Transformations  in
Business & Economics

EXPLORING HERITAGE TOURISM IN SAUDI ARABIA: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF CULTURAL REVIVAL¹¹
Mansour Alyahya

ABSTRACT: Using five different cultural sites around the nation, this study attempts to investigate the many aspects of heritage tourism in Saudi Arabia. Through qualitative analysis of focus group talks, this research aims to comprehend the views, experiences, and difficulties of the many stakeholders engaged in heritage tourism, including visitors, local communities, government officials, and heritage site managers. Using a qualitative methodology, five focus group interviews were conducted in Diriyah, Al-Ula, the Jeddah Historical Area (Al-Balad), Najran, and Mada’in Saleh (Al-Hijr). With participants from many stakeholder groups in each focus group, the socio-cultural, economic, and environmental aspects of heritage tourism in Saudi Arabia can be thoroughly examined. The results show that stakeholders have a great deal of respect for Saudi Arabia’s cultural legacy and are concerned about how tourist development would affect community well-being, environmental sustainability, and cultural preservation. The participants emphasise the need for sustainable tourism methods, community engagement, and technology innovation to ensure the long-term sustainability of heritage tourism locations. This research illuminates the complexity and opportunities of historic tourism contexts, improving heritage tourism management theory. The findings have practical consequences for policymakers, heritage site managers, and local populations participating in heritage tourism development and offer insights for future cultural heritage management and tourism studies research.

KEYWORDS:  cultural heritage sites and their preservation, tourist perceptions and experiences, economic impact of heritage tourism, government policies and initiatives, community involvement and local perspectives.

JEL classification:  O33, N30, M31, L83.

¹¹Acknowledgments:  This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [KFU242528].