Tourism Industry Impacts On Spatial Inequality In The Dead Sea Region
https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2020-216
Abstract
This research examines the impact of the tourism industry on spatial inequality in the Dead Sea region in terms of income, employment and changes in urban forms. The research assumes that this inequality results from the Dead Sea Development Zone (DSDZ) creation and focuses on the local level of urban analysis with the case study of a small Jordanian village Sweimeh, Quantitative data is used in this study for exploring these changes, uncovering persistent and obvious patterns of land use and exhibiting perspectives for the landscape, while satellite images offer extensive advantages over verified maps. The qualitative analysis combines field observations, a structured questionnaire survey with 270 randomly selected households and semi-structured interviews with 30 purposively selected participants. The results of the research showed that the DSDZ creates spatial inequality between the hotel touristic district and the village due to the high level of place-based development differences associated with urban characteristics, such as infrastructure and services provision. The results revealed that there has been a notable increase in population and area of Sweimeh as well as the locals' income. The population doubled from 2054 in 1994 to 4448 in 2019, the area has increased from 0.15 km2 to 4.40 km2, and the share of jobs in the tourism sector and businesses in the village jumped from 10% to 50% in the same period. This study is important since urbanization and spatial management programs received little attention in the DSDZ development agendas. At the academic level, the findings of this research help to establish an assessment tool for testing the socio-economic impact of tourism development on disadvantaged local communities
Keywords
Dead Sea,
Jordan,
Tourism industry,
Spatial planning,
Spatial inequality,
Urban forms,
Local communities
Supporting agencies: Thanks for German Jordanian University and the municipality of Swiemeh for data and logistics help during the research
About the Authors
Raed Al Tal
German Jordanian University, School of Architecture and Built Environment
Jordan
Jordan
Department of Architecture and Interior Architecture.
P.O. Box 35247, 11180, Amman
Tala Mukheimer
German Jordanian University, School of Architecture and Built Environment
Jordan
Jordan
Department of Architecture and Interior Architecture.
P.O. Box 35247, 11180, Amman
Rawan Theodory
German Jordanian University, School of Architecture and Built Environment
Jordan
Jordan
Department of Architecture and Interior Architecture.
P.O. Box 35247, 11180, Amman
Zaid Zwayyed
German Jordanian University, School of Architecture and Built Environment
Jordan
Jordan
Department of Architecture and Interior Architecture.
P.O. Box 35247, 11180, Amman
Nadia Almehdaw
German Jordanian University, School of Architecture and Built Environment
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Department of Architecture and Interior Architecture.
P.O. Box 35247, 11180, Amman
Dina Al Abdallat
German Jordanian University, School of Architecture and Built Environment
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Department of Architecture and Interior Architecture.
P.O. Box 35247, 11180, Amman
Feli Saticilef
Hochschule fiur Wirtschaft und Umwelt
Germany
Germany
Schelmenwasen 4, 72622 Ndrtingen
References
1. Abu Khalil A. (2021). [Anti human investment: This is exactly what is happening in Sweimeh Village/ Dead Sea]. [online] [Zamanukum, Your Time]. (in Arabic with English summary) https://www.zamancom.com/?p=3420 [Accessed 2 May. 2021].
2. Abu Khalil A. (2017). The poor of the village of Sweimeh: a Tale of Two Cities. JO24.(in Arabic with English summary) http://www.jo24.net/post.php?id=225129 [Accessed 11 Nov. 2019].
3. Alfuqaha S., Jibrini H., Al Ayyoub A., & Otoom O. (2020). The new Quarantine City in Dead Sea: The adaptive city of Dead Sea (unpublished report). German Jordanian University.
4. Aledwaan H. (2019). Sweimeh: Village without drinkable water for 5 months]. [online] [Alghad, Tomorrow].(in Arabic with English summary)https://alghad.com/ [Accessed 6 Oct.2019].
5. Allen L.R., Long P.T., Perdue R.R. & Kieselbach S. (1988). The impact of tourism development on residents' perceptions of community life. Journal of Travel Research, 27(1), 16-21, DOI: 10.1177/004728758802700104.
6. Ap J. (1992). Residents' perceptions on tourism impacts. Annals of Tourism Research, 19(4), 665-690, DOI: 10.1016/0160-7383(92)90060-3.
7. Ashley C., & Mitchell J. (2010). Tourism and poverty reduction Pathways to prosperity. Overseas Development Institute. ISBN 9781844078899.
8. Tselem B. (2011). Dispossession and exploitation: Israel's policy in the Jordan Valley and Northern Dead Sea. htt://pswww.btselem.org/publications/summaries/dispossession-and-exploitation-israels-policy-jordan-valley-northern-dead-sea. [Accessed 12 Jan. 2020].
9. Becker N. & Katz D. (2006). Economic valuation of resuscitating the Dead Sea. Water Policy, 8(4), 351-370, DOI: 10.2166/wp.2006.050.
10. Department of statics and population. http://dosweb.dos.govjo/ar/population/[Accessed 20Apr. 2020].
11. Edgall D. (2006). Managing sustainable tourism: A legacy for the future. Psychology Press, 3rd edition, ISBN 9780367331382.
12. El-Naser H. (2020). The deal of the century and its hidden secrets. Jordan Times.
13. https://www.jordantimes.com/opinion/hazim-el-naser/%E2%80%98-deal-century%E2%80%99-and-its-hidden-secrets [Accessed 27 Feb. 2020].
