Dubai's tourism industry and its societal impact: social implications and sustainable challenges

Abstract

This paper initially outlines the principles and strategies underpinning Dubai's ambitious plans to develop a rather unique destination of international distinction. The discussion, however, recognises the challenges presented by the global economic downturn as well as the recessionary measures that Dubai may have to pursue in order to encourage people to travel to the destination in significant numbers. It is proposed that Dubai may have to look to wider market segments beyond the traditional luxury travel market, particularly through the development of budget hotels. This could challenge any productive notion of a socially sustainable tourism environment and intensify prevailing social concerns. The paper then moves onto a detailed discussion concerning the social impacts of tourism development in Dubai. The discussion focuses on ethnic distinctions in migrant housing and geographical location, social ramifications relating to the urbanisation and aestheticisation of space, and limitations in the availability of cultural tourism resources and heritage infrastructure. Finally, constraints are identified in terms of mobilising local employment resources and human capital to serve the tourism and hospitality industry, and with respect to prevailing social issues concerning expatriate employment.

Socio-cultural impacts of large-scale cruise tourism in Souq Mutrah, Sultanate of Oman

“…The direct contribution of travel and tourism to the country's GDP was 3.0% of the total GDP in 2013 (WTTC 2014). The government has been building large-scale tourism infrastructure in order to further increase the number of international tourists to 12 million annually by 2020 (Muscat Daily 2013), which is in line with the neighboring Emirate Dubai that aims to attract 15 million visitors annually by 2015 (Stephenson & Ali-Knight 2010).…”

Resident Attitudes Towards Tourists and Tourism Growth: A Case Study From the Middle East, Dubai in United Arab Emirates

“…Indeed, while a growing body of work can be found on the topics of tourism and destination branding in Dubai (Bagaeen, 2007;Balakrishnan, 2008;Govers & Go, 2005Henderson, 2006Henderson, , 2007Junemo, 2004;Meethan, 2011;Sharpley, 2008) few studies have explored the social and cultural attitudes of local residents towards the presence of tourists or to continued tourism growth and its potential consequences (Zaidan, 2016;Stephenson, 2014;Stephenson & Ali-Knight, 2010). This paper attempts to address this research gap by exploring resident attitudes in Dubai to the presence of tourists and tourism activities.…”

“…Dubai's formula for modernization as well as economic development has included several components: visionary leadership, good regional and international communications, an attractive winter climate and environmental landscape (desert), a central location between Europe and East Asia, high quality infrastructure, low import duties, and the absence of taxes on personal and corporate incomes (Sharpley, 2008). These factors have served to encourage rapid population growth (currently 2.2 million, Government of Dubai, 2014) all the while helping to transform the city into an important global tourism destination (Bagaeen, 2007;Henderson, 2007;Sharpley, 2008;Stephenson & Ali-Knight, 2010). As pointed out by Stephenson and Ali-Knight (2010), the 2008 Country Brand Index (CBI) already identified the UAE as one of the top three 'rising stars' alongside China and Croatia as global tourism destinations.…”

“…This is certainly the case in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where tourism has been given a central role in recent economic and strategic development plans with the aim of helping to diversify the economy and reduce the country's dependency on fluctuating oil prices (Stephenson & Ali-Knight, 2010).…”

‘There is no heritage in Qatar’: Orientalism, colonialism and other problematic histories

“…This could be considered one of the reasons why heritage as a resource has taken some time to be debated, as tourism focused instead on the consumption and production of modern attractions in these emerging cities (El Amrousi and Biln 2010; Daher and Dallen 2009;Stephenson and Ali-Knight 2010). In addition, it is only in recent decades that these heritage debates have featured in the English-language international literature.…”