Host Community Perceptions Research Articles

Biosecurity Breaches and Tourist Vectoring: Assessing the Impact on Host Community Perception in Ireland

Biosecurity Breaches and Tourist Vectoring: Assessing the Impact on Host Community Perception in Ireland

SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF HOST COMMUNITIE’S SUPPORT FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN THE HERITAGE DESTINATION OF PURI, INDIA

The study aims to examine the role of socio-demographic characteristics on the host community's perception of tourism impacts in heritage tourism destinations of a developing country. The variables discussed are age, gender, religion, level of education, length of stay in the community, and involvement in the tourism sector. A questionnaire survey method was adopted, and 450 samples were collected from three host communities of Puri, a heritage destination in eastern India. The analysis was carried out using descriptive methods like distribution of the mean, frequency, etc., and statistical techniques like t-test, one-way ANOVA, post-hoc test, etc. were used. The findings revealed religiosity as the most significant variable influencing the host community’s perception. The study also found level of education, and length of stay in the community as significantly influential variables. The study's findings will contribute to the literature on tourism impact assessment for heritage destinations in developing countries. It also offers practical implications for policymakers and destination managers in planning tourism development strategies.

The Management Model of Sustainable Volunteer Tourism

This study aims to analyze volunteer tourist satisfaction and host community perceptions and design a sustainable volunteer tourism management model. This research includes qualitative research using mixed analysis methods. The data consists of primary and secondary data from Afo Tour and Travel North Maluku, Volunteer Tourists, and the host community in 2018, 2019 and 2021. The study found that volunteer tourism provides satisfaction for tourists and host communities. The most dominant factors providing satisfaction are Nature Tourism, Marine tourism and Shark feeding attractions, Knowledge transfer, Outbound and Culinary. Tourist satisfaction has an impact on loyalty to volunteer tourists. Volunteer tourism managers must implement a “two-sided satisfaction model” that emphasizes the satisfaction of tourists and host communities as the key to achieving the sustainability of volunteer tourism.

Perceptions around climate change impacts on natural resources and tourism sustainability in protected areas: A case study of Maasai Mara national reserve, Kenya

Kenya' tourism industry is predominantly based on nature and founded on protected areas (PAs) model. However, climatic changes through unstable temperature as well as rainfall patterns have the potential to cause declines in wildlife populations in these PAs. Climate change poses exceptional social, cultural as well as environmental challenges. In Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve (MMNR), a combined number of factors including climate change, human population pressure on wildlife dispersal areas including human wildlife conflict has resulted in catastrophic declines in wildlife populations. The study investigated MMNR host community perceptions oaround climate change impacts of on natural resources and sustainability of tourism. This is because regional knowledge gaps exist in research on climate change impacts on tourism. Exploratory research design was adopted. This research used quantitative data and hence exploratory approach was considered suitable. Simple random sampling was adopted to sample 399 heads of households who filled the questionnaires. Using SPSS V.23, descriptive as well as inferential statistics was adopted to analyze quantitative data. The relationship between the variables was determined using linear regression. The study findings indicate a positive as well as significant relationship on the two variables of natural resources and tourism sustainability as evidenced by the values (b=0.393 and p=0.000). Also, the coefficient of determination (R squared) shows 39.5% variation in sustainability of tourism can be attributed to climate change as indicated in Table 3. The study findings raises the need for strategic initiatives and considerations for developing alternative wildlife based tourism products in the advent of declines in wildlife populations as a result of erratic rainfall and temperature patterns.

Tourism Development and its Impacts in Shaheed Dweep of Andaman and Nicobar Islands: An Understanding from the Host Community Perceptions

Tourism has both positive and negative impact on the host community. This paper tries to find out the perceptions of the host community towards tourism development and its impacts in Shaheed Dweep of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A simple random household survey was conducted among 353 respondents of Shaheed Dweep to know about perceptions on two factors of impact: (i) Costs of Tourism Development and (ii) Benefits from tourism Development. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was applied for it. The findings reveal that tourism development has created lots of employment opportunities as one of the positive impacts but on the other side as a negative impact, it found that due to the seasonal nature it is creating more part-time job than full-time among the host community.

