The Role of Popular and Traditional Crafts in the Sustainable Tourism Development of Al Ahsa

(Khalid Mohammed Al Saud and Mohammed Abdullatif Almulla)

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Abstract

The study aimed to identify the contribution of traditional crafts to supporting the sustainable tourism development of Al Ahsa. To accomplish the objectives of this study, analytical and descriptive approaches are adopted, using a focus group tool in 2018/2019. The study analyses the input of 30 employees, professionals, artists, and supervisors who are interested in traditional crafts. As for the craftsmen in Al Ahsa city, a random sample of 6 craftsmen was selected. The questionnaires and the interviews were used to obtaining the data from craftsmen. In addition, the statistical analysis of the answers was done. Arithmetic averages, standard deviations and one-way ANOVA were used to process the data. The results revealed that the role and contribution of popular and traditional crafts in the sustainable tourism development of Al Ahsa were generally positive. At all levels, all these values are statistically significant and contribute significantly to sustainable tourism development. The study recommended the need to pay attention to these trades financially and in media. Moreover, there is a need to provide all means for their owners to achieve the desired goal of them in order to continue and contribute better to sustainable tourism development. KEYWORDS art education, folk crafts, tourism, sustainable development
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