Accessible Tourism and Its Relationship to Life Quality for Those with Motor Disabilities in Some States of Gulf Cooperation Council

(Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain as Models)

Abstract

The current study aims to examine “Accessible Tourism and its Relationship to the Quality of Life for those with motor disabilities in some States of the Gulf Cooperation Council: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain as a Model." The study sample consisted of (80) physically disabled participants who were selected randomly from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. A questionnaire prepared by the researcher was distributed. The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach. The study drew some conclusions. First, there is a relationship of positive statistical significance between the total score of the of Accessible Tourism Scale, the dimensions of mental health and integration into society, and the total score of the Quality of Life for the Physically Disabled Scale in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. There is also a relationship of positive statistical significance between the total score of Accessible Tourism Scale and the dimensions of mental health and rights, and the total score of the Quality of Life for the Physically Disabled Scale in Saudi Arabia. There is a relationship of positive statistical significance between the first dimension of Accessible Tourism Scale and the mental health dimension of the Quality of Life for the Physically Disabled Scale in United Arab Emirates. There is a relationship of positive statistical significance between the total score of the Accessible Tourism Scale and the total score of the Quality of Life for the Physically Disabled Scale in Bahrain. The rights dimension came first in the Quality of Life for the Physically Disabled Scale in Saudi Arabia, whereas the physical environment dimension ranked first in the Quality of Life for the Physically Disabled Scale in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. In addition, the integration into society dimension ranked third, and the physical health dimension came in the last rank in the Quality of Life for the Physically Disabled Scale in all countries. In addition, the findings revealed that there were differences among the sample members, according to the variable of place of residence, in the dimension of integration into society, on the quality-of-life scale: among the physically disabled in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and in favor of the United Arab Emirates members. Furthermore, there are differences between the physically disabled in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in favor of the United Arab Emirates sample. However, there are no differences between the physically disabled in Saudi Arabia and the Bahraini sample participants. The study presented certain recommendations. The most important of which is to establish a unified standard model for the development of Accessible Tourism to achieve the quality of life for people with motor disabilities in the GCC countries by linking data related to this segment and following up its development and improvement among the GCC countries.