Category: Tourism

Research Context

It is impossible to neglect the importance of tourism development in Dubai. Many people are eager to visit the country and enjoy the beauties of its landscapes, coasts, and waters. However, the conditions under which people could visit the country vary considerably. For example, many questions about visas occur, and permission to visit the country should be got. Besides, there are cultural and traditional challenges. There are also many people, who suffer from language barriers. Finally, the financial aspect of the tourism industry plays an important role. Tourism companies have to be ready to solve all these and many other problems and offer the best possible solutions to their customers. Still, tourism is not the only sphere that undergoes considerable changes. Nowadays, the citizens of Dubai, as well as other Gulf regions, could earn a lot with the help of commerce marketing. Therefore, in Dubai, there is the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing that aims at building awareness of Dubai as a host country for people and companies with different goals. It is not enough for the Department to introduce Dubai as the option to consider. The task is to prove that Dubai is the only place where people could find everything they want for their business, pleasure, and personal satisfaction.

Hypothesis

The idea to use innovation management and strategies in the field of tourism is not new. Still, the current technological achievements and opportunities available to the population of Dubai are impressive indeed. Some people are not able to grasp all peculiarities of the country. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate how such huge fields as tourism and commerce marketing could be improved with the help of innovative management in such airline companies as Emirates.

Research Question

Is it possible that innovation management and such strategies as the multicultural education of workers help to improve the quality of work of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and increase the number of tourists up to 20 million?

Research Methods

This research question may be answered in case different methods are used in research. First, a literature search is required to review the already available materials and suggestions. It is necessary to cite the sources and explain the worth of the chosen material. Web search is the fastest approach in this study. Besides, it is necessary to cooperate with people and gather several personal points of view. A purposive sample could be used based on the interviews with the workers from local agencies and the tourists who come to Dubai. It is necessary to choose 15 managers and interview them about the quality of work and the regulations they have to follow. The interviews consist of 5 open-ended questions. There are also 20 tourists (10 males and 10 females) aged 25-45 years, who come to Dubai from different countries. They are interviewed to clarify the reasons why they choose the country among other available options. The qualitative interview data and the results of the literature search may clarify the situation and identify the options for the department.

Significance of Research

The opinions of people about the current state of tourism affairs in Dubai gathered during this study can help to clarify the strengths and weaknesses of the department’s work. Besides, the properly developed questions may provoke the interviewees to share their opinions about the values of the latest innovative strategic ideas. This research could help managers, who work in the sphere of tourism to realize what kind of work should be done in companies and in Dubai as the main host country to attract new tourists.

Abstract

The paper compares the attitudes and perceptions of Al-Hassa residents and non-residents of tourism development in the region. The paper starts by highlighting and defining the problem under study. An analysis of the study area reveals various aspects such as historical background, unemployment, and social-economic characteristics. The development of the tourism industry in Al-Hassa is discussed in detail considering its current trends. Various government mechanisms to develop this sector in the near future are also highlighted. The literature review contains data that has been collected for the analysis of Al-Hassa’s tourism sector. It leads to the development of various research questions and hypotheses that will guide the research process. The paper also provides a description of the methodology to be used in the research. This section explains the distributed survey and target population amongst the residents and non-residents of Al-Hassa municipality.

Introduction

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has made efforts to diversify economic activities with a view of achieving various goals of vision 2030 such as preventing overreliance on oil as a major source of income. The Al-Hassa region is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the KSA owing to its historic background and numerous oases. Although the tourism industry has been growing rapidly especially in the Al-Hassa region, there have been many impediments to the developments. Al-Hassa region is the focus of this research with respect to the attitudes and perceptions of residents and non-residents towards tourism development.

Residents refer to the local people of the Al-Hassa region who are affected by the tourist and conservation activities enforced by the Saudi government. These people have a close relationship with the tourist destination and their understanding of the environment in the region surpasses that of the tourists. On the other hand, non-residents imply the regional and international tourists who visit the Al-Hassa region for both recreational and business activities.

In the context of this article, attitudes do not only refer to the feelings of the residents towards tourism but also the value they place on the scenic oases in the area. The perception of consumers is the visitor’s awareness of the destination environment, which is influenced by social and economic changes. Tourism development refers to the exposure to a foreign culture, which at times contradicts social, religious, and economic practices. Sometimes, it has led to improved economic growth by creating job opportunities for the residents besides promoting cultural integration. This paper presents a comparative study of residents and non-residents’ attitudes and perceptions of consumers of tourism development in Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia.

Study Area

Al-Hassa occupies 530,000 square kilometers and is located 60 Km from the Arabian Gulf in the Eastern part of Saudi Arabia. The area under cultivation was about 120 square kilometers a few decades ago (Alghenaim, 2013). Al-Hassa has attracted human settlement since the prehistoric period because of the plentiful supply of water. The natural springs that bring forth fresh produce have encouraged human settlement and agriculture in the area for millennia. The strategic geographical position has made the place link different cultures of the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Levant, and Mesopotamia. It was the center of human civilization and a trade hub, the passage to the Arabian Peninsula, and the link between the Arabian Gulf and India.

Al-Hassa is home to over 600,000 people whose social lives are guided by Islamic culture. The residents are law-abiding citizens who highly respect other people and are friendly to strangers. Agriculture, trade, and mining (of crude oil) are the major economic activities of the Al-Hassa population. The Ghawar Fieald, which is among the world’s largest oil fields, offers a lucrative source of income for Al-Hassa residents. Trade and tourism are the other major economic activities in the region (Jafari & Scott, 2014). Despite these productive activities, the rate of unemployment is still high.

Tourism Industry in Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia

The tourism industry has been the center of focus for the Al-Hassa municipality in recent years. Several tourism and cultural heritage-based projects have been undertaken to support the transformation of Al-Hassa into a global tourist destination (Gholipour, Tajaddini, & Al-mulali, 2014). The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) under the Tourism Development Council (TDC) has initiated different schemes and activities aimed at conserving national heritage sites to promote tourism in the region. The KSA has for a long time depending on oil as the main source of funding for economic development (Gholipour et al., 2014). Overreliance on petroleum has brought about several structural weaknesses such as extremely subsidized welfare configuration and increased unemployment. The government has put forth several measures to deal with this problem including economy-friendly reforms to attract foreign investment, encourage the participation of the private sector, and boost development in other non-oil areas of the economy like tourism.

According to Khan and Alam (2014), Saudi Arabia has heavily invested in infrastructural development to improve transport networks and accommodation facilities. Traveling costs have been increasing besides establishing visa restrictions to non-religious visitors. These factors posed significant retardation to the growth of the tourism sector. The upgraded transport infrastructure and improved hospitality industry have contributed to an increase in the number of tourists and investors visiting Al-Hassa (Allameh, Khazaei Pool, Jaberi, Salehzadeh, & Asadi, 2015). The number of tourists on leisure, business trips, and pilgrimage visits is steadily increasing with a growth of 1.9% that translated to 14.8 million people in 2016.

The rising number of visitors has prompted the expansion and heavy investment in hospitality facilities such as hotels and guest houses in the past five years. One of the most outstanding developments in Al-Hassa is the Al Ogair Tourism Destination project whose implementation is ongoing and expected to continue for the next 19 years. The first phase, which is almost over, consists of constructing 2600 state-of-the-art furnished apartments as well as 2900 hotel rooms, and many amusement facilities to promote tourism in the region (Allameh et al., 2015). The quality of services offered by the staff in the hospitality industry is high and meets international standards.

The government has put in place several mechanisms to boost tourism in Al-Hassa. His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salma bin Abdul Aziz, who is the SCTA President, inaugurated the House of Culture in Amireya school in Al Hafuf City. It is among heritage milestones that are highly admired in Al-Hassa. The Saudi government has also made efforts to rehabilitate several springs and oases such as the Souk Al Qaysaria, which has played a great role in the agro-economic development in Al-Hassa. Top engineers were contracted to restore and improve their architectural brilliance. It has from time immemorial attracted visitors from not only the neighboring communities but also Western countries. Ancient cities such as Al Hafuf have been the center of focus for rehabilitation activities to revive the splendor of historic centers such as the Jeddah Historic Area, Al Hafuf Historic Center, Majma Historic Center, and the Al Taif Historic Center.

