The Natural Environment of Dubai and Tourist Attractions - Essay Example

Project: Analysis of a Destination Name of Student: Name of Course: Name of Instructor: Date of Submission: Project: Analysis of a Destination Introduction Tourism is one of the major economic activities in the world. With the increased ease of communication and transfer of information from one place to another on the globe, tourism has risen to be one of the most profitable industries on the globe (Kaynak & Kara 2012, p.200). As a result of this, various countries have invested a lot on marketing themselves as tourist destinations of choice (Soteriades 2012, p.107). Dubai is one of the countries on the world which has given much focus to its tourism industry. The country is one of the sheikhdoms which make up the United Arab Emirates. The following paper will give an in depth discussion of several aspects related to tourism giving special reference to Dubai. The following is a map of Dubai on the global map. (Location of United Arab Emirates Google Images, 2013, p.1) (Location of Dubai Google Images, 2013, p.1) Features of the Natural Environment which Attract Tourists The natural environment of a region is one of the key features which attract tourists to it. Generally, the natural environment changes from region to region, from the great jungles of the Amazon in America, the sunny Savannas in Africa, the deserts in the Arabic world and the mountainous scenery in Asia. For these reason, the environment often serves as one of the key tourist attractions to a place. Looking at Dubai, it can be acknowledged that the country does not boast of great natural features to serve as tourist attractions. Instead of this, the country is renowned for its business tourism and architectural tourism where the great land marks of the emirate are something to marvel about. However, there are still some natural / semi natural features which serve as tourist attractions. Dubai Creek Dubai creek is one of the natural features which serve as tourist attractions. The creek was one of the main factors which led to the development of Dubai. In the ancient times, the creek was a rich fishing ground owing to its ability to support diverse marine life. The creek has also been very useful to Dubai’s transportation industry. Desert The Dubai desert is also one of the natural attractions in Dubai. There are various desert features for a tourist to view including sand dunes. For the lovers of desert cruises, the Dubai desert offers them a great place to do their stunts on any time of the day (Desert Safari 2013, p.1). Dubai’s desert (Google Images 2013) Dolphin Bay Dolphin bay is one of the most attractive dolphin habitats in the world. At the bay, tourists are able to swim and play alongside the dolphins. The pictures below show humans interacting with dolphins at the dolphin bay Dolphin Bay (Google Images 2013) The Dubai Society The Dubai society is one of the most cosmopolitan cultures in the world. Over 80% of the emirate’s population is foreign. The country is one of the most cosmopolitan countries in the world. The country’s initial inhabitants were Arabs. Being part of the larger United Arab Emirates, Dubai has a conservative Arabic culture which is predominantly Islam. The legislation in the country is based on Arabic and Islam laws. The Arabic culture and slam religion are closely related. The Dubai culture is engraved in these two crucial cultural aspects. The dressing style in the emirate is Islamic. The women have to wear their full clothing as required by Islam. Aspects related to marriage are strictly given by the Islamic religion where wives have to be fully submissive to their husbands. In addition to this, the movement of women in and out of the emirate is strictly monitored by the authorities. The nomadic lifestyle of the Arabs is also associated with the island and this serves as a major tourist attraction. Over time of increased globalization and economic prowess of Dubai, there has been a need to accommodate foreigners to work and invest in the island. This has led to the sharp influx of immigrants into the country; a phenomenon which has led to the relation of hybrid culture in the country. The island has a strong African influence owing to the migration of Africans into the region. The economic activities of the Island also form a crucial part of the Island’s economy. The county relies heavily on trade. Over time, Dubai has emerged to be a global market. Property development, leisure and tourism are also major economic activities in the region (Government of Dubai 2013, p.1). The island boasts of some of the most eye catching architectural designs in the world. The island also relies on the petroleum industry just like other sheikhdoms making the United Arab Emirates. History and Heritage The history of modern day Dubai can be dated back to 1793 when the Bani Yas tribe moved to the island and took over its leadership (Emirates 2013, p.1). The Maktoum tribe led the tribe and is still involved in the leadership of the country. In its initial years, the Dubai government encourages international trade and in 1894, the then sheikh of the emirate Maktoum Bin Hasher Al-Maktoum exempted foreign merchants from paying taxes to the government (The Emirates Group 2013, p.1). The history and heritage of Dubai can be found in the Dubai