Saudi Arabia is the world's leading oil producer and exporter. The economy in the country is almost totally dependent on oil. Tourism is one of the sectors which received more attention in the last few years after the establishment of the High Commission for Tourism and Antiques in 2000. The Commission's main purpose is to develop, promote and enhance the tourism sector, particularly the domestic tourism sector, to be one of the important sectors in economy. The main purpose of this research is to identify motivations and values for Saudi citizens to travel domestically and to measure their satisfaction on the services they are provided with when they travel within the country. Maslow's Motives Modal (1998) and Rokeach Value Survey (1973) are applied in the study. Motivations are examined by understanding the 'push' and 'pull' factors and these concepts have been used in many studies. The idea behind these concepts is that people travel because they are pushed by their own internal forces and pulled by external forces of the destination attributes. The study was conducted in the city of Medina and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and 140 questionnaires were obtained, 77 in Medina and 63 in Jeddah. Respondents were selected using a convenience sample through a snowball technique among females and families and a convenience and purposive sample among males at places such as coffee shops and restaurants. Obtained data were analyzed using SPSS. The findings indicated that there are eight push motivations for Saudi domestic tourists including (Relaxation, Spirituality, Family, Cultural, Activity, Knowledge, Loyalty and Economic) and five pull factors including (Religious, Safety, Entertainment, Luxury and Local culture). The study showed that the push factor of Relaxation and the pull factor of Religion are the most important factors as perceived by Saudis. It was also revealed that Saudi domestic tourists have high level of satisfaction on the services they are provided with when they travel domestically. The study suggested further research to be carried out across the Muslim and Arab world in order to explore more travel motivations and values dimensions for people in this region.

Dive tourism is a growing and important industry which is often reliant on a high quality natural environment. As dive tourism’s significance grows due to its economic and ecological impacts on many tropical destinations, it is important to understand how this special-interest tourism may be affected by environmental change. Mass coral bleaching episodes, a phenomenon with potentially severe implications for the health of coral reef ecosystems, have been increasing in intensity and frequency over the last three decades. This has begun to affect the enjoyment of visitors and the prosperity of individuals and dive tourism businesses that depend on reefs. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to explore the perceptions, opinions and adaptation strategies of dive operators in the Caribbean regarding coral bleaching and its effects on their business and dive tourism. This study was guided by an exploratory, sequential, mixed methods design and consisted of two phases: phase 1, a semi-structured interview, followed by phase 2, a web-based survey. The interviews for the initial phase were done with seven Tobago dive operators in January 2011 to gain perspectives and insights from local dive operators before the web-based survey was sent out. The themes that emerged from the interviews include: a lack of government action, locals and reefs, bleaching and business, and moving forward. A larger regional web-based survey was chosen for a second phase of the study to test operator opinions across the Caribbean. In total 318 operators were contacted, with 90 completing the survey. The results were varied, but the overall consensus was that coral bleaching is an important issue, but at the present time a lack of reef protection is more important. Into the future the issues of coastal development and climate change become more prominent. Based on the 2010 coral bleaching event, which was projected by NOAA to rival that of the 2005 mass bleaching, the 2010 paled in comparison. The operators said it was not as severe as previous bleaching events and that it in fact did not have any impact on their business.

There have been few African studies that examined relationships between acculturation, a process where immigrants assimilate the culture of their host country, coping, acculturative stress and enduring involvement in leisure. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between cultural orientations and acculturative stress, coping, leisure participation, as well as ego involvement of Nigerian Canadians in leisure. The research participants (n=104), were English speaking Nigerian Canadians between the ages of 18-52 average age of 35, SD of just under 8. All research participants were born outside Canada. Most Nigerian Canadians (99%, n=103) had lived in Canada for a period of 1-10 years when data were collected. Each participant filled out a questionnaire that measured their African and Canadian cultural orientations, and acculturative stress, coping, leisure participation, and ego involvement in leisure. Composite scale scores were computed for the variables of African cultural orientation, Canadian cultural orientation, depression, discrimination, intergenerational conflicts, coping and ego involvement in leisure; after which ANOVAs were computed to determine between group differences for the median split groups on these variables. Kruskal Wallis H tests were then computed to determine between group differences with regards to demographic characteristics, transportation, housing and dress patterns. ANOVA was also computed to determine differences on number of children in households. Pearson Correlations were then computed to determine relationships between leisure participation and ego involvement on one hand, and depression, discrimination, intergenerational conflicts, and coping on the other hand. Results revealed significant differences between participants on African and Canadian cultural orientations, with the two High African groups showing higher African preferences, and the two High Canadian groups showing higher Canadian preferences than the two lower African and the two lower Canadian groups in each instance. Participants were not significantly different on acculturative stress and coping. Also, there were minimal between group relationships with respect to leisure participation and acculturative stress and coping; while no relationships were found for ego involvement in leisure.

