Visitor satisfaction at UNESCO world heritage sites : the case of the oasis of Bahla and land of Frankincense in the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract EN

This study aims at contributing to the body of research on visitor satisfaction at UNESCO World Heritage Sites with a case study of the Oasis of Bahla and Land of Frankincense, two Cultural World Heritage Sitesin the Sultanate of Oman.

To analyse the level of satisfaction of visitors to the Oasis of Bahla and the Land of Frankincense, a questionnaire was developed which consisted of five main sections in accordance with the research model and in total, 250 visitors took part in the survey.

The results showed that the tourists' overall satisfaction for both sites was above average and that visitors would recommend them to other people.

The research recommended that UNESCO needs to acknowledge the importance of on-site interpretation and tourism infrastructure for heritage tourists.

Also, Omani government needs to develop thought-out management plans and an efficient implementation mechanism in order to enhance the quality of the World Heritage Sites which are attractive for many visitors.