museum which is housed by the Al Fahidi Fort, a magnificent structure erected in 1787 to guard the interior Dubai from foreign invasion (Definitely Dubai 2013, p.1). The diving villages found on the Dubai creek at Shindagha provide tourists with a chance to find out about Dubai’s heritage. The village showcases the sheikhdom’s ancient economic activities for instance pottery, cookery, ship building in addition to the Arabic nomadic lifestyle (Emirates 2013b, p.1).The Al Qusais archaeological site is one of Dubai’s archaeological sites others being Al Sufooh, Hatta and Jumeirah which give an insight into the emirate’s history and heritage (Definitely Dubai 2013b, p.1). The rich Dubai/ Arabic heritage can also be found at Bastakia Quarter which is one of the earliest settlements in the world (Arabic Zeal 2013, p.1). How a Place Becomes a Tourist Destination A place becomes a tourist destination over time. A place may have good attractions but not be regarded to as a tourist destination. For this reason, there is a need for destination marketing and branding. Initially, tourism was not a major economic activity in Dubai. The economy depended heavily on the oil industry and this proved to be a major threat to the sustainability of the country’s economy. As a result of this, the government has embarked on marketing and branding Dubai making it one of the major tourist destinations in the world. Initially, island enjoyed trade and business tourism. Dubai is located strategically on the globe; making it a good trading point on the world. As at now, Dubai is regarded to as world’s market. This marked the start of branding Dubai as a tourist destination. Over time, Dubai invested heavily in infrastructure and became home to some of the most eye catching architectural designs in the world for instance the Burj Arab and the manmade lakes, fountains and the man-made islands (Marcus & Jane 2010, p. 279). The great designs are the island’s main tourist attraction. In the recent past, Dubai has merged to be a major sporting destination for instance the rugby, golf and tennis; placing it strategically on the global sporting calendar. This is the path taken by Dubai on its strive to become a major tourist destination in the world. Motivation of Tourists Manmade creations are some of the main tourist attractions in the world. Looking at it from a global perspective, it can be seen that the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids in Egypt, Stonehenge in Britain and the ancient buildings in Rome are a source of motivation for tourists to visit the specific countries. This is the similar case with Dubai. As outlined earlier in this paper, Dubai Boasts of some of the most sophisticated and breathe taking architectural and engineering designs of the modern times (Askman 2013, p.1). The great man made features are a source of motivation for tourists to visit Dubai. Burj Al Arab which is the largest hotel building in the world, Chutzpah which is a magnificent building housing Walt Disney Dubai, Hydropolis, Dubai’s Sports City, Dubailand, Burj Al Alam, Al Maktoum International Airport, Falconcity of Wonders, Mall of Arabia, Business Bay and the world manmade islands (Askman 2013, p.1). There are several pull factors which motivate tourists to travel to Dubai. Increased regional cooperation in the Arabic world acts a major pull factor for the tourists for instance a single tourist visa for the United Arab Emirates. The Arabic world in which Dubai is located is also characterized by reduced barriers to trade and large regional networks which in turn pulls tourists to the destination (Hazbun 2006, p.207). There are no major push factors for tourists in Dubai. The main push factors may mainly be the ones which affect the global tourism market for instance terrorism. Merchandise for Tourists Souvenirs are a major element on destination branding. Generally, Souvenirs are a mark of place. Souvenirs form part of the large range of merchandise which tourists can buy in Dubai. The souvenirs from Dubai include golden ware, silverware, bronze ware, Arabic Art, fashion and upholstery work, jewellery, carpets and furniture. The shopping experience at Dubai is different from the world. Dubai is home to some of the best shopping malls in the world. As identified earlier, Dubai is regarded to as the world’s market owing to its wide range of commodities and its great shopping experience. Impacts of Tourism on the Host Country As outlined in the introduction, tourism is not an old industry in Dubai. The government gave focus to the industry in the 1990’s is a bid to reduce the country’s dependence on the petroleum industry (Sharpley 2008, p.14). Previously, the country was focused on business tourism which has since developed into other areas such as architecture and sports. Currently, tourism industry is a major contributor to the county’s economy. Public private partnerships in the country have been very instrumental in enabling the country develop its tourism industry. Tourism has played a major role in enabling Dubai expand its infrastructure so as to handle increased traffic. Tourism has also increased employment opportunities in the country and it can be acknowledged that much of the immigrants in the country are directly or indirectly employed in the industry. With regard to the social cultural impact of tourism