Jaotha Mosque, which has important historical attributes, has also been restored. Although the building was built in the 7^th century, the foundation structures are still intact, and the remnants of the building were refurbished by the Al Turath Foundation. Other heritage sites that the government has renovated include the Ibrahim Palace in Hafuf and Al Bay’ a House. The government has also promoted the growth of the over 35 tourism agencies in Al-Hassa, which have encouraged investors to venture into the tourism sector. As a result, the growth rate of tourist guides has reached 50%. The government has also worked with the media to market tourism through advertising it in different languages. Tourism created numerous jobs for A-Hassa residents besides improving the region’s economy. Investing in tourism is among the initiatives that the Saudi government aims at promoting to prevent overreliance on oil by diversifying economic activities and promoting the private sector in line with the country’s vision 2030.

Figure 2 [Table showing an estimated number of inbound tourists in one month]

Literature Review

Tourism has significant effects on transportation and accommodation among other activities in the destinations of tourists. Although tourism helps in creating environmental awareness, poor planning of associated activities can result in increased conservational costs (Aldosari & Atkins, 2015). Al-Hassa is in Saudi Arabia where private and public life is founded on Islamic doctrines. The influence cuts across all systems from social lives, politics, to economic activities. Yusuf (2015) observed that the state and religion are indivisible in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This state of affairs is seen in Al-Hassa where all activities are structured to conform to Islamic laws. This situation has both direct and indirect negative effects on traveling and amusement activities. In the past, the tourism industry in Al-Hassa was negatively affected by religious strictness.

For a long time, religious tourists were the only group of foreign visitors who were appreciated in Saudi Arabia. Wars resulting from religious conflicts by armed gangs and restrictions on visas for non-religious visitors are among factors that obstruct growth in the KSA tourism industry. According to Zamani-Farahani and Henderson (2010), Western fashion tourism, which is signified by immense leisure, is regarded as fundamentally inconsistent with Islamic culture and religion. However, ever since the government saw the need to stop overreliance on oil, it has concentrated on other aspects of the economy such as empowering the private sector and boosting tourism. The Al-Hassa government has taken several steps such as deregulating the strict rules that make it hard for non-religious visitors to tour the country, to attract tourists. The country has moved quickly to improve the tourism sector. Currently, it is the biggest tourist destination in the Middle East. Stabilization of uneven social security and more advertising is viewed as a necessary approach that can help encourage tourists to visit the country.

Alghenaim (2013) reveals that the absorptive capacity for tourists greatly determines their impacts on both environmental and economic resources in the destination country. The type of visitors has a significant effect on the destination life-cycle of destinations. The government of Saudi Arabia has underway planned to improve the infrastructure of the Al-Hassa region with a view of receiving and accommodating a large number of tourists. Tourists’ positive and negative demands play a significant role in the transformation of destinations. For instance, the natural aspects such as the environment and culture of the destination are mostly replaced by development and commercialization (Stephenson, 2014). This occurrence is known as transformational tourism. It affects the original relationships that residents have with their environment due to factors such as increased noise, congestion, environmental dereliction, and hiked prices.

Al-Hassa residents have a profound interest in making sustainable tourism development. This responsibility will strike an equilibrium between the use of natural resources between residents and tourists. Knowledge about the resident’s attitudes and perceptions of tourism is vital for the unbiased distribution of environmental, social, and economic resources. The government is committed to promoting tourism both in the private and public sectors, with long-term objectives of increasing the number of visitors to 88 million by the year 2022. In 2013, Saudi Arabia was the 20^th most visited country by tourists who numbered close to 14 million. Yusuf (2015) estimates that the government has spent over $20 billion to boost the industry, especially to encourage local tourists to tour areas like Al-Hassa, which is a convenient region during summer. Sadi and Handerson feel that religious tourism is the most thriving in the KSA, with 57% of the 6.3 million tourists visiting for religious purposes. Zamani-Farahani and Handerson (2010) state that Al-Hassa residents, as hosts, bear the responsibility to offer hospitality to visitors, a practice that has highly been appreciated by Western tourists. In recent times, restrictions considered as an infringement of freedom that is likely to discourage international visitors, such as rules on food (no eating pork and drinking alcoholic beverages), social as well as personal relations, or entertainment have been moderated.

Many residents of Al-Hassa find leisure and satisfaction fundamental to ease communication and interaction with colleagues in the workplace, which improves their productivity (Juhari, Bhatti, & Piaralal, 2016). Hospitality industry customers both residents and non-residents value customer satisfaction, which is brought about by service quality and friendliness of the industry employees. The main hindrance to participating in most leisure events are religious and cultural beliefs and observations. However, the Islamic faith supports sports as being among the cultural heritage activities, and the Saudi government admits that sports and faith for both sexes are compatible. Zamani-Farahani and Henderson (2010) advance that political and religious leaders have discouraged residents against several aspects of Western culture such as clothes that expose body parts, eating certain types of food, or indulging in other secular activities. As a result, a significant number of residents have a negative attitude towards recreational activities and facilities such as theatres or swimming pools (Stephenson, 2014). However, a high number of people including non-residents of Al-Hassa support tourism development because of the employment opportunities that the tourism industry offers.

Research Problem and Questions

The problem of this research is to examine resident and non-resident consumers’ attitudes and perceptions of the development of the tourism industry in Al-Hassa. With the increasing rate of tourism development in the KSA, it is crucial to examine reactions of non-residents and residents towards these advancements, given that most of the facilities are designed to suit even non-Muslims, which may contradict Islamic principles.

1. What are the main economic activities of Al-Hassa residents?
2. What is the rate of employment in Al-Hassa?
3. What is the current level of development of the tourism industry in Al-Hassa?
4. To what extent do Al-Hassa residents and non-residents engage in recreational activities?
5. What factors affect the rate of tourism development in Al-Hassa?
6. How does tourism development impact on lives of both the residents and non-residents of Al-Hassa?

Hypotheses

1. Tourism development in Al-Hassa significantly contributes to economic growth and creates job opportunities for both residents and non-residents.
2. Facilities built to encourage tourism are encouraging the residents to engage more in recreational activities.
3. Tourism development allows and encourages Al-Hassa residents to socialize with other ethnic communities and foreigners, thereby making them appreciate diversity and other foreign cultures.
4. Residents appreciate tourism development because it brings some liberty from the Sharia Laws, which enables the residents to participate in diverse activities such as formal positions for women that were unavailable in the past.

Research Objectives

1. To assess the level of tourism development in Al-Hassa, KSA.
2. To examine the obstructing factors that hinder tourism development in Al-Hassa and the magnitude of such factors.
3. To determine the level to which the government and the private sector engage in tourism development and the extent to which they are committed to such projects.
4. To determine the extent to which tourism development is appreciated by Al-Hassa residents.
5. To determine the attitudes of both residents and non-residents towards tourism development, and the extent to which they appreciate tourism projects in Al-Hassa.
6. To assess the extent to which tourism development contributes to economic growth in Al-Hassa and the degree to which residents benefit from the developments.
7. To examine the rates of unemployment in Al-Hassa, and assess the extent to which tourism development contributes to job creation and poverty eradication in accordance with the country’s vision 2030.
8. To determine the levels of engagement of both residents and non-residents in recreational activities associated with the tourism industry.
9. To assess the levels of hospitability of Al-Hassa residents to both religious as well as nonreligious visitors, and the extent to which they can be welcoming and appreciative of other foreign cultures.
10. To evaluate the extent to which tourism development in Al-Hassa can impact negatively on the lives of both the residents and nonresident visitors, concerning aspects like religious beliefs, social norms, moral conduct, or individual rights.

