Residents' Perceptions of Tourism Impacts in Miaoli, Taiwan

Abstract

Residents' Perceptions of Tourism Impacts in Miaoli, Taiwan Hsiang- Yung Feng Abstract Under the rush of global tourism and the "Taiwan Romantic Route 3" national plan, it hopes to promote the economy of traditional Hakka village with a "cultural value-added" and tourism development strategy. This study attempts to examine the relationships between local residents' perceptions of tourism impacts and attitudes of tourism development. It adopts the method of quantitative measurement by using questionnaires and interviews 372 residents. Findings from this study reveal that residents of different backgrounds have some significant differences in their perceptions of tourism impacts and tourism development attitudes, older people have greater perceptions of the socio-cultural impact of tourism development, while younger people have greater perceptions of economic and environmental impacts. These results reinforce some of the past findings of tourism impacts and local tourism development relationship literatures. Therefore, to ensure the positive correlation between perceptions of tourism impacts and attitudes of tourism development. Despite these research findings, author emphasizes the importance of thinking of local residents before developing local tourism. Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/jthm.v7n2a13