on Dubai, it can be acknowledged that tourism has led to the continuous integration of cultures from diverse regions of the world. The ethnic divisions in the country are as a result of tourism related activities in the country. The local people maintain a strong hold on the country although their numbers are far much lower as compared to the foreigners who make up more than 80% of the population (Marcus & Jane 2010, p.286). In a bid to conserve the country’s heritage and customs, the Dubai government has established plans which ensure that they are not diluted by foreign cultural influences (Marcus & Jane 2010, p.286). With regard to environmental influence of tourism on Dubai, it can be noted that tourism has had a positive influence on the surroundings. Initially, Dubai was a desert with only small traces of green cover. However, the greening of the desert has been made possible via tourism. N line with the Islamic culture of a green paradise, Dubai has progressed immensely and invested heavily on greening the dry land to what it is today (Ryan & Stewart 2009, p.291). An example of a successful reconstruction of the desert in Dubai is the AL Maha resort which is one of the luxury places in Dubai. Availability of Accommodation to Tourists Accommodation is a very important factor in tourism. Ideally, the two are intertwined. The more lucrative the tourism industry is a country, the more the accommodation spaces available. Dubai boasts of a many bed spaces around the country. The country is home to many multinational hotels and has 144 5star rated, 164 4star rated, 66 3star, 23 2star and 2 1star rated hotels (Lastminute.com 2013, p.1). The various locations and sizes of the hotels also act as tourist attractions. The availability of accommodation compliments Dubai’s tourism industry. Transportation Transport acts a vital element in the transportation industry. It may act as a pull or push factor depending on the emphasis in which the government places on it. Dubai enjoys a great transportation network within the United Arab Emirates and with the rest of the world. The island enjoys the services of an international airport and the Emirates Airlines has contributed immensely to its air transport. The island has access to the sea hence making water transport an indispensible means of transporting bulky goods. The island also has a good road network which facilitates for the movement of goods and people on land (Marcus & Jane 2010, p.283). Gastronomic Experiences Gastronomy is the study of food. Food is an important part of any culture. Although Dubai’s gastronomy is not a major tourist attraction, it is important to acknowledge that the sheikhdom enjoys benefits associated with diverse cultures (Dubai Travel 2013, p.1). At Dubai, a tourist has a chance to have a taste and experience gastronomes ranging from Asia to Africa, Europe to America in addition to the rich Arabic gastronomy. Some of the indigenous foods in the county includes Falafel, Al Harees, hummus, Ghuzi, Matchbox, Esh Asarya, Tabbouleh, Shawarma and Mehalabiya (Khanapakana 2013, p.1). Promotion, Brochures & Interpretation In order for a country to develop into a major tourist destination, there is a need for destination promotion. There are various means of promotion including the use of brochures, the internet, exhibitions and trade fairs and the creation of strong brands. Dubai has invested heavily in brand promotion hence explaining its high tourism growth (Balakrishnan 2008, p.63). The media and content used for promotion should be catchy and cause the target audience to interpret it in the right manner. The following section analyses a picture of Burj Al Arab, the only 7 rated hotel in the world. Burj Al Arab (Google Images, 2013) The picture is used to lure tourists to travelling to Dubai ad booking into the tallest hotel in the world. The picture illustrates the location of the hotel on a manmade island and also shows the great architectural design associated with it. The picture is interpreted by the target audience as a mark of quality and elicits a feeling of excitement and eagerness to visit Dubai. Conclusion In conclusion, this essay has been successful in giving an insight into tourism in Dubai. The essay started by giving an introduction to the topic and also stating a thesis statement. The essay then gave a map showing the location of Dubai on the global map after which it discussed eaters of the natural environment which serve as tourist attractions for the country. The essay then gave an insight into Dubai’s society where it came out strongly that it has been influenced by foreign cultures. The essay then gave a short insight into the history and heritage of Dubai. The process in which Dubai became a tourist destination was also discussed. Motivation of the tourists to visit a tourist destination was also discussed in depth where push and pull factors associated with Dubai were highlighted. The essay ten gave an insight into the merchandise which tourist buys at Dubai after which the essay discussed about the impacts of tourism Dubai. the essay then gave a discussion on transportation, accommodation, gastronomic experiences and promotion in Dubai. 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Tourism Destination Branding Complexity, Journal of Product & Brand Management, Vol.14, No.4, pp. 258–259 Read More