Studying the Vital Role of Souvenirs Industry as an Essential Component of Tourist Experience: A Case Study of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Abstract

Since the beginning of tourism industry, it provides the tourists with two kinds of experiences (intangible and tangible). The intangible experience is the level of satisfaction acquired by the tourists from traveling to a destination. The tangible experience is represented by the souvenirs they purchased for themselves or as gifts to friends and relatives. Souvenirs may sometimes be handicrafts, traditional products or luxury products. Souvenirs have become a central point to the tourist experience that represent the things they have seen, the places they have been, and the memories they have made. The potential benefits of souvenir sales are very essential for all tourist destinations.Nowadays, the souvenirs industry has become a very important supporting tool used to promote the tourism industry in all countries. This paper is divided into two parts. The first part is the conceptual background of the study and its purpose is to understand the importance of tourist souvenirs as an essential component of tourism industry. The second part is the case study of the United Arab Emirates as it is a leading tourist destination all over the world and very famous for its unique souvenirs. Keywords: Souvenirs – Tourist Experience - Tourism – United Arab Emirates DOI : 10.7176/JTHS/46-03 Publication date: January 31 st 2020