Exploring the nexus of tourism development, community perceptions, and sustainability in protected areas

As the occurrence of disasters has increased frequently and has resulted in growing concern about their adverse effects on the environment, Sustainable Humanitarian Logistics (SHL) has received great attention recently. SHL aims to reduce disaster damages in an environmentally-friendly manner in the shortest possible time. The terms including ‘environmentally-friendly’ and ‘shortest possible time’ refer to the environmental and social aspects of sustainability. This research proposes a stochastic multi-objective mixed-integer programming model to configure an SHL network during the response phase. Having compared to the research literature, this is the first study that considers economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainability by incorporating relief cost, deprivation cost, and carbon emissions, respectively. Then, the improved multi-choice goal programming approach is applied to solve the proposed multi-objective model. To indicate the validity of the proposed model, an earthquake that occurred in a region of Kermanshah, Iran, in 2017 is investigated as a real case study. Finally, sensitivity analysis is performed and several managerial and theoretical insights are provided. The results show that exerting environmental issues in humanitarian logistics does not necessarily increase the relief costs, but can be in contrast with the social aspect. Furthermore, a minor increase in the budget of the preparedness phase drastically decreases the response costs.

This study examines determinants of residents’ support for tourism by testing a model based on the social exchange and material culture theories. The model proposes that perceptual heritage proximity influences residents’ attitudes to positive and negative impacts of tourism, which in turn influence residents’ support for tourism. The model was tested using data gathered from a sample of 256 local residents in Kaole Village, Tanzania. Results from structural equation modelling indicate that heritage proximity has an influence on attitudes to the impacts of tourism, which in turn influence support. The findings imply that heritage proximity serves as a point of reference for residents’ evaluation of tourism, which is critical in fostering support. Findings confirm the relevance of the heritage proximity concept in explaining support for tourism. The study provides recommendations to better engage the residents in tourism development. Suggestions for future research are provided.

Purpose - This study analyses the relationships between perceived architectural authenticity, localised identity, place attachment and support for sustainable tourism at a World Heritage Site. Methodology/Design/Approach - A quantitative methodology is developed through questionnaires applied to residents in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. 509 valid responses were obtained and the analysis used structural equation models (PLS-SEM). Findings - The results show that perceived architectural authenticity significantly influences the residents’ place attachment and localised identity. These, in turn, impact their support for the creation of sustainable tourism initiatives at heritage sites. Specifically, architectural authenticity enhances the residents’ connection to their community and cultural identity, fostering a supportive attitude toward the sustainable tourism practices that preserve cultural heritage. Originality of the research - The findings suggest that architectural authenticity is relevant when it comes to strengthening the community ties and cultural identity among the residents of World Heritage Sites. A model is presented where architectural authenticity is analyzed and variables are integrated that analyze how it influences support for sustainable tourism. This model, unlike similar models, offers updated data after the pandemic

Tourism studies demand that residents’ place attachment and overall quality of life (QoL) be further investigated. Taking a multidisciplinary stand, this article tests the interplay of relationships between residents’ perceived social impacts, their trust in local government, place attachment, and its influence on their prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors, which Ramkissoon and her coauthors argue are important mechanisms to be explored in determining support for tourism and provide better QoL outcomes. Applying structural equation modeling (SEM) on a sample of 350 residents, results suggest that perceived social impacts positively influence trust in local government and place attachment; place attachment has a positive influence on prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors, which leads to support for tourism development. The latter positively influences residents’ overall QoL aligning with the United Nations’ SDGs. Theoretical and practical implications for sustainable community tourism are discussed. Finally, the article states a future research agenda for trust, place attachment, prosocial and proenvironmental collective engagement, and QoL research.

This study investigates the impact of resident empowerment on support for sustainable tourism, with technology adoption as a moderating factor. Using the Social Exchange Theory (SET) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), it examined how psychological, social, and political empowerment influenced community participation in tourism development. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, involving 328 respondents from tourism villages in East Java, Indonesia. The data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results revealed that psychological empowerment has the strongest effect on support for tourism, followed by social and political empowerment. Technology adoption significantly moderates these relationships, enhancing the positive effects of empowerment on community support. The findings highlight the need for integrating digital transformation with resident empowerment to strengthen tourism sustainability. Policymakers should focus on improving digital literacy, infrastructure, and participatory governance to maximize community involvement.