Methodology

This research will utilize the descriptive design to collect data about the residents’ and non-residents’ attitudes towards tourism development in Al-Hassa. The descriptive qualitative research method will be used to get the views of the respondents on questions about tourism development. A total of 150 participants, who will include KSA citizens and noncitizens, will be selected to take part in the survey. The cluster sampling method will be used to pick the 150 respondents who shall be sampled randomly from different locations and organizations, according to their familiarity with Al-Hassa (Aldosari & Atkins, 2015). A field survey will be conducted in which each respondent will be required to fill questionnaires with short and precise, mutually exclusive close-ended questions, to avoid confusing the respondents, and to increase the levels of accuracy.

Different methods of distributing the questionnaires will be utilized depending on the preference of the participants. The most preferred survey distribution methods are print and electronic media. This method is convenient for participants who will be near the physical location of the survey office, which is to be opened in Al-Hassa. Questionnaires issued through electronic forms can be filled by respondents who will access them on the research website or social media platforms such as Facebook, depending on the participants’ preferences. This method is convenient for participants who will not be able to physically go to the research office. The survey will be designed to comprise a Likert Scale with five Likert items that will be used to allow the respondents to gauge the degree of impact of a particular item in a range of 1-5, one being the lowest and five greatest. Data will be analyzed using SPSS software.

Conclusion

In recent years, the KSA has been focused on developing the tourism industry in a bid to stop overreliance on fossil fuels as the main economic activity. Although there have been restrictions on visitors based on religion, there have been several reforms on strict conditions, which has attracted more tourists. The rate of unemployment in Al-Hassa and the KSA as a whole is high especially in the public sector due to overreliance on oil. The tourism development has created more jobs for the citizens and presents opportunities for the appreciation of cultural diversity.

References

Aldosari, A., & Atkins, J. (2015). A study of corporate social responsibility disclosure practices in Saudi Arabia. Web.

Alghenaim, K. (2013). Recreating urban space in Saudi Arabia: Private sector participation in establishing creative cities through leisure, sports, and recreation. Web.

Allameh, S., Khazaei Pool, J., Jaberi, A., Salehzadeh, R., & Asadi, H. (2015). Factors influencing sport tourists’ revisit intentions: The role and effect of destination image, perceived quality, perceived value and satisfaction. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 27(2), 191-207.

Gholipour, H., Tajaddini, R., & Al-mulali, U. (2014). Does personal freedom influence outbound tourism? Tourism Management, 41(1), 19-25.

Jafari, J., & Scott, N. (2014). Muslim world and its tourisms. Annals of Tourism Research, 44(1), 1-19.

Juhari A., Bhatti M., & Piaralal S. (2016). Service quality and customer loyalty in Malaysian Islamic insurance sector exploring the mediating effects of customer satisfaction. HRMARS, 6(3), 1-20.

Khan, S., & Alam, M. (2014). Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A potential destination for medical tourism. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, 9(4), 257-262.

Stephenson, M. L. (2014). Deciphering ‘Islamic hospitality’: Developments, challenges and opportunities. Tourism Management, 40(1), 155-164.

Yusuf, N. (2015). Tourism development in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Business and Retail Management Research, 8(2), 62-69.

Zamani-Farahani, H., & Henderson, J. (2010). Islamic tourism and managing tourism development in Islamic societies: The cases of Iran and Saudi Arabia’, International Journal of Tourism Research, 12(1), 81-86.

Introduction

Modern hotel industry leads reservation online. It is very convenient and fast. Even though many people still prefer to make telephone reservations, the Internet has already occupied the hotel reservation. It should be mentioned that more people see the privileges of using online reservation rather than do it via email (Smit, 2012). The form of reservation is convenient, the time spent on this procedure is minimal, and people do not have to go anywhere, they have just switch on the Internet and follow the steps. The reservation online is an easy task to do as the actions are reduced to minimum and the information required is also minimal (Bardi, 2011).

Thus, to understand how online registration works, whether it is convenient of not, we have decided to check three different sites where tried to reserve a room. Online reservation is aimed at booking a same room type, considering the same check-in and check-out date, and understanding whether the same number of guest is allowed. In other words, three web sites which deal with registration have been examined. We tried to check all the points in order to see whether they are advantageous or not for people. The main criteria according to which the web sites for reservation are going to be checked are as follows, the hotel website, www.booking.com, and www.hotels.com.

The US hotel in Las Vegas appeared as the center of our attention. Thehotel Mandalay Bay is a focus of our discussion. The choice of the web sites for analysis was justified by the frequency of used services. The site of the hotel is considered to be the most common for reservation, then, we selected two most spread services, booking.com and hotel.com. The analysis is going to be based on stressing pros and cons of reserving a room with one of the services in several aspects, such as payment method, cancellation policy, benefits received, benefits received, convenience of the order form, and user-friendliness.

Comparison table

Conclusion

Therefore, having conducted a research about the way of hotel room reservation, it may be concluded that booking.com is the best in this sphere. The hotel reservation system requires too much information which sometimes may be inconvenient. The reservation may be provided on another person and the data necessary for it with the use of the hotel website is too personal. Hotel.com is not friendly enough. Even though the form of reservation is convenient and the number of steps is appropriate, hotels.com is not that service which is to be used while booking a room. Booking.com with all the disadvantages is has is considered to be the most appropriate service for making an online reservation.

As the practice shows, it has the rooms even when the hotel reservation form states that no free rooms are available. Moreover, the user-friendliness parameter is the most important. Booking.com is available on different languages as the reservation is possible from different parts of the world and a customer is able to read and sign up the form on an appropriate language. Each Internet reservation service has a database, thus, in case of registration, a service is going to use the previously left data of payment for making an order (Smith, & Taylor, 2004).

Reference List

Bardi, J. A. (2011). Hotel Front Office Management. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

Secure booking: THEhotel Mandalay Bay. (2013). Web.

Smith, P. R., & Taylor, J. (2004). Marketing Communications: An Integrated Approach. New York: Kogan Page Publishers.

Smit, L. (2012). Event Management: Putting theory into practice – A South African Approach. New York: Event Management South Africa.

THEhotel at Mandalay Bay. (2013). Web.

Thehotel Mandalay Bay. (2013). Web.

There are numerous social consequences of tourism. For example, the rate of crime reduced as a result of tourism. It is estimated that crime was caused by idle youths who had no jobs. The scenario changed after the emergence of tourism because most young people had tourism related jobs such as tour guides and drivers. Before tourism gained steam, the rate of crime was at an all-time high. It should be noted that crime was widespread with minimal security intervention. The rationale of security intervention was to create a favorable environment for the growth and development of tourism. The new structures developed went a long way in terms of changing the landscape. The need for improving the security of the region was based on attracting more tourists in the region (Coleman, 2002).

A sustainable tourism destination is described as a region which can handle tourism with the current state of resources. For example, the infrastructural development of the region is considered as the main element which determines the ability of handling tourism without overstretching resources. When resources are stretched, the ecosystem is deemed as unable to handle tourist activities. As a manager, I would embark on boosting infrastructure and human resource in order to make the region sustainable.

The Hells Gate in Kenya is a tourist destination striving to enhance sustainability. This comes after the terrain of the attraction site was announced as dangerous for visitors. Since then, the management has been working tooth and nail to change this perception. The efforts applied in changing the course of things are realistic considering that safety measures have been incorporated. The main aim is to see more tourists coming along.

Community based tourism has become common in recent times. This is because the latter has had numerous benefits to the community at large. The introduction of community based tourism was a great milestone in the industry considering that in the past tourism was not community based. The incorporation of community based tourism into mainstream tourism was a step in the right direction that saw the community receive immense benefits (Wearing, 2001).

The economic benefit of this form of tourism was creating employment and increasing the income of people in general. In terms of the social benefits, thanks to community based tourism, the community was integrated into a single unit. This was different before community based tourism took route. Lastly, the environmental benefits of community based tourism was maintaining the ecosystem.

Cultural heritage tourism can be defined as a form of tourism which is aimed at showcasing the cultural patterns of a given community or group of people. I come from Kenya where the Maasai community has long been an attraction for many people around the world. Most of the tourists who land in Kenya take time to watch and interact with Maasai community. During this time, they learn about their lifestyle and way of expression.

