The negative sociocultural impacts of tourism on Bedouin communities of Petra, Jordan

Authors

  • Rafa Haddad Philadelphia University, Jordan
  • Salem Harahsheh Department of Travel & Tourism Faculty of Tourism & Hotels Yarmouk University
  • Karla Boluk Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies University of Waterloo

Abstract

Tourism impacts on destinations have been widely researched; however, few studies have investigated the sociocultural impacts of tourism on local communities in Jordan. The aim of this paper is to explore the negative impacts of tourism development on the local culture of Bedouins of Petra in Jordan.  The paper employed qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews with (18) Bedouin employees in the tourism services in the region of Petra.  The authors adopted the Social Exchange Theory (SET) to explain the behaviour and attitudes of Bedouins towards tourism development in Petra. The study showed that the Bedouins of Petra had witnessed significant negative impacts in terms of negative sociocultural changes; school dropouts and child labour; and alteration of sociocultural values. To interrogate some of the fundamental consequences of tourism development for the Bedouins, the researchers emphasise that strategic plans are needed to facilitate the sustainable development of tourism for the future.

Author Biographies

Rafa Haddad, Philadelphia University, Jordan

Dr. Rafa Haddad is Assistant Professor of Tourism Management at the Department of Tourism and Hotel Management of Philadelphia University, Jordan. She holds Ph.D. in tourism management from Bournemouth University, UK in 2014 and MA in tourism management from Yarmouk University, Jordan in 2007 in addition to BA in French Language from Yarmouk University in 1994. Dr. Haddad worked for more than 10 years as a freelance tour guide in Jordan. Her research interests, including tourism management, female entrepreneurship, Islamic marketing, Halal tourism, handcrafts, and tour guiding.

Salem Harahsheh, Department of Travel & Tourism Faculty of Tourism & Hotels Yarmouk University

Dr. Salem Harahsheh is Assistant Professor of Tourism Marketing at the Department of Travel and Tourism of Yarmouk University, Jordan. He holds Ph.D. in Tourism Marketing from Bournemouth University, UK in 2010 and MA in tourism management from the same university in 2002. Also, he holds a BA in Business Administration from Yarmouk University, Jordan in 1988. He worked for the Ministry of Tourism in Jordan and the University of Sharjah UAE. Dr. Harahsheh worked as chair for the Department of Travel and Tourism at Yarmouk University (2014-2016). His research interests, including destination marketing, destination image, Islamic marketing, Halal tourism, and tourist behaviour.

Karla Boluk, Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies University of Waterloo

Dr. Karla Boluk is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo, Canada. She received her Ph.D. in 2011 in Tourism from Otago University, NZ, in addition to a BA in Tourism from Brock University in 2005. Utilizing a critical lens, Karla's scholarship has investigated the social impact commitments of tourism businesses, as well as ways to sustainably engage and empower communities positioning tourism as a mechanism for the creation of positive change.  

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Published

2019-06-01

How to Cite

Haddad, R., Harahsheh, S. and Boluk, K. (2019) “The negative sociocultural impacts of tourism on Bedouin communities of Petra, Jordan”, e-Review of Tourism Research, 16(5). Available at: https://ertr-ojs-tamu.tdl.org/ertr/article/view/399 (Accessed: 20 April 2024).

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 5 (2019)

Section

Articles

License

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