Rural Resident Tourism Perceptions And Attitudes By Community Level Of Tourism

Abstract

Focusing on the residents of 28 rural Colorado communities, this research examines differences in resident tourism perceptions and attitudes across communities categorized on the basis of the community's existing level of tourism. The results indicate that the perceived impacts of tourism, both positive and negative, increase with increasing levels of tourism. With respect to resident attitudes toward additional tourism development, however, the results suggest that resident attitudes initially increase in favorability with increasing tourism development, but achieve a threshold level of development beyond which attitudes become less favorable. In this study, this threshold was achieved when approximately 30% ofthe community's retail sales were derivedfrom tourism. Finally, the results also indicate that resident supportfor special tourism user fees and taxes increases with increasing levels of tourism development.

Organisers’ and Residents’ Views about the Benefits and Costs: The Case of Monsoon Cup International Sailing Regatta, Malaysia

“…These findings were supported in previous studies such as by Gursoy and Rutherford (2004) and Purdue, Long and Allen (1990) that mega events generate and improve the local economy as well as promoting more business for local people (Cheng & Jarvis, 2010, Nunkoo & Ramkisoon, 2011.…”

Host Perceptions of Tourism Impact and Stage of Destination Development in a Developing Country

“…However, it has also been criticized on the ground that communities are heterogeneous with different interests and that their attitudes depend on many factors. Nevertheless, it remains the single most cited refereed article in tourism studies [40] that "provides a useful framework for description and interpretation" [41].…”

Collaboration theory and community tourism planning

“…A public good, by its very nature, is a candidate for government activity, since "the benefits from a public or social good, unlike those from a purely private good, are seen to involve external consumption effects on more than one individual" (Samuelson and Scott 1975:144). Hence, destination residents may be less willing to support additional tourism development through local revenue tax funds (Long, Perdue and Allen 1990) and could favor government control over development (Allen, Hafer, Long and Perdue 1993). The local authorities have the delicate task of juggling private sector interests with local resident needs and wants, in order to maintain the economic health of the community and ensure that development is sustainable.…”

“…Some studies on rural communities have demonstrated predominantly positive perceptions of tourism development's impact on the local economy (Allen et al 1993). However, research by Long et al (1990) on 28 rural Colorado communities indicated that residents' favor of tourism development increased initially, but became less favorable after a threshold level of development was reached. As well, longitudinal study by Getz (1994) showed that resident support for tourism was linked to perceptions of benefits outweighing the costs of tourism development; this supported Ap's (1992) contention that social exchange theory can help explain resident attitudes.…”