Needs Analysis of English Language Skills for the Saudi Tourism Sector

The need for English language proficiency among professionals and global citizens has led to an immense interest in designing appropriate English for Specific Purposes (ESP) syllabi that cater to the actual needs of specific sectors. Among these sectors, tourism is a vital one that contributes to the national economy, creates employment opportunities, and promotes international relations. Despite the growing interest in tourism and new ESP areas in Saudi Arabia following the launch of the Saudi Vision 2030 strategic plan, there is a lack of studies on syllabus design that are based on needs analysis in the Saudi Arabian context. This study aims to address this gap by administering a three-construct questionnaire to 47 Saudi tour guides to identify the most required functions, needed skills, and encountered difficulties in their profession. The results indicate that tour guides are mostly asked to introduce themselves and give directions to tourists. Consequently, they identified speaking and listening as the most needed skills. Further, they reported that they face challenges with foreign accents and in expressing their thoughts. The target needs list generated from this study can inform future tourism syllabus design, and further research is recommended to validate and elaborate on these findings.