This study develops four subjective scales to measure a destination’s sustainability from the perspectives of residents, tourists, businesses and government agencies. Using the expert opinion survey, participants were asked to evaluate the initial list of indicators based on five aspects of sustainability, including economic, socio-cultural, environmental, political and technological sustainability for each stakeholder group. Then, the scales were validated using partial least squares - structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and confirmatory composite analysis (CCA). This article has a unique theoretical contribution by developing four scales to measure the sustainability of destinations from the perspective of four main stakeholders. Moreover, this article provides practical implications and can assist tourism providers and governments in better understanding sustainable urban tourism development and shaping policy.

Even though the concept of value co-creation has received significant attention in the field of tourism research, there have been few studies that explore the mechanisms of value co-creation from the perspective of local residents. Therefore, in order to address this significant gap in knowledge within the tourism domain, this study adopts a resident-centered dominant logic to develop a research model and test the hypothesized relationship between tourism ethnocentrism, residents’ support for tourism, and the co-creation of destination brand value. The conceptual model was tested among 357 local residents in Dodoma City, Tanzania, by collecting data through a survey approach. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results indicate a positive relationship between tourism ethnocentrism and residents’ support for tourism. More specifically, residents’ support for tourism was found to mediate the effect of tourism ethnocentrism on the co-creation of destination brand value. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms that can foster the co-creation of destination brand value among local residents.

Virtual cultural ambassadors (VCAs) have become significant in destination branding and tourism marketing. This study explores how the perceived authenticity of VCA enhances residents’ support for tourism. The current study assesses a conceptual model including the relationships between perceived objective authenticity, perceived constructive authenticity, wishful identification, emotional solidarity, local pride, and tourism support. Data were collected from 773 residents across three Chinese cities. An online survey was used for data collection, and structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the relationships within the framework. The results reveal that objective and constructive authenticity positively influence tourism support directly and indirectly through wishful identification and emotional solidarity. Objective authenticity impacts sympathetic understanding and welcoming nature, while constructive authenticity affects all three dimensions of emotional solidarity: sympathetic understanding, welcoming nature, and emotional closeness. Local pride significantly moderates the relationship between constructive authenticity and emotional solidarity, particularly enhancing emotional closeness and sympathetic understanding. This study contributes to the literature by extending authenticity and emotional solidarity theories to technology-mediated contexts, offering new insights into how virtual cultural ambassadors can foster resident identification, emotional connection, and sustainable destination support.

This study investigates how local communities in Lumbini, Nepal, perceive the outcomes of religious tourism by examining both its positive and negative dimensions. A household survey conducted between September 2022 and January 2023 reveals that residents’ support for tourism is largely shaped by perceived social, cultural, and economic benefits, while environmental drawbacks exert a more nuanced influence. Notably, support for tourism persisted despite ecological concerns, suggesting a trade-off mindset in which economic opportunities are prioritized over environmental sacrifices. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrates that a disaggregated assessment of positive and negative impacts provides stronger explanatory power for resident attitudes than a unidimensional approach. These findings advance theoretical refinements of Social Exchange Theory and yield practical implications for policymakers seeking to balance tourism development with sustainability and active community participation.

This conceptual article focuses on Malaysia's halal tourism sector, which is vital to the country's economic growth. One of the most significant economic sectors where sustainability has gained importance is halal tourism. Without the active support of residents, halal tourism cannot be sustained; nevertheless, while local support for other forms of tourism sustainability has been extensively researched, local support for halal tourism sustainability has received far less attention. Furthermore, it is critically necessary to look into the suppositions that can affect residents' support for sustainable halal tourism. Unfortunately, the quick spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019 resulted in significant losses for the halal tourism industry, both locally and globally, due to the cancellation of majority travel and tour-related activities, including lodging. More research is needed to determine how the pandemic has affected halal tourism in terms of residents' support for halal tourism and its long-term sustainability. Thus, this conceptual study seeks to understand the residents’ attitude and behaviour as well as how residents perceive sustainable halal tourism in their destination. A structured literature review was conducted in this study, with the aim to develop a conceptual framework of residents’ support based on review of literature for sustainable halal tourism development. Importantly, this conceptual work will act as the foundation for future, more focused research in this field.

Historic gardens are important parts of humanity’s built heritage within the designed landscape, providing many environmental, economic and socio-cultural benefits. Management is a key part of their conservation, perhaps the most difficult because it is costly, must be continual, and requires a skilled workforce. This systematic review looks at the literature addressing historic garden management, with special attention regarding the social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainability. Academic studies on this subject come from many different disciplines, making it both stimulating and fragmented. It is now time to consolidate these interdisciplinary efforts into a clear vision, including a framework of key themes and research methods so as to better coordinate efforts and make the information and innovation generated more accessible to the garden managers “in the trenches”. With this aim, reviewed studies are classified according to 10 criteria: supply or demand orientation; management phase involved; primary sustainability processes addressed; geographic criteria; number of sites covered; policy documents referred to; kind of data collected; study methods employed; possibility of bias specifically regarding historic gardens; garden use. An analysis of these criteria shows that historic garden management literature focuses on describing the gardens themselves, with few studies interested in the people supporting them. Future research should follow recent policy documents’ lead and pay more attention to community value and involvement.

