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Socio-Cultural Impacts of Tourism in Abu Dhabi Analyzing Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behavior of Locals Towards Tourism Table of Contents Acknowledgements........................................................................................ 1 Table of Contents........................................................................................... 3 Table of Figures.............................................................................................. 5 Table of Abbreviations................................................................................... 6 1. Introduction........................................................................................... 7 1.1 Purpose of work...................................................................................................8 1.2 Overview of Thesis.............................................................................................. 9 1.3 Limitations........................................................................................................... 10 1.4 Definitions............................................................................................................12 1.4.1 Tourist and tourism........................................................................................ 12 1.4.2 Locals............................................................................................................ 12 1.4.3 Socio-cultural impacts....................................................................................13 2. The Impacts of Tourism....................................................................... 15 2.1 Influencing factors............................................................................................... 15 2.1.1 Characteristics of the host destination........................................................... 16 2.1.2 Type of tourist................................................................................................ 17 2.1.3 Carrying capacity........................................................................................... 18 2.1.4 Destination life cycle model........................................................................... 19 2.2 Three Different Types of Impacts........................................................................ 21 2.3 Economic Impacts............................................................................................... 21 2.3.1 Balance of payment contribution....................................................................22 2.3.2 The Multiplier effect....................................................................................... 23 2.3.3 Labour intensive industry............................................................................... 24 2.3.4 Leakage......................................................................................................... 25 2.3.5 Other Factors.................................................................................................26 2.4 Environmental Impacts........................................................................................ 28 2.5 Socio-Cultural Impacts.........................................................................................29 2.5.1 Defining Socio-Cultural impacts.....................................................................30 2.5.2 Socio-Cultural influencing factors.................................................................. 30 2.5.2.1 The destinations tourist industry........................................................30 2.5.2.2 Cultural similarities............................................................................ 31 2.5.2.3 The host-guest relationship............................................................... 32 2.5.2.4 Number and type of tourist................................................................ 33 2.5.3 The time factor...............................................................................................33 2.5.4 Socio-cultural benefits................................................................................... 36 2.5.5 Socio-cultural costs........................................................................................38 2.5.5.1 Demonstration effect......................................................................... 38 2.5.5.2 Acculturation......................................................................................39 2.5.5.3 Other impacts.................................................................................... 42 2.6 Improving the outcomes of tourism......................................................................44 2.6.1 Community participation................................................................................ 44 2.6.2 Carrying capacity........................................................................................... 44 2.6.2.1 Fixed carrying capacity......................................................................45 2.6.2.2 Flexible carrying capacity.................................................................. 46 2.6.3 Frontstage and backstage creation................................................................46 2.6.4 Marketing.................................................................................................... 47 2.7 Summary...........................................................................................................47 3. Abu Dhabi............................................................................................50 3.1 General Information.......................................................................................... 50 3.1.1 Geography.................................................................................................. 52 3.1.2 History......................................................................................................... 53 3.2 Abu Dhabi today................................................................................................54 3.2.1.1 The Economy.................................................................................55 3.2.1.2 Tourism in Abu Dhabi.................................................................... 56 3.2.1.3 Economic impact of tourism...........................................................59 3.2.1.4 Cultural characteristics.................................................................. 60 3.2.1.5 Critical issues.................................................................................63 3.3 The future of Abu Dhabi.................................................................................... 66 3.3.1 Abu Dhabi 2030 agenda..............................................................................67 3.3.2 Tourism development projects.................................................................... 69 3.4 Summary...........................................................................................................71 4. Research Methods..............................................................................73 4.1 Applied methods............................................................................................... 73 4.1.1 Hermeneutics.............................................................................................. 73 4.1.2 Newspaper/ Mass media observation......................................................... 73 4.1.3 Community survey.......................................................................................74 4.1.4 Interviews.................................................................................................... 74 4.1.5 Observation................................................................................................. 75 4.2 Research characteristics...................................................................................75 5. Findings...............................................................................................76 5.1 Questionnaires.................................................................................................. 76 5.2 Interviews.......................................................................................................... 90 5.2.1 What are the impacts now?.........................................................................90 5.2.2 How will tourism develop?...........................................................................96 5.3 Media analysis.................................................................................................. 97 5.3.1 Business......................................................................................................98 5.3.2 Image of Abu Dhabi.....................................................................................100 5.3.3 Cultural understanding................................................................................ 101 5.3.4 Attractions and events.................................................................................103 5.3.5 Other aspects.............................................................................................. 105 5.4 Summary...........................................................................................................107 6. 7. 8. 9. Conclusion.......................................................................................... 110 List of references................................................................................116 Bibliography........................................................................................121 Appendix............................................................................................. 123