in rural Saudi Arabia is complex and unevenly distributed. For the goals of Vision 2030 to be socially sustainable, a paradigm shift is required towards a more inclusive, participatory governance model. This shift must ensure the benefits of tourism are equitably shared and empower local communities as active partners, rather than passive recipients, in their own development. Keywords: Tourism Development, Saudi Arabia, Vision 2030, Rural Communities, Livelihood, Social Exchange Theory, Qualitative Research, Community Perceptions.