This trend has been on course for the last couple of years and seems to be gaining momentum among tourists (Wearing, 2001). The main elements in this form of tourism is regalia and traditional food. The mentioned elements have been used by the community to tell the world about their story. In this regard, the world learns about the Maasai community through interaction and relating with their environment. This is what makes cultural heritage in Kenya tick.

References

Coleman, S. (2002). Tourism: Between place and performance. New York: Berghahn Books.

Wearing, S. (2001). Volunteer tourism experiences that make a difference. Wallingford, Oxon: CABI.

Beverly Wilshire Hotel (A Four Seasons Hotel) is located in Beverly Hills, California. This historical hotel offers a blend of tradition and contemporary comfort, elegant luxury, and impeccable service. Everything here is to the highest standards: elegant rooms, luxurious suites, magnificent spa, fitness center, restaurants, luxurious halls for celebrations, and modernly equipped conference halls. This paper is initiated to reveal market peculiarities of Beverly Wilshire Hotel resulting in the analysis of its competitiveness.

Beverly Wilshire Hotel is a hotel for guests who appreciate sophisticated style and exclusive service. The price of the average room per night is approximately $ 700. Therefore, potential clients’ income is $ 500 000 and more. Guests are predominantly males and females between the ages of 35 and 60 without children and animals. They have higher education including doctors, politics, and others. Moreover, the hotel is a favorite place of celebrities.

For instance, John Lennon, Elvis Presley, and other representatives of the elite stayed there. It was this hotel where Richard Gere and Julia Roberts shot in the Pretty Woman film (“Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel, and Jason of Beverly Hills Present a ‘Pretty Woman’ Experience” par. 1). Therefore, potential clients of the hotel are people with high income and requirements.

Beverly Wilshire Hotel is located in 20 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport. It is situated on Wilshire Boulevard near financial and shopping centers such as Century City or Beverly Hills and the famous Rodeo Drive that are within walking distance (“Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills” par. 5). Choosing the Beverly Wilshire, it is impossible not to visit Madame Tussauds Hollywood. There are several art galleries such as Ace Gallery Los Angeles. Besides, guests might relax in silence in Zoom Room Dog Training Park. It goes without saying that Los Angeles is the city of a casino and nightclubs. The nearest casino is Los Angeles Party Bus.

As a matter of fact, the geographical location of potential guests is also of great significance. California has a Mediterranean climate. Therefore, it might cause some difficulties for people living in a cold climate to stay in the described hotel. It relates to people from Alaska or northern countries such as Canada. Nevertheless, Beverly Wilshire Hotel creates convenient rooms equipped with the air-conditioner that would help to acclimatize.

However, the climate of the region is not too warm. It perfectly suits people from around the world. Additionally, marketing services over the Internet allows extending the potential audience. A booking module on the main page could considerably raise the flow of customers and at the same time allows considerable savings. It seems the most effective way if customers would book a room directly from the social network.

Market behaviors combine a whole range of characteristics of consumers, which is a model of life and behavior of the person determined by his passions, actions, interests, relationships with other people, etc. The basis of these criteria is that the knowledge of different aspects of consumer behavior allows the management of the hotel properly represent its product in the most efficient way. Precisely speaking, taking into account the demographics of Beverly Wilshire Hotel’s potential clients, one might suggest their demanding behavior. These people used to make high requirements and receive the best service. Therefore, the adequate service along with attentive personnel would stimulate a purchase.

The basic concept that lies in the basis of marketing is customers’ needs. The human need is the awareness that he want something missing. Beverly Wilshire Hotel builds its strategy considering meeting the human need for recognition (Heppell 58). For example, dining in a Cut restaurant on the hotel territory is a sign of financial prosperity. Some visitors of the restaurant ask to sit them at a table in the center of the room to be sure that other guests would notice them.

It satisfies their need for a sense of self-importance. In addition, the hotel satisfies social needs that consist in the need for communication with other people, desire to have fun and relax. The atmosphere in the hotel is the most relaxed and comfortable, but, at the same time, gorgeous that contributes to the business meetings, informal communication, and pleasant pastime. Thus, the hotel is conveniently located to meet with people and socialize.

What is more, Beverly Wilshire Hotel performs the main function of the hotel, namely, provides customers with comfortable residence. It offers a large swimming pool and spa bath with separate pavilions in the Mediterranean style. Guests could visit the spa with a full range of massage and beauty treatments including facials and treatments using eco-friendly cosmetics. “Penthouse residents may enlist on-site hair and makeup services and a personal stylist before going out” (Chase par. 5).

Rooms are equipped with flat-screen TV cable. All rooms at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, the DVD player, a docking station for iPod, and mini-bar. Most of the rooms offer splendid views of the surrounding area. Among the other amenities, there are a fitness center conducting yoga classes and a modern gym. Beverly Wilshire Hotel has several restaurants. The most celebrated of them is the Cut restaurant that serves steaks and seafood cooked by original recipes of the famous chef Wolfgang Puck. Guests might try a wide selection of wines, particularly, over 1000 varieties.

Among the popular trends of hotels, one might note several aspects concerning changes in demographics, in customer needs, or an innovative sense of style. Nevertheless, modern conditions of the globalization, when all the people as well as spheres of life are connected to the Internet, dictate the implementation of new trends. First, a multi-screen responsive design of the website is a trend associated with the spread of mobile Internet and the different screen formats available to each user. Guests could start looking hotel’s website on a laptop computer, continue on the tablet, and book through the smartphone (Shea par. 2).

Therefore, the website’s responsive design allowing displaying the information correctly on any gadget is gaining popularity. Special HTML-layout automatically adjusts the content at a convenient scale, changes the number of columns along with other necessary modifications. It creates a convenient site and increases booking and purchase. The second important trend is the capacity geo targeting that would increase the Internet audience. The restructuring of the hotel website content and advertising messages depending on user’s regional peculiarities would dramatically enhance the number of clients. The third trend notes that photos, even in the form of panoramic shooting, are not enough.

To make a decision about booking, guests want to see the location of the hotel in a maximum volume, detail, and close to reality. It seems that the existence of the trial becomes as commonplace and essential as interior photos of rooms. For instance, with the help of Review Pro service, it is possible to implement the trend and improve the attractiveness of the hotel.

Beverly Wilshire Hotel’s market growth is best expressed in revenues growth. According to Jon Chocklett, a Director of sales, the expansion in primary and secondary markets leads to the increase of profits (“Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills (A Four Seasons Hotel) Appoints Jon Chocklett as Director of Marketing” par. 4). Moreover, the strategy that pays attention to different aspects of the market such as demographical, geographical, customers’ needs, and expectations promotes high dollar sales.

It seems important to point out the fact that Beverly Wilshire Hotel has some competitors. The most expensive hotels in the neighborhood of it are Montage Beverly Hills and The Beverly Hills Hotel. The classical architecture of Montage Beverly Hills makes a luxurious view. The hotel is located near malls of Rodeo Drive and refined restaurants. The service is excellent on every level. All the hotel staff is courteous and meets customers’ requests in a timely manner.

If the customer needs to organize or modify a reservation, a concierge might communicate with them via text messages. The Montage Beverly Hills has a beautiful Bentley car service. All in all, the atmosphere is friendly. In its turn, the Beverly Hills Hotel was built more than a hundred years ago. It demonstrates the solidity and the high class of the hotel. One might note lush tropical greenery along with luxurious bungalows. Well-trained and helpful staff is ready to help anytime.

Likewise Beverly Wilshire Hotel, it has an excellent cuisine in a cozy restaurant. The hotel is located in the prestigious area of Los Angeles. Among other positive signs, there are incredible silence and a soft sea air. The hotel is three-story, as basically all the buildings in the city, and is surrounded by a blue swimming pool and sheltered brown tiles of single-level houses. A well-known Monroe was staying in one of them. In addition, there is an opportunity to book the room directly on the hotel website.

