Cultural and social influences on Saudi family travel decisions: A systematic-quantitative synthesis for enhancing domestic tourism competitiveness in the face of international tourism
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Abstract
This research analyzes the cultural and sociological elements affecting Saudi family travel choices (FTD) and their implications for domestic tourist competitiveness (DTC) amid global competition. Employing a mixed-methods approach—combining a systematic literature review (SLR) with partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) on data from 469 Saudi respondents—the research reveals that cultural influences (β = 0.452) and social influences (β = 0.338) significantly drive FTD, which in turn enhances DTC (β = 0.427). Direct impacts of cultural (β = 0.208) and social elements (β = 0.213) on DTC were also significant, whereas foreign tourism allure adversely moderates the FTD-DTC link (β = -0.106). The research correlates with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably SDG 8 (economic development), SDG 11 (sustainable communities), SDG 12 (responsible consumerism), and SDG 5 (women equality). Practical options include using Halal tourism, AI-driven marketing, and gender-inclusive regulations to boost local competitiveness while protecting cultural identity.
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