Every September, tens of thousands of students enter the world of higher education for the first time, and face numerous new challenges without their traditional support systems. The literature indicates that leisure involvement can work as an effective coping strategy, but little is known about how first-year students make decisions about their leisure. This study examined the factors affecting students’ involvement in two leisure coping strategies (planned breaks and avoidance) and two leisure contexts (structured and unstructured). Nine one-on-one interviews with first year students were conducted. Insights consistent with the reviewed literature include students’ social leisure choices, their personal background and behavioural factors, and the transitional issues they faced. A new factor to add to the existing literature is the connection between students’ leisure actions and their sense of self. Researchers and leisure service providers on university campuses should explore these insights further, to help with students’ transitions into university.

Culture has been demonstrated in the literature to have an effect on tourism behavior, including the way that tourists perceive their travel experience; different cultures often hold different values (LeBlanc, 2004 & Sussman and Rashcovsky, 1997). Thus, understanding visitors’ values in comparison to those of the host destination may alter how tourism businesses should relate to tourists, how a tourist may perceive their experience, as well as a tourist’s motivation to travel to a destination (Devesa, Laguna & Palacios, 2010). The combination of heritage and tourism, specifically the UNESCO world heritage site designation, has had a significant impact on tourist motivation as well through the prestige that the designation presents (Parks Canada, 2009). Current research lacks a focus on the individual in relation to the UNESCO world heritage site designation (Marcotte & Bourdeau, 2006). There is also a lack of research with a Canadian focus as well as comparisons amongst cultures (Kay, 2009). Although there has been some focus on Canada, the demographics have been skewed toward English speaking individuals; a lack of demographic information and data concerning native tongue has been collected (Gibson, McKelvie & DE MAN, 2008). The current study will take a Canadian focus by situating the research within Canada, specifically the UNESCO world heritage site of Quebec City, and compare the Anglophone and Francophone cultures. Anglophone and Francophone tourists are defined in this study as “people whose mother tongue is French (Francophone) or English (Anglophones)” (Gibson et al., 2008, p. 137). This study uses a questionnaire; which combines the questionnaires found in Lee, Lee and Wicks (2004) and Kozak (2001), in order to collect data on tourist travel motivations and satisfaction. The survey was conducted during October 2011, and involved the researcher travelling to different tourist sites, such as the Citadel and Le Musee de la Civilisation. The final data set consisted of 375 cases, and an effective response rate of 443. The objectives of this study were: 1.To examine the motivational differences between Canadian Anglophone and Francophone visitors. 2.To examine whether there are cultural differences in the travel needs of Francophone and Anglophone travelers.3.To examine whether tourism sites and businesses in Quebec City are meeting the needs and desires of tourists. To accomplish these objectives, the following research questions were asked: 1. Why do people visit heritage sites? Specifically, what motivates people to visit heritage sites? 2. Do Canadian Anglophone and Francophone cultures have different motivations for travelling? Sub-questions could include: in general, do different cultures have different motivations for travelling? For example, tourists may aim to connecting with their ancestral roots and culture. 3. Are Anglophone and Francophone tourists satisfied by their travel experience to Quebec City? In particular, are there differences in satisfaction levels between Anglophone and Francophone tourists? The computer program SPSS (version 19) was used to conduct statistical tests on, and interpret, the data that was collected. Independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVAs,Two-way ANOVAs and frequencies, modes and medians were performed in order to reach the research objectives and answer the research questions. This study provides insight into the travel motivations and satisfaction levels of Anglophone, Francophone, and bilingual visitors to Quebec City. The main implications of this study concern marketing, interpretation of sites, and service provision. The findings of this study present conflicting results surrounding the influence of family and culture on travel motivations of tourists. However, the findings of this study suggest that gender has a strong influence on tourist motivation, and marketing efforts should be targeting females as they were more significantly affected by the motivations examined in this study. There are also implications related to interpretation as there were significant differences found between Anglophone and Francophone participants on the motivation factor ‘cultural exploration experiences offered’. Finally there are implications surrounding service provision as the findings suggest that activities may be more geared towards the Anglophone travelers. This study will expand on these implications further.