14. Eraqi M.I. (2007). Local communities' attitudes towards impacts of tourism development in Egypt. Tourism Analysis, 12(3), 191-200, DOI: 10.3727/108354207781626848.
15. Erdmann A., Pitigala S., & Ziadeh A. (2016). Market assessment and demand forecast for the Jordan Dead Sea Development Zone: Published report to the Government of Jordan. USAID. https://jordankmportal.com/resources/market-assessment-and-demand-forecast-for-the-jordan-dead-sea-development-zone-2009 [Accessed 30Jan. 2019].
16. Friends of the Earth Middle East (1998). One basin, one strategy: Final report of the Symposium on Promoting an Integrated Sustainable Regional Development Plan for the Dead Sea Basin. Jerusalem. http://www.globalnature.org/bausteine.net/f/5653/FinalProceedings[Accessed 12Jan. 2019].
17. Gnanapala A., & Sandaruwani J. (2016). Socio-economic impacts of tourism development and their implications on local communities. International Journal of Economics and Business Administration, 2(5), 59-67 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345901260_Socio-economic_Impacts_of_Tourism_Development_and_Their_Implications_on_Local_Communities[Accessed 20 Feb. 2019].
18. JFDZ Group (2017). Development Zones annual report. JFDZ Group. https://wwwjfdzjo/jfz/DocumentsShowAr/5 [Accessed 15 Dec. 2019].
19. Jordan Investment Commission. (2014). Investment Law No.30 for the year 2014. https://www.jiec.com/uploaded/pdf/invest_law_e.pdf [Accessed 10 Dec. 2019].
20. Jordanzad (2019). Sweimeh: Misery and deprivation]. [online] (in Arabic with English summary)http://www.jordanzad.com/print.php?id=33658 [Accessed 20 Oct. 2019].
21. Google.(2021).https://www.google.com/searchq=jordan+israel+palestine+map&oq=jordan+israel+palestine+map&aqs=chrome..6 9i57j0i22i30.24525j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 [Accessed 10 Apr. 2021]
22. Mathieson A., & Wall G. (2006). Tourism:Economic, physical and social impacts. Longman,harlow. ISBN 0 582 30061.
23. Munt I. (1994). The «Other» Postmodern Tourism: Culture, Travel and the New Middle Class. Theory, Culture and Society, 11, 101-123, DOI: 10.1177/026327694011003005.
24. Page S., & Connell J. (2006). Tourism: A modern synthesis. Thomson. 5th edition, ISBN 9780367437367.
25. Pivo G., Abbott N., & Perkins K. (1992). Local government planning tools. Growth Management Planning and Research Clearinghouse, Department of Urban Planning and Design. University of Washington, Seattle.
26. Rumonline (2018). [Sweimeh: The daily struggle of services shortage (water and electricity)] [online] (in Arabic with English summary) http://www.rumonline.net/index.php?page=article&id=360172 [Accessed 9 Feb. 2019].
27. Russel R., & Faulkrar B. (2001). Entrepreneurship, chaos and the tourism area lifecycle. Annals of Tourism Research, 31(3), 556-579, DOI:10.1016/J.ANNALS.2004.01.008.
28. Sasaki Associates (2019). Dead Sea Development Zone Detailed Master Plan. Sasaki Associates.https://www.sasaki.com/projects/dead-sea-development-zone-detailed-master-plan/[Accessed 20 May. 2019].
29. Simpson M. (2009). An integrated approach to assess the impacts of tourism on community development and sustainable livelihoods. Community Development Journal, 442), 186-208, DOI:10.1093/CDJ/BSM048.
30. TeVelde D.W. (2001) Policies towards foreign direct investment in developing countries: Emerging best-practices and outstanding issues. Overseas Development Institute. https://cdn.odi.org/media/documents/5543.pdf [Accessed 11Feb. 2019].
31. Tosun C. (2001).Challenges of sustainable tourism development in the developing world: The case of Turkey. Tourism Management, 22(3), 289-303, DOI: 10.1016/S0261-5177(00)00060-1 [Accessed 10 March. 2019].
32. Treaty of Peace (1994). Treaty of Peace between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, 1994, 2042, 1-35325. https://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/IL%20JO_941026_PeaceTreatyIsraelJordan.pdf [Accessed 5 May. 2019].
33. Tsundoda T., & Mendlinger S. (2009). Economic and social impact of tourism on a small town: Peterborough, New Hampshire. Journal of Service Science &Management, 2, 61-70, https://file.scirp.org/pdf/JSSM20090200001_17893549.pdf [Accessed 12 Feb. 2019].
34. USAID (2016). Jordan Competitiveness Program fact sheet. USAID.
35. https://www.usaid.gov/jordan/fact-sheets/usaid-jordan-competitiveness-program [Accessed 10May. 2019].
36. Wendt J.A. (2016). Tourism development challenges on the Dead Sea shore. Limnological Review, 16(2), 105-112, DOI 10.1515/limre-2016-0011.
Review
For citations:
Al Tal R., Mukheimer T., Theodory R., Zwayyed Z., Almehdaw N., Al Abdallat D., Saticilef F. Tourism Industry Impacts On Spatial Inequality In The Dead Sea Region. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2021;14(3):54-62. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2020-216
Views:
1983
Email this article 