This study examined the factors predicting attitudes toward tourism of residents from a dozen communities in Arizona, generally following the model developed by Perdue, Long, and Allen, using social exchange theory as the foundation. Findings indicated that in general, personal characteristics did not predict attitudes toward tourism, but community dependence on tourism was a predictor. Personal benefit from tourism predicted both positive and negative effects of tourism and support for additional tourism among residents of the Arizona communities; this was consistent with Perdue, Long, and Allen. Positive effects of tourism, however, did not predict tourism planning. Although support for additional tourism did predict tourism planning, it was a positive rather than a negative relationship as reported by Perdue, Long, and Allen. As expected, support for social exchange theory was mixed; the existence of personal benefit from tourism was not a significant predictor of support for tourism planning.

No abstract

The purpose of this study was to reveal the motivations for agri-tourism entrepreneurship among Virginia farm families and to explore Weber’s theory of formal and substantive rationality as a possible theoretical framework for agritourism entrepreneurship motivation. Results of this study support the use of Weber’s theory of formal and substantive rationality as a framework for the dynamic nature of motivations for agri-tourism entrepreneurship between formal (primarily economic) reasons and substantive (primarily socio-cultural) reasons. Respondents indicated that Virginia farm families owned small farms, utilized farming as a secondary income source, and indicated their most popular agritourism activities to be pick-your-own produce, Christmas tree sales, hayrides, children’s educational programs, petting zoos, and on-farm festivals. Agri-tourism planners should be aware that acres owned, economic dependence on farming operation, and perceived popularity of agri-tourism activities are influential factors to motivate agri-tourism entrepreneurs.

No abstract

No abstract