Cancer rates are on the rise and there is also an increase in the number of cancer survivors. This results in an increase of caregivers for those survivors. Many caregivers experience negative impacts of caregiving, including decreased mental health. The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of how the fulfillment of leisure needs impacts caregivers’ mental health. Using data from The Cancer Support Person’s Unmet Needs Survey (Campbell et al., 2009), secondary data analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between unmet leisure needs and mental health, as well as examining the mediation of social and physical aspects of leisure. The sample consisted of 718 support persons (self-selected by the survivors, who were asked to give their caregivers the survey) from the Cancer Registry run by CancerCare Manitoba. Results revealed that fulfilling leisure needs decreased level of caregiver depression, anxiety, and stress. Fulfilling social needs showed a decrease in caregiver depression, and having higher levels of physical functioning had a positive impact on caregiver’s level of depression, anxiety, and stress. This study provided practical applications for practitioners and caregivers on how to improve caregiver mental health through the fulfillment of leisure needs.

Recreational shopping has long been of interest to business academics and practitioners, but research on it has been underdeveloped in the leisure field. Although the leisure literature and business literature represent distinct perspectives, there appears to be many significant parallels between recreational shopping and leisure. The purpose of this study was to examine the intrinsic meanings of shopping; to explore the experiential aspects of the recreational shopping experience (including the influences of the retail environment on individuals who regularly engage in recreational shopping). This study took place in Toronto, Ontario. The sample included five female self-proclaimed recreational shoppers. The researcher accompanied each participant on a shopping excursion which took place at a shopping mall selected by the participant. Data were collected through three qualitative methods. First, participant observation involved the researcher walking alongside the participant as she shopped. Following the shopping session, the researcher conducted an in-depth face-to-face interview with each participant; the interview was guided by a set of open-ended questions. In addition, this study utilized photo-elicitation in which the participants were asked to photograph ‘anything’ that made an impression during their visit to the mall. The photographs offered tangible illustrations of shopping experiences and were used as a catalyst for discussion during the interviews. The data was analyzed using Grounded Theory coding which lead to the identification of two main themes and six respective subthemes. The emergent themes are all connected to the key idea that shoppers are motivated by their expectations and desires when they partake in the recreational shopping activity. Shopping offers numerous opportunities that provide immediate hedonic pleasure as well as intrinsic rewards. Such opportunities often include, the ‘before and after’ phases of experiences of acquisition and unexpected discoveries, the positive interactions which occur both inside and outside a retail environment, and lastly, the individual’s use of shopping as a means of self-expression and a tool to manage their self image. Satisfaction, spontaneity, familiarity, mastery, accomplishment, and feelings of escape were all present in these shopping experiences. The findings also described the role of shopping malls as a leisure space and as facilitators of recreational shopping activities. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that shopping can offer a profound leisure experience for many people and the activity should not only be researched in terms of just ‘recreational shopping’ or ‘utilitarian shopping.’ Rather, the findings indicate several overlaps between the two types of shopping and further research is needed to more fully understand the complexities of the activity.

Leisure time, leisure activities, and leisure spaces largely surround matters of consumption. However, the role consumption plays in the reproduction and performance of community is a necessarily contested topic among leisure scholars. For their part, leisure scholars have tended to regard consumption and places of consumption with a great deal of trepidation, skepticism, and even contempt (e.g., Arai & Pedlar, 2003; Hemingway, 1996; Reid, 1995; Stormann, 2000). Implications for and about community appear to be at the forefront of anxiety about consumption as it relates to leisure. As a result, a focus on “community” has become a practical response to assumptions about pervasive individualism, consumption, and the loss of community, in general. Following calls for the incorporation of community in leisure studies (Arai & Pedlar, 2003; Glover & Stewart, 2006) and drawing on Cook’s (2006a) call to move leisure studies “beyond individualism” (p. 464), this study sought to empirically examine the significance local residents attribute to everyday places of consumption. Furthermore, this study aimed to challenge the idea that leisure time, activities, places, and spaces based on consumption serve only to further alienate individuals from communities, thus weakening the social relevance of leisure, in general (Arai & Pedlar, 2003). The purpose of this research, therefore, was to challenge the essentialist conceptualization of consumption by exploring the relationship between places of consumption and the everyday lived experience of community. To do so, I engaged patrons at the Kitchener Market, a venue that encourages consumptive acts, yet serves as a focal point for everyday engagement in community. The primary research question providing focus for this study was: What roles, if any, do places of consumption, particularly third places, play in the everyday lived experience of community? Results of this research suggest there are new ways for understanding leisure and community as they relate to consumption. Rather than considering consumption places as points of exchange with little or no emotional sentiment attached, this research suggests these places have to potential to develop and create community as well as incorporate consumer values, ideals, ethics, and sentiments. Third places, as everyday places of consumption, should be examined for their potential to create, enact, and build community. Consumption is not separate from society, community and leisure; rather, consumption constitutes a salient aspect of everyday living and should be considered an important component of community.