All the above proves the fact that Beverly Wilshire Hotel is not one of a kind. The presence of other elite hotels creates a competition when hotels have to improve their quality and offer more advantages than their competitors do. However, the advantage of the hotel is that there are special offers for banquets, weddings, and other events. For honeymooners, Beverly Wilshire Hotel offers services in weddings and special programs for newly-weds.

Guests might enjoy two halls for events that could accommodate 500 and 880 people, eight conference rooms, a business center, an outdoor terrace, and limousine service. The fact Beverly Wilshire Hotel is included in the Four Seasons Hotel chain demonstrates its intention to be among the best hotels. It seems appropriate to mention that celebrities visiting the Beverly Wilshire Hotel increase its reputation as well.

In conclusion, It should be emphasized that Beverly Wilshire Hotel is one of the most attractive and popular hotels for people with a high income. The research stated that it performs principal hotel functions and exerts every effort to meet customer’s requirements. In spite of the fact that Beverly Wilshire Hotel is a historical hotel, it remains competitive and open for new trends.

Works Cited

“Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel, and Jason of Beverly Hills Present a ‘Pretty Woman’ Experience.” Targeted News Service. 2015. Web.

“Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills (A Four Seasons Hotel) Appoints Jon Chocklett as Director of Marketing.” Four Seasons Press Room. 2016. Web.

“Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills.” Beverly Hills Hotels. n.d. Web.

Chase, Caitlyn. “Best Penthouses in the World | Four Seasons.” Four Seasons Magazine. 2015. Web.

Heppell, Michael. 5 Star Service: How to Deliver Exceptional Customer Service, New York, NY: Pearson, 2013. Print.

Shea, Erin. “Four Seasons’ Beverly Wilshire Enhances Guest Experience via Mobile App.” Luxury Daily. 2013. Web.

Tourism in Saint Tropez

Saint Tropez is a medieval resort town known for various tourist attractions and the ultramodern facilities. Yachting activities that are held along the coastline are a major tourist attraction. The town has modern hotels and restaurants with various recreational facilities like discos for the fun-loving tourist. Examples of hotels at Saint Tropez include; Gassin and the Cogolin hotels which are world-class hotels.

The residents engage in festivals, like the Fete de la Bravade. This is a festival held in honor of the town’s patron saint and it dates back to the 15^th century. During this festival, people carry the bust of the patron saint around while singing and dancing. This is a tourist attraction particularly to those tourists who visit the place because of its medieval history (Arfin 2011, p.33).

Saint Tropez town is also characterized by attractive beaches and the surrounding hills that add to the town’s scenic beauty. The outskirts of the town have various vineyards. The tourists visiting the town can engage in wine tasting events at the Gassin hotel (Novakovich 2012, p.44-46). Various sporting activities like cycling are also held here. The cycling paths are along the coastline and by the roadside. Bicycles and motorbikes are usually rented for competitions. Hiking activities are also common.

This is a major tourist attraction particularly to those who love hiking. The town has roads that go up to the forested hillside, making it suitable for hiking. Saint Tropez has trails which around the peninsula, along the beaches and the capes, forming short loops that are best suited for hiking. Yachting activities are also common and tourists hire motorboats so as engage in pleasure trips and competition. Skiing is another activity held at Saint Tropez. The town has world-class hotels that make it attractive to tourists (Porter 2007, p.100).

With an influx in the number of tourists visiting the area, the culture of the Saint Tropez residents is likely to be degraded. Tourists might introduce their foreign cultures that in some cases entail the topless fashion where they engage in topless sunbathing. Many of them might be seen along the beaches while they are nude and this might significantly erode the moral values of the residents’ culture. In some cases, tourists might engage in erotic ventures that are contrary to the moral values of the natives. The influx of tourists might also result in environmental degradation hence interfering with the ecological balance (Facaros 2006, p.201-209).

On the other hand, an influx of tourists to the town can have some positive effects on the society in Saint Tropez. For instance, tourism can lead to improved infrastructure and other social amenities. The recreation facilities can be improved due to the blossoming industry. Health facilities and schools can also be built from the revenue earned from the tourism sector. Tourism can enable world-class libraries, cinemas halls as well as discotheques to be constructed owing to the blossoming tourism industry.

To minimize the negative effects of tourism, it is important to ensure that the indigenous culture of the people is preserved to maintain their moral values. Responsible and value-based tourism should be encouraged. Laws should be enacted and those found to be engaging in erotic behavior should be prosecuted. Constant patrols and surveys have to be carried out to ensure that tourists do not engage in detestable acts. There is a need to preserve and protect endangered species of trees and animals to keep a balance on the ecosystem. The natives need to be mobilized to engage in environmental conservation and preserving the existing tourist attraction sites (McPhee 2010, p.25-30).

The town has a small population and an influx in the number of tourists visiting the place is likely to result in environmental degradation. During the peak season, the beaches are might be full of people beyond their capacity. This might adversely affect the environment. An influx in the number of tourists visiting the area might lead to an increase in traffic and the result is environmental degradation. The town might be prone to greenhouse emissions and hence have adverse effects on the environment.

The influx is likely to strain the waste management system and if this is not well taken care of, it might result in an environmental disaster (Swarbrooke 2009, p.39-40). Some tourists might not engage in responsible tourism and their activities are likely to increase the carbon footprint. They might litter the streets, beaches, and forested areas with garbage and hence negatively affect the environment. Numerous construction projects and an increase in emissions due to the influx of tourists are likely to increase the levels of air pollution. Increased traffic, as well as discotheques, might increase the levels of noise pollution. Water pollution might also increase due to the oil leakages from vessels along the coastline and this can adversely affect aquatic life. Most trees might be in danger of being destroyed as a result leading to the destruction of other tourist attraction sites (Thomson 2008, p.88).

On the other hand, tourism might have some positive effects on the environment. Ecotourism, for instance, might contribute significantly to the protection of wildlife, aquatic animals as well as trees which are major tourism assets. Through tourism, the authorities are in a position to get funding for their environmental conservation projects. Tourism can also contribute to the creation of jobs at Saint Tropez. Through this, people do not solely rely on fishing and deforestation for their survival and this helps in ensuring environmental conservation (Ferguson-Kosinski 2009, 57).

To maximize the positive impact of tourism on the environment, there is a need to educate the natives on the significance of environmental conservation. The reduction of carbon emissions is quite important. The authority must engage in energy and water conservation. This can be achieved by employing the appropriate technology to conserve energy, as the use of the Variable Frequency Drives (VFD), and encourage the use of energy-saving bulbs. Occupancy sensors should be used in most buildings.

This will help to automatically switch off the lights whenever there is no one in the respective rooms. Efforts to recycle water and should be encouraged. The construction of green buildings will enhance the conservation of energy. Recycling and waste management is quite important. There is a need to encourage reuse and recycling policy. There is a need to enhance the recycling programs by encouraging the recycling of paper, plastics, metals, bulbs, and other products. The natives, venders, and visitors should be educated concerning environmental conservation (Courter 2010, p. 44-46.

The Contribution of Tourism to the GDP of France

From the above statistics, it is quite evident that tourism contributes significantly to the country’s GDP. From 2004 the country has been receiving more than US$ 90.00 billion annually from this sector. This can be attributed to the various tourist attractions like in the country, with Saint Tropez being the best example.

France Travel and Tourism Indicators

Tourism in Saint Tropez can contribute significantly to the country’s economic growth hence earning the country the much needed foreign exchange. The money earned in the sector can be put in developing other sectors like the education and medical sector. The appropriate facilities can be bought or put in place and the existing infrastructure improved, hence raising the living standards of its people (Apostolopulos 2001, p. 99).

Tourism can also significantly contribute to the propensity of Saint Tropez to import those goods that are not produced locally yet are required by the tourists. They vary from foodstuffs and other equipment like cameras that enhance the comfort of the tourist. This might strain the country’s budget at the expense of other significant projects. There might also be a tendency to sideline other economic activities, and this might lead to overdependence on tourism and other economic activities might be sidelined. Most projects might be geared towards improving the tourism sector while other sectors are not given much attention (Jackson 2003,p 14).

