An investigation into the overall impact of the season of Hajj on the economy of Makkah with special investigation into The trade of consumer goods

Over the years, the season of Hajj has always represented the major source of living not only for the people of Makkah, but for the whole region of Hijäz In the years preceding World War II and before the oil was discovered, Hajj was the economic backbone of the whole Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. However, after the economy of the country became dependent on the revenues of the oil, at the end of the World War II, the revenues of Hajj became a substantial influential factor, boosting the commercial activities of the private sectors in Makkah, and hence developing the entire economy of the city. The objective of this study is to investigate and evaluate the overall impact of the season of Hajj on the economy of Makkah with special investigation on the trade in consumer goods. In pursuing this objective, the, study has employed both library and empirical researches. The library research was adopted in the investigation of the overall effect of Hajj on the economy of Makkah, while the empirical research was conducted to investigate the effect of Hajj on the trade in consumer goods. A large survey was carried out on two samples: 484 shopkeepers and 434 pilgrims (consumers) in three major areas within Makkah, namely the Pram Area, Ma`äbdah Area and Aziziyyah Area. The collected data from these samples were analyzed in the computer with the aid of the SPSS programme. The investigation concerning the overall effect of Hajj on the economy of Makkah focuses mainly on the private sectors, namely the Hajj service industries i.e., Twäfah Establishments (Pilgrims' Guilds), housing industry and transport industry, and the industrial sector. With respect to the effect of Hajj on the trade in consumer goods, the investigation focuses on the shopkeepers in terms of types and characteristics, of the shopkeepers involved in the trade in consumer goods, the significance of the location selected by shopkeepers during Hajj, their motives for trading in Hajj, their purchasing decisions relating to prices, quality, quantity and variety when they supply their goods. In relation to the consumer goods supplied by the shopkeepers, the investigation focuses on their types, characteristics i.e., origins, source of supply, types of sale. It also covers some related issues i.e., official procedures for trading in consumer goods, utilization of advertisements and employment in the trade in consumer goods. In addition, the effect of Hajj on the commercial renting business within the context of the trade in consumer goods is also investigated. Concerning the pilgrims (as consumers), the study focuses on their socio-economic and demographic characteristics, their purchasing criteria with respect to necessary and supplementary goods, their opinions on the market of goods and their attitudes towards their treatment by the shopkeepers and finally their expenditure profile and the major factors influencing it