Over the past decade, Persian Gulf countries witnessed an increase in tourism development and the number of international tourists. Though tourism development plays an important role in enhancing economies, tourism development may conflict with the region's conservative traditions and culture. The purpose of this research is to identify the attitudes and perceptions of residents in the State of Qatar towards the impacts of tourism development by: 1) applying Ap & Crompton's (1998) Index of Tourism Impacts (ITI): measuring the physical/ecological/social or cultural environments, and the residents' acceptance of visitors, 2) by identifying resident attitudes as expressed on Qatari-based social networks, and 3) through personal observation of resident attitudes. Respondents were selected using a convenience sampling technique to complete a survey instrument. Non-intrusive personal observation was also carried out to observe the nature of host-guest interactions at local tourist areas. Material regarding resident attitudes towards tourism development published through local media and forums on local social networks were collected. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and independent t-tests were used to describe data and to better understand resident attitudes towards the ITI dimensions. Content analysis was used to analyze forum entries, and field note extracts of personal observations were also used to present observed behaviours of residents. Survey findings reveal that resident attitudes differed according to respondents' age, length of residence, and ethnicity, particularly with respect to perceptions of change in local services and natural environment. The content analysis of forums revealed mixed feelings by residents (primary expatriates) towards tourism development. An attitude typology was derived from resident attitudes expressed through forum entries. Attitudes ranged from “denying tourism's existence” to “encouraging tourism”. Field observation of behaviours also revealed mixed attitudes towards the presence and behaviours of tourists, where residents either “accepted tourism” or “disapproved tourism”. Results suggested further research be carried out in testing the attitude typology in countries within the same region, and to modify the belief scale items and dimensions.

While it is well understood that many resource-based communities are transitioning to tourism to provide a new economic foundation, few studies have probed in-depth the rationale and mechanisms influencing decision-making processes. This case study does that, providing the rationale behind Nanaimo’s City Council’s decision to build a conference centre and in so doing exposes the processes, actors and events that helped framed its decision. A coastal community in British Columbia, Canada, Nanaimo’s downtown suffered continual decline for nearly two decades. In an attempt to reverse the decline, City Council voted 8 to 1 in favour of a conference centre proposal based on its conviction that a centre would serve as a calling card for the community and function to attract both lifestyle residents and tourists. Moreover, Council’s vote signalled its commitment as an active partner in re-establishing the downtown and repositioning Nanaimo as a post-industrial city with high-level infrastructure and amenities. Although there was initial widespread community support, as the conference centre evolved through a series of iterations, one community group surfaced to challenge its merit and the lack of public engagement in the process. In response, another group surfaced to defend the decision. Through a community referendum, the decision was upheld and the community moved forward with the plan. Nonetheless, the viability of the project was threatened a second time with the civic election as several community residents who resisted the project ran for City Council on a platform that would have halted the project. The community, once again, affirmed the decision to proceed. This case has two steps. First, I present a descriptive analysis to illuminate how the community’s social networks played a role in moving a specific agenda forward. There were two phases of data collection from which data were compiled and analysed. The first phase of data collection examined a variety of written documents in the community and principally included minutes of the various City Committees, independent studies commissioned by the City, newspaper accounts, and sources of information provided by the participants. The information collected in this first phase of study helped to inform the 37 in-depth interviews collected in the second phase of the study. Critical discourse analysis was used to demonstrate how and why different groups in the community justified and rationalized an ideological stance supporting a political and economic framework underwritten by tourism. Overall, the strength of the case is in its details. In demonstrating how the social networks and the local coalitions’ capacity-building efforts shaped civic decision-making and public policy, one gains, in a Foucauldian sense, how governmentality played out as different groups engaged in resistant and counter-resistance mechanisms. Tracing these movements reveals how this community was conditioned towards an economic framework underwritten by a political economy of tourism. Moreover, this case demonstrates that although consideration should be given to the broader economic and political climate, it supports claims in the literature that a high degree of autonomy exists within community decision-making processes. Complementing this consideration is the need to theorize more carefully the role of democracy and governance in determining the satisfaction of outcomes. Finally, more consideration should be given by tourism scholars to be more reflexive about their research, its contested and emotive moments.