ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS IN DETERMINING THE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF HAJJ AND UMRAH PILGRIMS WITHIN THE REGION OF MAKKAH AL MUKARRAMAH

Abstract

This study aimed to know the rate of use of social networking sites by pilgrims and Umrah performers, and the role of these sites in introducing them to tourist destinations in the Makkah region. In addition, it dealt with monitoring the most known tourist destinations by pilgrims and Umrah performers through social networking sites, and monitoring the impact of these sites on the decision to visit tourist destinations in the Makkah region through exposure to social networking sites. This study came within the framework of descriptive studies and relies on the survey method in its field approach using the survey tool on a sample of 200 individuals of pilgrims and Umrah performers. The high percentage of the degree of approval of the study sample agreed that when choosing a travel trip to perform Hajj rituals in the Kingdom, the health and safety aspects and related to the role of public hygiene are an important factor, by 54%, the high percentage of the degree of approval of the study sample agreed on the use of social media to plan the Hajj and Umrah trip, by 57%. There is a statistically significant correlation between the degree of use of social media by pilgrims and Umrah performers in the search for enrichment, tourism and cultural programs for the travel trip on the one hand, and between the axes of study as a total degree, on the other hand. Keywords: Social Media, Tourist Attractions, Pilgrims DOI： https://doi.org/10.35741/issn.0258-2724.58.3.3