Community Groups' Perceptions of and Preferences for Tourism Development: Evidence from Crete

Abstract

Despite the increasing research on residents'attitudes toward tourism development, there is limited research on other community groups'perceptions of various tourism matters. The literature suggests that it is essential to appreciate community groups' perceptions and preferences because the measurement of these perceptions plays a vital role in the future success of a destination. As a result, this study was conducted to measure the perceptions of tourism development in three Cretan community groups: residents reliant on tourism employment, nonreliant residents, and tourism business people. The aim was to investigate whether, as social exchange theory suggests, tourism business people and reliant residents are more positive toward tourism and further tourism development due to their economic and/or employment dependency on tourism, and to use community perceptions as a guide for the future tourism development of the island. From the findings, it is evident that the three groups expressed a high degree of positivity toward tourism and tourism development, although there were some differences in their agreement for the types of tourists, facilities, and actions considered beneficial for the island.

Attitudes and Perceptions of the Local Community towards Sustainable Tourism Development in Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq

“…The findings of this research are similar to those of other studies such as Andriotis and Kuvan and Akan [54,55]. The fact that tourism is perceived as having cultural benefits is a common finding in this geographical area, where host communities are very proud of their cultural heritage, being part of one of the oldest civilizations.…”

Perception of Tourism Impact and Support Tourism Development in Terengganu, Malaysia

“…In addition, there is a significant lack of study related to the attitudes and perceptions of residents towards tourism development. In order to fill the gap through this research, we use the social exchange theory model proposed by (Pham and Kayat 2011;Allen et al 1993;Andereck et al 2005;Andriotis 2005;Andriotis and Vaughan 2003;Ap 1990;Chen 2000;Getz 1994;Johnson et al 1994) to explain the perception of residents in terms of support for tourism development. These accounts provide a context for the comprehensive understanding of the importance of resident perception in tourism development (Harrill 2004).…”

A Strategic Analysis of the Greek Leisure Tourism: Competitive Position, Issues and Challenges

“…Social and cultural impacts: The development of mass tourism and the lack of effective planning and management are also responsible for a number of negative social and cultural impacts observed in Greek host societies (Tsartas, 1992;Wickens, 1994;Haralambopoulos & Pizam, 1996;Andriotis, 2005): the misbehaviour of tourists, aggressive to the host populations and several types of criminal activity; the commercialisation of history, cultural traditions and the Greek lifestyle. Briassoulis (1993: 296) perhaps describes best the change in labour force values when as she suggests that tourism has created a peculiar parasitic group of tourist entrepreneurs operating tourist-serving enterprises.…”