Exploring Host Community Perception of Panchor Town for Tourist Destination based on Social Exchange Theory

This paper explores the significance of a rural region, the village of Panchor, as a potential nature tourism site located in Johor district of Muar, Malaysia. The study's objectives were (1) evaluating local community funding, and (2) evaluating the participation of local government. Three overlapping topics were explored based on qualitative interpretation of an interview and open-ended answers in the questionnaire: (1) group connection, (2) economic benefits, and (3) environmental attitude. The findings revealed that river-based tourism could improve the socio-economic status and the sustainability of rural areas. It also addressed the consequences and limitations of the study in this report. Keywords: Community Attachment; Economic Gains; Environmental Attitude; River-based Tourism eISSN 2398-4295 ©2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers (AMER); Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians / Africans / Arabians (ABRA); Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies (cE-Bs), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ajbes.v5i19.191

Support or against coal mining? Host community perceptions of coal mining: a cluster analysis

For a successful resource development, it is requisite to appraise residents’ perceptions of the impacts of coal resource development. This study aims to explain how coal exploitation influences local residents’ perception. The analysis uses a demographically and perceptively diversified sample of 450 farmers residing in the vicinity of mines. Then factor clustering analysis is carried out on the samples. Chi-squared and independent sample T tests were used to examine the associations between residents’ perception with the triple bottom line and residents’ natures. The results of this study reveal that the four groups (advocates, objectors, cautious-advocates and cautious-objectors) differ significantly on their perceived impacts of the coal resource development with respect to its environmental, sociocultural and economic contributions. And those results have both managerial and policy implications in the locals participating in planning and managing coal resource development.

Sustainability Challenges of Wind Power Deployment in Coastal Ceará State, Brazil

Sustainable and socially just decarbonization faces numerous challenges, owing to high land demands for wind farms and weak economic and political institutions. In Brazil, a leader in the Global South in terms of rapid installation of wind power capacity since the 2001 electricity crisis, firms have built wind farms near host communities that are politically and economically marginalized, giving rise to numerous forms of subtle contention and overt opposition. We aimed to better understand the licensing materials for wind farms and the content of the host communities’ concerns about wind farms. We analyzed 18 “simplified” environmental impact reports, which created a legal path for wind farm construction, and conducted qualitative interviews in host communities in coastal Ceará state in northeastern Brazil. Our analysis reveals how firms appropriated and manipulated “crisis” in their environmental impact reports. Interviews with host community members reveal themes of ecological damage, fear, privatized land, employment, migrant workers and noise, in addition to evidence of active resistance to wind farms. These findings corroborate previous work on the overall nature of host community perceptions, add additional insight on the content of the licensing materials and expand the number of host communities analyzed for emerging sustainability challenges. More rigorous licensing procedures are needed to reduce corrupt practices, as well as the offering of avenues for community participation in the decision-making processes and eventual benefits of the wind farms.

Developing the Rural Town of Panchor into a Future River-based Tourism Destination: Host Community Perception

This paper examines the significance of a rural area, Panchor village town, as a potential nature tourism site in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. The objectives of the study were (1) to evaluate local community support and (2) to assess local community involvement. Based on qualitative analysis of an interview and open-ended responses in the questionnaire, three interconnected themes were: (1) community attachment, (2) economic gains and (3) environmental attitude. The findings revealed that river-based tourism development could stimulate the socio-economic status and the sustainability of rural areas. This study also discussed implications and limitations of the research. Keywords: Community Attachment; Economic Gains; Environmental Attitude; River-based Tourism eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bsby e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, UniversitiTeknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5i14.2236

What is the host community perception of slum tourism in Colombia?

