Fostering Sustainability in Tourism Destinations Through Residents’ Assessment

Abstract

The growth of the tourism sector has significant impacts on tourism destinations. Therefore, sustainability is a very current issue and has received special attention in recent years. Considering the problems that the uncontrolled growth of tourism has caused in certain tourism destinations, strategic planning and sustainable development are determinant for their success. Tourism activity has a direct impact on residents’ lives; however, the maximization of economic benefits and the attraction of investment continue to emerge as a highlight in most destinations. Despite the resident’s critical role in the success of tourism destinations, their perspective still takes a secondary place, which must be reconsidered by destination managers, particularly DMOs. The research focuses on the characteristics of residents in two cities in the North of Portugal, as well as their perception about the tourism impacts at economic, sociocultural, and environmental level. A quantitative methodology was applied, using a questionnaire survey, to 810 residents, in the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. By analyzing residents’ perceptions about the tourism impacts in the region, the results identify which factors need to be improved to influence residents’ opinions over tourism and leverage their intention to support the sector's development, in advance of strategies addressed to DMOs.