To minimize economic leakages, there is a need for the authorities to focus on improving the local industries. This ensures that they produce most goods needed by the tourists locally to reduce the cost of importing most of these goods hence benefiting the country’s economy. The authorities should also allocate a significant percentage of the money earned from tourism into benefiting the natives by improving their infrastructure and other amenities.

Tourism Demand and Supply

Being a medieval town, Saint Tropez is a preferred tourism destination by most people in Europe and beyond. The town witnesses an influx of tourists. This has made France a major tourist destination. The tourism generating countries are mostly from Europe and they include; Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, and Portugal. There are also other tourism generating countries beyond this region and they include the United States of America and Japan. This has posed a challenge to the transport sector given that the major access point to the town is by water using the ferry and other water vessels.

The town does not have an airport and it is mostly accessed by helicopter. There is a need to construct airports to facilitate this. The nearest airport, Saint Tropez Airport, is at La Mole and it is 15 Km from the town. There is a need to have more airports and have air transport service providers. The nearest railway station is 39KM from Saint Tropez. To facilitate the ease of tourists visiting the area, there is a need to enhance air transport from different countries to Saint Tropez.

Political stability can affect tourism in Saint Tropez in different ways. Political stability is quite vital for the flourishing of the sector. Even though tourism is a large industry, it is quite volatile. Political instability shows that the concerned authorities are unable to take charge of the events that happen. This tends to dent the image of the country. This can in turn affect the tourism sector and economy. With political instability, wars, or terrorism activities, tourists are likely to shun the area and hence the town might lose the needed foreign exchange.

A reduction in the number of tourists visiting the area can result in the loss of jobs especially those in the hospitality industry. This might in turn result in a reduction of funds allocated to the vital areas of the economy like the medical and education sector as well as the funds allocated to other social amenities. This might result in people living under deplorable conditions. Political stability on the other hand results in the town witnessing an influx in the number of tourists visiting. The money earned here can be used for the development of other sectors of the economy and hence the people’s living standards are improved. There is a need for the authorities to aim at ensuring political stability at all times.

List of References

Apostolopulos, G. 2001, Mediterranean tourism, London, Routledge.

Arfin, F. 2011, The French Riviera Adventure Guide, Madison, Hunter Publishing, Inc.

Courter, G. 2010, Code Ezra, New York, Gay Courter.

Facaros, D. 2006, Cadogan Guide Cote D’azur, Auckland, New Holland Publishers.

Ferguson-Kosinski, L. 2009, Europe by Eurail: Touring Europe by Trail, Connecticut, Globe Pequot.

Jackson, R. 2003, Geography of travel and tourism, New York, Cengage Learning.

McPhee, L. 2010, A Journey Into Matisse’s South of France, London, Macmillan.

Novakovich, M. 2012, Frommer’s Provence and the Riviera, New Jersey, John Wiley & Sons.

Porter, D. 2007, France For Dummies. New Jersey, John Wiley & Sons.

Turner R. 2013, International Tourism number of Arrivals in France.

Turner R. 2013, Travel & Tourism Economic impact 2013 France.

Swarbrooke, J. 2009, Sustainable tourism management, London, Macmillan.

Thomson, R. 2008, Framing France, Manchester, Manchester University Press.

Introduction

Tourist numbers around the world have escalated to an excess of six hundred million per year and the number is still expected to rise. This is according to a report by World Tourism Organization (WTO). This can be attributed to the improved infrastructure and transport systems worldwide, as well as changing perceptions that tourism is no longer a lifestyle for the rich, but rather a past time activity or hobby. People have realized that the activity does not necessarily have to be expensive. Revenue from this sector goes a long way in financing the yearly budgets of some nations and any interruption would significantly cripple their treasuries. Massive employment opportunities in sectors such as hospitality and aviation have also come up as tourist numbers continue to soar.

The United States of America for instance generated US$ 110 million in the year 2009. There is therefore no dispute that tourism is a significant sector in any economy, with the potential of earning any nation great amounts of revenue. It also plays a major role in the foreign exchange sector. The nature of tourism allows people from different backgrounds and cultures to mingle and interact with each other, exposing them to the various cultures and customs of different communities. It enables people to appreciate cultural diversity and actually respect each other’s customs and way of life.

Background

In as much as tourism positively contributes to the financial sector of any nation, the challenges associated with it cannot be ignored. These challenges can be categorized into two major categories; social and environmental. Social challenges include erosion of the pre-existing culture or conflict between cultures and increase in product and property prices such that the locals cannot avoid. Environmental challenges are mainly limited to wildlife/national parks where human presence spells a number of problems for the wildlife population. One such problem arises when tourists use migration corridors to drive around the parks, interrupting the wildlife’s migratory patterns. Migratory animals such as wilder beasts would be severely affected if their migratory corridors are encroached into and could even result in a reduction in their number. The littering of parks has also raised concerns among the relevant authorities as it interferes with the natural lifestyle of wildlife by introducing foreign objects into their territories. It is as a result of such concerns that sustainable tourism emerged as the only way to create a balance between benefits of tourism and its shortcomings. It is therefore evident that if proper controls are put in place, a balance can be found between a flourishing tourism industry and a safe environment.

Sustainable tourism

Sustainable tourism can simply be described as the practice of protecting the environmental aspects and culture of a particular community, while at the same time ensuring the benefits of tourism are enjoyed presently and in future. An example of a success story is how the Welsh Assembly Government’s destination marketing organization helped the tourism industry to combat unsustainable tourism practices. Managers of the Welsh tourism industry made use of marketing and awareness campaigns to reach out to all participants in a bid to encourage the use of sustainable tourism approaches. The Welsh Assembly has so far been successful in encouraging tourists to contribute the social and environmental wellbeing of Wales. The same applies to the region’s economy and culture. This proves that any government has the power to positively impact tourism and steer it towards sustainability. Another body that concerns itself with sustainable tourism is the United Nations Commission on the Environment and Development (UNCED). It was in 1983 when the commission advocated for practices that allow the present generation to satisfy their needs without necessarily having to interfere with the resource base of future generations.

Case study of Koh Phi Phi and Gili Trawangan Islands

Koh Phi Phi, Thailand, and Gili Trawangan, Indonesia are two Asian islands famous for their scenic beauty and rich culture that have attracted a great number of tourists from all over the world. They are both found within a marine park and boast an array of natural resources which need to be conserved. Due to their popularity, the number of tourists that visit the islands has been quite overwhelming, exerting pressure on the environment and existing infrastructure. In the year 2010, a study done by Professors Rachel Dodds and Sonya Graci on the two islands, was aimed to investigate accountability and responsibility on the part of the tourists, and to determine their willingness to financially contribute to the preservation of the island. The target population mostly comprised young individuals from English speaking countries such as England, America, Australia and Canada.

The tourists sampled had high incomes and had no problem making financial contributions to the sustainable practices. There was however differences in their responses when asked what authority should be tasked with implementing the sustainability practices. Most of the tourists were drawn to the islands because of the fun and adventure offered there. Their experiences could be made more memorable by making sure the islands are preserved in their natural state and overcrowding is avoided. Some of the environmental issues noted by the tourists included rapid infrastructural development, creating a strain on existing services such as sewerage and sanitation, as well as congestion by the tourists themselves. When asked who should pay taxes, 68% of the respondents named tourists, 67% named the federal government and 54% named provincial government. It would however be in the best interests of both islands if all stakeholders participated in ensuring a clean and healthy environment instead of pointing fingers at each other.

Last chance tourism

This term refers to a current phenomenon whereby certain natural and/or historical sites or social heritages become popular for the simple reason that they may not be around for long. They disappear or vanish for one reason or another, prompting tourists to inadvertently rush to have the last look. An example is the disappearing snow cap on Mt. Kilimanjaro in East Africa. It is precisely for this reason that the polar bears of Northern Canada are in duress. Tourists rushing to watch the endangered species engage in activities such as camping, and eventually end up destroying the species’ habitats.

