Does tourism development shift residents’ attitudes to the environment and protected area management?

Abstract

ABSTRACT Tourism is commonly introduced or encouraged in rural areas of developing countries to improve local livelihoods and enhance conservation. While understanding resultant shifts in residents’ attitudes are important for effective management, there is scant longitudinal knowledge. This study investigated residents’ attitudes to the environment, protected area management, and tourism through a longitudinal mixed-method study from 2011 to 2020 in an Iranian rural village during early tourism stages. Quantitative and qualitative primary data were collected through surveys of residents, interviews with government officials and the village leader, and observations combined with secondary data collected over the nine-year period. This study specifically tested, and confirmed, that residents’ attitudes to the environment and protected area management must be measured separately. As attitudes to the environment and its management are commonly combined, this is the first study to measure residents’ attitudes to protected area management longitudinally. The findings revealed no significant shift in residents’ attitudes to the environment but a significant positive shift regarding protected area management. Also tested were residents’ attitudes to tourism, which were initially positive and shifted to be more positive. Finally, this study demonstrated significant negative environmental impacts, and an attitude-behaviour gap, which provide theoretical and practical contributions.