An Integrated Model of Social Impacts and Resident’s Perceptions: From a Film Tourism Destination

Abstract

Minimal research has been carried out regarding the host community’s perceptions of and reactions to film tourism impacts, utilizing a mainstream tourism destination such as Bali. This article aims to identify and explain residents’ perceptions of and attitudes toward the social impacts of film tourism, proposing an integrated theoretical model of social exchange theory, social representations theory and place change theory. Results indicate that the integrated model is particularly robust in explaining what caused a condition or event to be perceived as negative, positive or neutral place change, and why such changes are interpreted and evaluated in the social and cultural contexts. It also suggests that the locals do not perceive or necessarily respond to tourism impacts uniformly. As such, it contributes to a more wholesome understanding of the underlying dynamics and complexities involved in identifying and explaining the perceived impacts of tourism on the residents of a community in a theoretically rigorous, nuanced manner.