Conclusion

This essay looked at the reasons why the practice of sustainable tourism has been slow to implement and found that the government has most power to keep its tourism practices in check so that the environment does not suffer at the expense of unsustainable practices. However, tourists are also expected to account for their actions and contribute towards safe tourism practices. Examples can be borrowed from governments that have succeeded in promoting sustainable tourism and at the same time giving tourists memorable experiences at their travel destinations.

Introduction

In the middle of the 20^th century, the UAE’s budget was hooked on fishing and the gem business that was slowly falling behind (Algethami, 2013). The country’s land changed vividly only after the 1950s when oil was found in the Abu Dhabi emirate. As it has been specified in The National, in a couple of years, it became the original emirate to distribute oil, and this factor has effectively altered the region’s economic and cultural state. In the 1970s, the emirates liberated themselves from Britain and formed a group of six states that are now acknowledged as the United Arab Emirates (Picton, 2010).

The main concept of the study is a thorough analysis of the phenomenal rise of the tourism business in the UAE. Occupancy rates and the number of hotels and hotel rooms are going to be methodically studied in order to understand the “tourist patterns” (Vij & Vij, 2012). By a “tourist pattern,” the author means the image of an average traveler who visits the UAE in general and each of the three most popular emirates: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. This image will be based on the number of the individualities of the tourists because all the data concerning the visitors that come to the UAE will be processed carefully.

This research proposal will take into consideration and review the growing number of tourists visiting the United Arab Emirates, occupancy rates, total number of hotels and hotel rooms, and the factors that have made the UAE one of the most demanded tourist destinations in the whole world (Ahmad & Daghfous, 2010).

The Rationale

The reason why the study should be done can be explained by the importance of the tourism business to the United Arab Emirates. It should be one of the primary goals of the state to understand the needs of the multicultural sample of people who are coming to the UAE (Krane, 2010). Extra clarification of this is the exponentially growing number of people who are coming to the country in an attempt to quench their thirst for adventure (Inhorn, 2012).

The relevance of the research effort is caused by the government policies on the travel business in the UAE as it is currently taking firm steps into the direction of strict quality control and tries to guarantee its visitors only top-notch service. Taking this into account, one can project the future of the tourist business in the emirates and draw conclusions about the current situation in the country. The author of this study is confident that the research provides a profound examination of the current trends in the travel business in the UAE and explains the motives for tourism growth and development.

Research Problem

The area of concern in the future of the tourism business in the UAE is the drastically changing number of tourists coming to the country every year. The problem is that the emirates have to understand in advance the needs of their visitors (Krane, 2010). That is why every other year’s tourists’ data should be collected and examined prudently.

Research Questions

• What is the possible future of the tourism business in the UAE?
• Is the tourism business in the UAE going in the right direction?
• What can be done in order to draw even more attention to the area and improve the visitors’ general impression?

Research Objectives

The objectives of this research project are the following:

• To study the tendency in the growth of tourist numbers in the last four years.
• To estimate the possible numbers of tourists who are going to visit the UAE next year.
• To evaluate the way the United Arab Emirates process the tourist data and adapt to their visitors.

Research Design

The geographic area of the study is the three most popular emirates – Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah (Jeffreys, 2014a, 2014b). This particular area has been chosen because, despite the fact that all the emirates are usually considered as one unit, all of them operate diverse methodologies of attracting their clients (Hamarneh, 2012).

As a part of this research design, the author considers the population of tourists who come to the UAE every other year. For this research design, the author will use nonprobability sampling. The author also chooses a random sampling technique because it can be used with large populations and avoids prejudice.

In order to obtain the data properly and utmost precision, an open questionnaire will be developed. It will use questions with multiple responses (e.g., “What did you like the most about your travel?” “Did you enjoy staying in the hotel?” “What do you think could be improved?” etc.), having them cover all the possibilities. The tourists will be asked to fill in the surveys when they leave the hotel at the end of their vacation in the emirates.

The data will be factual, based on the logical and clear reports of methodical findings, concerning the tourists who visit the UAE. The author of the research will analyze and interpret the research results in order to draw a reasonable conclusion.

After all the data is processed, and the general preliminary assumptions are formulated, the analysis will be performed. The results of the analysis will be presented in a form of a chart in which all the major aspects of the research, such as the travelers’ tendencies and the portrait of an average visitor of the UAE, will be reflected.

The timeline of the study will include the preparations for the research, the use of a sampling method described in the research design, analysis of the results, discussion, conclusions, and suggestions. Preparing for the research, the author of the study will scrutinize the phenomenon of the tourism business objectives and accomplishments in the UAE and in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah in particular (Stephenson & Ali-Knight, 2010).

When the necessary data is obtained, the author will analyze it in order to evaluate the significance of the attained results. After studying the results, the author of the research will be able to reach a verdict regarding the image of an average tourist visiting the UAE and traveling trend development. Combining all the information, the author will be able to draw a conclusion that is going to be logical and based on the results of the research.

Conclusion

The research project described in this paper is going to be a helpful instrument in identifying the pattern for the majority of the tourists that come to the United Arab Emirates from all over the world. Carefully interpreting this kind of information will provide indispensable assistance to those who run businesses in the travel sector of the emirates. This means that the tourism business in the UAE is going to pay even more attention to the needs of its customers.

There is always room for improvement, and having the luxury of being a relatively young but rich country, the UAE is going to win big if it embraces the strategy of thoroughly studying the interests of their potential tourists and adapting to their requirements while keeping safe the national and cultural identity of the country.

References

Ahmad, N., & Daghfous, A. (2010). Knowledge sharing through inter-organizational knowledge networks. European Business Review, 22(2), 153-174. Web.

Algethami, S. (2013). Why the UAE is a leading tourism destination in the region. Web.

Hamarneh, A. A. (2012). International tourism, security and intercultural dialogue in the Arab World. International Journal of Arab Culture, Management and Sustainable Development IJACMSD, 2(4), 354. Web.

Inhorn, M. C. (2012). Reproductive Exile in Global Dubai: South Asian Stories. Cultural Politics an International Journal, 8(2), 283-306. Web.

Jeffreys, A. (2008). The Report: Sharjah 2008. London: Oxford Business Group.

Jeffreys, A. (2014a). The Report: Abu Dhabi 2014. London: Oxford Business Group.

Jeffreys, A. (2014b). The Report: Dubai 2014. London: Oxford Business Group.

Krane, J. (2010). Dubai. The Story of the World’s Fastest City. London: Atlantic Books.

Picton, O. J. (2010). Usage of the concept of culture and heritage in the United Arab Emirates an analysis of Sharjah heritage area. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 5(1), 69-84. Web.

Stephenson, M. L., & Ali-Knight, J. (2010). Dubai’s tourism industry and its societal impact: Social implications and sustainable challenges. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, 8(4), 278-292. Web.

The National: Tourism helps fuel growth in the UAE. (2013). Web.

Vij, M., & Vij, A. (2012). Tourism and carbon foot prints in United Arab Emirates challenges and solutions. Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism, 3(1). Web.

Introduction

Since the late 1980s, thousands of revelers have been making pilgrimages to the Koh Phangan for the Full Moon Party (Emmons, 2011). Specifically, the Isle of Haad Rin Beach has attracted thousands of people from various parts of the world in the last three decades. The event started in 1985 after a group of tourists realized that the new moon was beautiful when watched from Koh Phangan. They decided to set up a party because the beach was “crescent-shaped” to celebrate the new moon. Within a few years, the event became popular with westerners, local and regional tourists. Currently, it is one of the most visited destinations in Thailand.

A number of attractions are available in the area, including a white sand beach and a rising yellow moon. In fact, statistics indicate that more than 30,000 people from different parts of the world visit the facility every month (Hampton, 2013). The event occurs roughly after every 28 days, specifically on the night before or after the full moon. An all-night party involves dancing, music, drums, and other forms of entertainment. In addition, music from a wide range of cultures is played to entertain revelers.

However, it is worth noting that the face of the event has changed drastically from its original form. For instance, the original blue moon party at Koh Phangan had few people and varieties of music, dance, foods, and entertainment joints. Morever, various critics have shown that the party has hanged from a humble moon-watching event to a modern-day destination popular for indulgences that proceed towards “Gomorrah”. They note that while the early new moon party was mainly an event for adult tourists, the current event is predominantly occupied by young revelers. Critics argue that the blue moon party is not only affecting the youths but also becoming a possible target for terrorists and criminals.

