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Strategies of Differentiation and Sustainable Tourism: The Case of the Gulf Countries

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New Perspectives and Paradigms in Applied Economics and Business (ICAEB 2023)

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Abstract

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are the most competitive touristic destinations in the Middle East and North Africa, mostly due to their stability which contrasts with the turmoil of other places in the region, especially after the Arab Spring. A number of cities and countries in that area compete to distinguish themselves as touristic destinations through branding in order to ultimately increase their soft power. This paper thus investigates strategies of differentiation to establish a competitive identity in tourism in the context of the Gulf countries and how their branding as sustainable touristic destinations is embedded in these strategies of differentiation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Health, University of Wollongong in Dubai, Knowledge Park, PO Box 20183, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    I. Ajala

  2. School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

    M. Rodrigo

  3. School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College, 10400, George Town, Penang, Malaysia

    A. K. Irhanida

Authors
  1. I. Ajala
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  2. M. Rodrigo
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  3. A. K. Irhanida
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Correspondence to I. Ajala .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA

    William C. Gartner

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Ajala, I., Rodrigo, M., Irhanida, A.K. (2024). Strategies of Differentiation and Sustainable Tourism: The Case of the Gulf Countries. In: Gartner, W.C. (eds) New Perspectives and Paradigms in Applied Economics and Business. ICAEB 2023. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-49951-7_12

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