PurposeThis paper aims to find answers to two research questions: What is the perception of the Moravia community on tourism in their neighbourhood? What are the conditions under which they can accept slum tourism?Design/methodology/approachThe foundation of this paper was laid during a field trip to Medellin, Colombia, in March 2018. More than three weeks were spent in the neighbourhood of Moravia, one of Medellin’s “barrios” or slums, where a qualitative study was led. Semi-structured interviews with the local community were done around the neighbourhood.FindingsThe main finding of this research is the positive perception of slum tourism within the Moravia community. The researchers found that the locals are proud when outsiders visit to see their neighbourhood. The locals felt that, it breaks the prejudice surrounding their homes, and tourists are seen as spokespeople for the barrio. There are visible improvements made to the barrio owing to tourism. This research drew attention to the conditions under which this type of tourism can be accepted in the neighbourhood: community participation, interaction between hosts and tourists, education and respect of tourists and the visible improvements to the neighbourhood.Originality/valueSlum tourism is an understudied topic in Colombia, especially in Medellin. By researching on the host perception on slum tourism, this paper contributes to literature on slum tourism from a new angle.

Resident perceptions of tourism: The role of social distance

AbstractThe past 10 years has seen dramatic growth in international visitor numbers to Japan. Our research investigates Japanese host community perceptions of tourism development, specifically the impact that social distance has on these perceptions. Results from host residents (n = 1,569) confirmed significant differences in perceived social distance between visitor nationalities. Regression analyses reveal social distance to have a more significant influence on host perceptions towards tourism and its development than host attributes identified in earlier studies. Strategies and tactics for alleviating social distance are discussed, and implications are drawn for Japan's future development as a sustained successful tourism destination.

‘What is Africa to me’ now?: African-American heritage tourism in Senegambia

ABSTRACTThis article scrutinises how Afro-diasporic tourists exemplify concepts of liminality, historical memory, and racial construction while engaging in heritage tourism, and how these concepts inform the host community's perception of the visitors. It includes the results of extensive interviews with African Americans who engaged in roots or heritage tourism in Senegal and/or Gambia in 2010, and who visited the Maison des Esclaves in Gorée Island and/or Juffureh Village in The Gambia. The research shows that African American tourists emerge from these encounters with various conceptions of self. Some felt more ‘African’ following their pilgrimage, while others felt a stronger attachment to their American identity. Some preferred an unfinished combination of the two, asserting a newfound appreciation for their ‘African American’ identities. Corresponding with the latter point, I revisit the ‘Double-Consciousness’ theory proposed by W.E.B. Dubois, revealing how some tourists reexamine their diasporic identit(ies) as ‘Africans’ and ‘Americans’ during their sojourns.

Host community perceptions of cruise tourism in a homeport: A cluster analysis

Abstract This study applies a factor-cluster analysis to a sample of 321 residents in the city of Valencia based on their perceptions of the impacts of cruises on their city. Three clusters of residents were identified, namely 'pessimists', 'cautious supporters' and 'optimists'. Overall, the findings reveal that most respondents doubt the magnitude of positive impact in terms of welfare, social, economic and heritage aspects. Furthermore, there are significant differences between the three clusters, based on age and geographical proximity to the tourist area and port. No significant differences were found based on gender, level of education, numbers of members in household, occupation, length of residency and economic reliance on cruise tourism. This provides contradictory insights when compared to previous studies and sheds light on the fact that studies applying the community-based tourism approach in the context of cruise activity are highly site-specific and hardly generalizable. Hence, contributions to the body of knowledge and managerial implications are discussed and suggestions for further research are given.

Likert scale versus Q-table measures – a comparison of host community perceptions of a film festival

ABSTRACTCurrent literature on impact assessment stresses the need to focus on understanding respondents and suggests Q methodology as a suitable instrument. This paper aims to compare Q methodology and the commonly used Likert scaling, to evaluate the impact of residents’ perception at a film festival. A set of 23 impacts were offered to respondents and the same respondents were interviewed twice over the course of one month, first using Likert scaling, and second using Q-table. Finally, a factor analysis was conducted. The factor analysis revealed five factors for both survey techniques. However, the reliability analysis using Cronbach's alpha showed weaker internal consistency for all factors using Q-table. The research results also showed that Likert scaling provided better statistical relevance and easier interpretation of results. Likert scaling also proved that respondents tended to indicate items as “strongly agree” or “agree”, so lower impact variability is shown. Using Q-table forced respondents to diversify their impact assessments and thus provided valuable information for practical application in decision-making processes. Despite differences in both analyses, some similarities could be seen.

