Introduction: To confirm the social role of SCTA for developing the Saudi local communities, through educating them to reach a precise and clear concept regarding the importance of the tourism industry, for such reasons "Tourism Enriches" program has been launched. "Tourism Enriches" is a project dedicated towards building awareness through different local community strata which would engage in the development of national tourism sector, where the tourism industry is deemed to consist of economic, social and cultural dimensions.
Program Concept: To spread the tourism culture concept amongst local communities through an awareness program directed to inform and educate leaders and members of the local communities on social, economic and cultural dimensions of the tourism industry as well as correcting misconceptions in this regard.
Program Objectives: • To prepare the local community for investing its available tourism potentials.
• To orient local community members towards tourism concept as an industry of social, economic and cultural dimensions.
• To assist community members to focus their efforts towards developing themselves for establishing permanent tourism destinations.
• To discuss important issues of local communities as well as economic opportunities, identifying challenges that face local tourism industry.
• To identify social aspirations of the targeted area by tourism development program.
Targeted Groups: • Leaders of local communities.
• Members of local community (artisans, archeology and tourism concerned people)
• Public departments directives
• Charity women associations (women artisans and productive families).
• Representatives of municipal councils.
Project
Phases:
|
Phase
|
Year
|
Number
of Participants
|
Program
Location
|
|
First
Phase
|
2008
|
741
|
Riyadh
– Al Majm'a- Al Zolfi- Hadad bani Malik- Al Gonfuza- Al Laith- Jeddah 2 – Al
Ghateef – Hafr Al Batin – Al Damam – Al Haet – Hail – Al Ula- Rejal Alm'a –
Al Geryat – Sakaka – Al Ahsa 2 – Jazan – Fursan Islands – Tabouk – Hugl – Al
Bekairiya - Najran
|
|
Second
Phase
|
2009
|
1589
|
Riyadh
– Al Ghat – Al Kharj – Eshaiqr – Al Majm'a – Onaiza – Al Rus – Al Moznab – Al
Jubail – Al Damam – Al Khobar – Al Hafouf 2 – Al Seliamnia – Al Mansora –
Fefa – Al Khoba – Al Namas – Abha – Tutba – Rnea – Al Khrma – Al Taif – Souk
Okaz – Souk Okaz (Media) – Al Shafa – Rabig – Jeddah – Najran – Habona –
Beg'a – Hail – Tem'a – Deba- Al Madina – Al Griyat – Sakaka – Domat Al Jondal
|
|
Third
Phase
|
2010-2011
|
1642
|
Al
Hafouf 2 – Al Mobraz – Al Hada 2 – Bani Saad – Messan – Al Hawyia – Bani Thageef
– Shagra – Al Gwaiyia – Rmah – Najran Bdr Al Janoob – Khamees Meshait –
Buraidah 2 – Onaiza – Al Badyi – Al Damam – Al Khobar – Abha – Al Taif 2 – Al
Shafa – Al Jam Joum – Al Kamil - Al Gonfoza – Al Laith – Yadma – Thar – Hail
– Al Shamli – Al Ghazala – Amlaj – Al Wajh –Tabuk – Sowair - Sakaka
|
Tendencies of Participants of the First Phase: • It was found that, more than 66.8% of the participants believe that tourism has a direct positive impact on the local communities. 29.9% of participants believe that tourism activity has no direct impact on local communities. 1.9% of participants have stated that tourism activity has no significant impact on local communities, whilst 1.4% of participants believe that tourism activity in their areas has negative impact on local communities.
• Most workshop participants, approximately 96.5% stated that they will accept working in the tourism field should they get the opportunity to do so, whilst 3.5% stated that, working in the tourism sector is not attractive to them nor their family members, accordingly they have no intention to join this sector.
• there is consensus regarding local communities' need for further awareness on tourism. 98.4% participants indicated the necessity of raising tourism awareness amongst communities. 0.5% of participants think there is a serious need for increasing tourism awareness amongst communities, whilst 1% believes that there is no need for further awareness for local communities. These conclusions highlight the importance of intensifying tourism awareness across the different provinces in the Kingdom.