Purpose This study examines the role of psychological empowerment in fostering resident support for tourism in Da Lat, Vietnam. It investigates how psychological empowerment mediates the relationship between place identity and residents’ attitudes, offering new insights into community engagement in sustainable tourism development. Design/methodology/approach Grounded in place identity, psychological empowerment, and social exchange theories, the research employs Structural Equation Modeling with Smart-PLS to examine how psychological empowerment enhances resident support for tourism in Da Lat, Vietnam. Findings The study finds that psychological empowerment fully mediates the relationship between residents’ place identity and their support for tourism. Among place identity dimensions, place distinctiveness plays a stronger role, while place-based self-esteem is less influential. Although some residents express moderate concerns about tourism’s impact on community character, psychological empowerment helps mitigate these perceptions and fosters supportive attitudes. Practical implications The findings suggest that tourism planners and policymakers can enhance resident support by fostering psychological empowerment through participatory planning, cultural recognition, and inclusive engagement that gives residents a meaningful voice in tourism development. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that the direct relationship between place identity and tourism support is insignificant; psychological empowerment fully mediates this connection. This insight highlights the critical role of psychological factors in shaping resident support for tourism, offering a deeper understanding of how empowerment can transform community attitudes. By advancing the theoretical framework linking place identity, psychological empowerment, and tourism support, the study offers practical insights for fostering resilient, sustainable tourism development.

While most research on citizenship behaviour focuses on conventional formal organizational contexts, few studies examine its role in destination organizations, such as community-based tourism (CBT). This study addresses that gap by investigating the effects of community citizenship behaviour (CCB), technological optimism, and creative self-efficacy (CSE) on residents’ support for tourism in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand. Using a two-step structural equation modelling approach, data from 500 residents involved in CBT were analysed. The findings reveal that CSE partially mediates the relationship between CCB and support for tourism, while technological optimism positively moderates the CCB-CSE link. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers and practitioners in developing CBT.

Amidst sustainable tourism gaining momentum globally, the present study analyses the effect of perceived positive and negative effects of tourism on the support for sustainable tourism among the resident community at an internationally renowned responsible tourism destination, Kumarakom in Kerala. Data collected through a structured questionnaire from 276 respondents residing in and around the destination was used for analysis. Based on a comprehensive review, a theoretical model depicting the relationship between the variables of interest was developed for empirical validation. Appropriate constructs for the model were identified through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Then, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed to evaluate the measurement model validity. Structural Equation Modelling employing the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method was applied to test the hypothesized model. The study established a significant effect of residents’ perception of the positive and negative effects of responsible tourism on their support for tourism development. The study provided evidence for the negative effect on residents’ perception of the adverse effects of tourism on support for tourism development. The study provides essential inputs for planners and policymakers in realigning sustainable tourism initiatives in such a way as to garner the support of the resident community. It also empirically validates a theoretical model outlining how the perception of residents on the positive and negative effects of tourism influences their support for sustainable tourism.

The study assessed the attitude and perceptions of the local communities towards Gibe Sheleko National Park. The data was collected from three districts of Gurage Zone. Ten sample kebeles of the selected districts were selected by purposive sampling method based on the level interaction, distance from the park, and dependency on the park. The sample size of the respondents was 5% of the total households from each selected kebeles. Household survey, key informant interview, field observation, and focus group discussion were employed to collect the data. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 23 software. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used to analysis major determinant factors for perception and attitude of the local communities. The perception and attitude of the local communities towards the conservation values of Gibe Sheleko National Park showed a significant difference in education level, sex of respondents, distance from the park, and land owning inside or adjoin the park. Therefore, it can be concluded that sex, distance of settlement from the park, academic level and land owning inside or adjoining the park were the major determinant factors that influence perception and attitude of the local communities. Attending high level of education, far proximity from the park and male communities better understood the importance of wildlife and park. Therefore, to encourage partnership with adjacent community and implement conservation measure and awareness creation for local communities by considering these factors that affect on the attitude and perception of local communities towards Gibe Sheleko National Park.