Problem statement

Despite the popularity of the facility, the factors that have led to the popularity of the region remain largely unknown. For instance, there are several other regions of the country and the world with similar or even more attractive features than the Koh Phangan (Brash & Bush, 2010). In fact, information about the presence and attractiveness of the full moon party at Koh Phangan spread by word of mouth (Chungsiriwat & Grossman, 2012). In addition, Thai authorities did not make efforts to document or create awareness of the facility. In fact, few researchers have attempted to describe the phenomenon or determine the aspect that attracts people in the region.

Purpose statement

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors or features that have created awareness of the region, making it a famous tourist attraction. Specifically, the proposed study will attempt to determine the actual aspects and features that attract people to the Full Moon Party at Koh Phangan, Thailand.

Objectives

1. To investigate the tourist attraction features at the full moon party in Koh Phangan
2. To determine the tourists’ perception of the facility
3. To determine and document the factors that attract people to the event

Research questions

1. What are the perceptions of the tourists towards the facility?
2. What type of information is known to individuals prior to attending the event?
3. What features/aspects of the facility are the most attractive to individual tourists?

Research methodology

The proposed study aims at describing the phenomenon based on data collected from the site, including the people’s perception and information available before and after visiting the party. In addition, the research aims at providing evidence from observation in two full moon parties at Koh Phangan. This study will be a qualitative study, whose purpose is to describe the phenomenon based on data collected at the site and from the people. In this context, the study will use primary sources of data through questionnaires. Questionnaires will be developed and distributed to the study participants. The study targets 300 tourists in two full moon events at Koh Phangan. About 250 of the selected participants will be tourists aged above 15 years visiting the facility for the first time. The rest 50 participants will be tourists who have visited the facility on a previous occasion. Questionnaires will be sent through email, hardcopy, or postal address.

The researcher will visit the two full moon parties at Koh Phangan and record the events from various aspects. Observation will be done and information recorded through video, audio, and photography. Data analysis will involve analyzing the questionnaires and the video/audio and photographs.

Deliverables

Upon the completion of the research, it is expected that the information obtained will describe the aspects that attract people at the Koh Phangan. In addition, the information will be useful in promoting tourism in Koh Phangan and other parts of Thailand. Moreover, the information will create a foundation for additional studies to investigate other aspects of tourism in the region.

References

Brash, C., & Bush, A. (2010). Thailand’s Islands and Beaches. New York: Lonely Planet.

Chungsiriwat, G., & Grossman, N. (2012). Thailand at Random. New York: EDM.

Emmons, R. (2011). Frommer’s Thailand. London, UK: Wiley Publishers.

Hampton, M. P. (2013). Backpacker Tourism and Economic Development: Perspectives from the Less Developed World. London: Routledge.

The tourism industry of Dubai continues to portray a strong growth trend that seems to suggest that the destination is making progress towards becoming the world’s most popular city. Dubai’s marketing strategy involves depicting itself as a premium destination (DTCM, 2014). As such, it uses massive amounts of money to maintain and keep improving its image globally. The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has so far done well in facilitating this process.

However, an important question arises about the source of the funds that facilitate the operations of Dubai’s tourism industry. In a bid to address this concern, this essay explores the sources of funding for DTCM, the extent of government involvement, the challenges DTCM faces, and the kind of research it performs to promote tourism in Dubai.

The DTCM established an affiliate body that took over the promotion of tourism early this year (DTCM, 2014). The new body, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM) is expected to relieve DTCM of direct involvement in tourism promotion (DTCM, 2014). With the establishment of DCTCM, it was announced that a fee (‘tourism dirham’) would be levied on the earnings of the hospitality industry to fund its activities (Sambidge, 2014). Since its activities include the promotion and marketing of Dubai’s tourism industry, it is apparent that the emirate obtains some of the funds that facilitate the activities of DTCM from the hospitality industry.

Prior to the establishment of DCTCM, DTCM, which was in charge of tourism promotion, had a variety of channels through which it raised funds to sustain itself. DTCM is the authority that has been concerned with the licensing of hotels and tour operators as well as supervising their operations (DTCM, 2014). The implication of this responsibility insofar as DTCM’s funding is concerned is that the license fees from the tourism facilities as well as the penal fees associated with the violation of the established rules and standards also form part of the funding for the body. Further, with the spectacular growth that is ongoing in Dubai’s tourism industry, foreign investors also contribute some funds to assist in marketing the destination because more tourists translate to better business for them.

Finally, the largest portion of the funds that facilitate the marketing and promotion of tourism in Dubai comes from the government (Oakley, 2014). The emirate’s massive earnings from its oil and other industries enable its government to allocate substantial amounts of money towards the promotion of tourism due to its increasing economic importance.

Besides serving as the key financier of tourism promotion activities in Dubai, the government is involved in other ways as well. For example, the defunct Dubai Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board (DCTPB), DTCM, and DCTCM are all creations of the government (DTCM, 2014). Therefore, from this perspective, the government of Dubai establishes bodies and charges them with the responsibility of developing and promoting tourism.

From a different perspective, the government of Dubai invests extensively in building a positive image around the emirate. It makes business in Dubai attractive, avails state-of-the-art infrastructure, and ensures that the emirate is safe for tourists (Robertson, 2014). Further, the government strives to ensure that political and economic stability prevail in the emirate to make it more attractive.

However, despite the government’s close support to the affiliate bodies it establishes to oversee tourism, they have to contend with some challenges in their quest to pitch Dubai as a tourist destination of choice. The challenges are largely image related. Its glamorous buildings and infrastructure make Dubai a ‘must-see-city.’ However, critics have raised concerns that Dubai is largely artificial (Fraser, 2014). Those who have visited the destination once argue that there is no reason to go back. This line of argument suggests that the tourism promotion efforts of DTCM initially focused too much on a few areas of tourism instead of developing a range of varying experiences for visitors (Fraser, 2014).

Additionally, Dubai is seen as a destination with repressive laws (Fraser, 2014). Due to its strict Islamic orientation, the expression of affection in public is prohibited. This law affects the attractiveness of Dubai especially in the eyes of the Western world and other places that have been influenced by the Western culture. Therefore, tourism promoters in Dubai have to grapple with such issues when trying to sell the Dubai brand globally.

Despite the criticism and the challenges faced by DTCM and DCTCM in marketing Dubai as a tourist destination, they have done a commendable job in the past. These bodies closely monitor global tourism trends to understand what drives tourism. Dubai’s quest to become the world’s most visited city by the year 2020 raised concerns about the nature of its attractions (Fraser, 2014). DTCM responded by initiating programs aimed at diversifying Dubai’s attractions to include cultural festivals, events, and other non-traditional attractions even before DCTCM was established (Fraser, 2014).

This trend shows that DTCM is a consumer of tourism market research conducted by global research organizations. It focuses on finding out what appeals to tourists and goes ahead to incorporate it in the overall tourism attraction and development plan of Dubai.

The manner in which this organization operates makes it an attractive prospective employer. Without specifying the tourism promotion body I would wish to work with after my training, I think working with a destination promotion organization in a leading tourist destination can be intriguing. Besides being able to keep track of and visit the leading tourist attractions worldwide, being of part of the team that works towards making a destination attractive can be quite fulfilling especially when one’s personal input facilitates the attraction of more tourists.

References

Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM): Dubai for Tourism. (2014). Web.

Fraser, J. E. (2014). Can this really become the world’s most visited city? The Sydney Morning Herald. Web.

Oakley, L. (2014). Dubai hotels to part-fund new DCTCM tourism body. Hotelier Middle East. Web.

Robertson, E. (2014). Dubai ‘best for luxury’. Travel Trade Gazette UK & Ireland, (3079), 19-20.

Sambidge, A. (2014). Dubai tourists to face new charge from March 31. Arabian Business. Web.