Host community perceptions of the contributions of second homes

Second homes as properties used primarily for leisure purposes rather than permanent residences are considered to contribute both positively and negatively to the sustainability of host communities. This paper discusses quantitative and qualitative research conducted within host communities to examine the socio-economic contributions of this unique form of tourism. Conclusions confirm the difficulties in typifying properties and defining second homes, and that second homes can be considered to have a role in both contributing to and compromising the sustainability of host communities. It suggests that the economic contributions of second homes need to be maximized, and the engagement of second-home owners into host communities needs to be actively encouraged in order to best harness the benefits available. However, the semi-permanent residential status second homes generate is demonstrated to intrinsically limit potential contributions to community and to be a negative social effect.

Inhibitors to host community participation in sustainable tourism development in developing countries

The involvement of host communities (or destination residents), particularly in developing countries, is critical to the success of tourism development and to the creation of a “Just Destination”. This paper investigates host community perceptions about obstacles to their participation in tourism development in Lombok, Indonesia, providing new insights into institutional influences on tourism opportunities and issues. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques targeted separate groups of destination residents who live in a developed tourism destination, a less developed tourism destination, a remote rural village far away from tourism destinations, as well as a group of university students. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, qualitative questionnaires and observation, and were analysed using content analysis. Results show three main institutional factors inhibit host community participation in tourism: tourism agencies, private sector providers and tourism infrastructure, and perceptions of the negative impacts of tourism. The underperformance of state tourism agencies and private sector providers resulted in a lack of tourism infrastructure and limitations on host community opportunities to participate in tourism development and businesses. The findings suggest the need for improvement in the training of state tourism agency employees, better coordination among government agencies, and improved education and training for tourism operators.

A Longitudinal Study of the Impacts of an Annual Event on Local Residents

Understanding the impact of an event on residents' quality of life (QOL) is becoming increasingly important because local residents are the key source of attendees for most events and help ensure the event's survival. This study compares the host community perceptions of the impacts of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix over time to determine whether there were changes in resident perceptions of the event's influence on residents' QOL. The same methods were used in each of two separate data collection phases spaced three years apart. Using postal surveys, 279 responses were received each year, although these represented different response rates. Cluster analysis was used to identify residents with varying perceptions. The findings suggest that, over time, the number of respondents in the “unconcerned” category had grown and those with extreme positive and negative perceptions had decreased. The respondents to Phase 2 of the study had an increased appreciation of the economic contribution of the event and the impact on residents' QOL appeared to be less damaging, with fewer concerns about noise and the operational components of the event in the latter cohort. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications for event organisers and local tourism authorities in managing events for improved residents' QOL.

Well-being, Cultural Capital and Social Inclusion: Immigrants in the Republic of Ireland

This article draws on survey data on child, family and neighbourhood well-being in the Republic of Ireland to examine the nature and extent of immigrant social inclusion. Focusing in particular on results for an area known as ‘the Liberties’ in Dublin, in which immigrants are overly represented, the article specifically examines: (1) the relationship between levels of adult immigrant social inclusion and well-being, (2) child well-being scores of immigrant and Irish families and (3) immigrant and host community perceptions of neighbourhood characteristics. The article also considers how and to what extent immigrant human, social and cultural capital explains these findings.

Host Community Perceptions toward Sustainable Tourism Development

Host Community Perceptions toward Sustainable Tourism Development

Residents' perceptions of tourism impacts and sustainable tourism development

Studying ecological, economic and socio-cultural impacts is a critical component of understanding how tourism affects destination communities. This study examined the residents' perceptions of positive and negative impacts of tourism on the host community. The main characteristics of the theoretical discussion on host community perceptions of tourism development are presented. In the empirical part, the author explore how residents in a health spa resort regard tourism as affecting their community, thereby providing a framework for research of perceptions of positive and negative impacts of tourism in a mature tourist destination.