Residents’ Negative Perceptions towards Tourism, Loyalty and Happiness: The Case of Fuengirola, Spain

Eva María Sánchez-Teba,María Dolores Benítez-Márquez,Teresa Romero-Navas

doi:10.3390/su11236841

Eva María Sánchez-Teba, María Dolores Benítez-Márquez + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236841

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Dec 2, 2019
Citations: 7	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Universidad de Málaga

Abstract

Current studies suggest focusing on the study of residents’ negative perceptions towards tourism. This study estimates a confirmatory model of structural equations based on variance. The negative perceptions of residents living in Fuengirola (Spain), divided into three dimensions (negative economic impact, negative social impact, and negative environmental impact), according to social exchange theory, and, also the residents’ loyalty to their city are considered to be predictors of residents’ happiness. We have proposed a construct of residents’ loyalty to their tourism destination residence as a novelty, being composed of two indicators. The model has been computed based on partial least squares-structural equation modeling. The following hypotheses have been tested: (a) negative perceptions have positive effects on each other; (b) negative perceptions have a negative effect on happiness; and, (c) residents’ loyalty has a positive effect on happiness. The hypotheses were not rejected. Moreover, the loyalty of the residents has the highest direct positive impact, while the negative impacts have weak negative effects, direct and indirect, on the happiness of the residents. The result of the positive relationship between place loyalty and happiness referred by those persons who perceive their living place (neighborhood) as prestigious is consistent with our findings, which is, an increase of loyalty was found to be associated with an increase in happiness.

Highlights

Tourism is a very important sector in the economy of many countries, regions, cities, or places
The negative perceptions of residents living in Fuengirola (Spain), divided into three dimensions, according to social exchange theory, and, the residents’ loyalty to their city are considered to be predictors of residents’ happiness
The result of the positive relationship between place loyalty and happiness referred by those persons who perceive their living place as prestigious is consistent with our findings, which is, an increase of loyalty was found to be associated with an increase in happiness

Summary

Introduction

Tourism is a very important sector in the economy of many countries, regions, cities, or places. In relation to Spain, in 2018, the tourism and travel sector contributed EUR178 billion to the economy of Spain (EUR 1 in every EUR 7) with a share of 14.6% of the gross domestic product and 14.7% of all jobs. The Spanish tourism sector is split 55% vs 45% in terms of international and domestic visitors [1]. The National Statistics Institute (INE) in Spain publishes both of the surveys. According to the official estimates data of the Andalusian Tourism Situation Survey (Statistical and Mapping Institute of Andalusia), this region received 30.6 millions of tourists in 2018, comprised 49.6% of foreigners, with the remainder domestic tourists.

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