Indigenous residents’ perceptions towards tourism development: a case of Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the perceptions of indigenous people towards tourism development and the factors that influence their perceptions of the economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism. Design/methodology/approach This study will focus on the perceptions of an aboriginal group indigenous to Malaysia, and draws upon a sample of 272 from the Lower Kinabatangan region of Sabah, Malaysia. Respondents were administered a questionnaire, the results of which were analysed by way of partial least squares–structural equation modelling. Findings The results indicate a significant positive effect for economic gain on the perceived economic and environmental impacts of tourism, and of community involvement on the perception of social impacts. Moreover, the study found that the perception of environmental impacts, followed by perceived economic impacts, had a strong effect on support for tourism development. Originality/value This study makes a significant theoretical contribution to the resident perception literature by investigating how the perception of tourism impacts affects indigenous residents’ support for tourism development. Furthermore, this study describes a number of practical implications of this study for the promotion of sustainable tourism development among indigenous residents.

Structural equation modeling of residents' attitudes and tourism development: a SET based - study of the Kashmir region in India

“…Existing literature has revealed various economic factors that are beneficial for the local residents like job opportunities, increase in income, business (Alrwajfah et al, 2019;Andereck et al, 2005;Boley et al, 2017;Choi and Sirakaya, 2006;Ko and Stewart, 2002;Nugroho and Numata, 2020), improves the standard of life (Adongo et al, 2017;Haralambopoulos and Pizam, 1996), etc. Almost all studies reported a positive relationship between perceived economic benefits and support for tourism development (Boley et al, 2017;Keogh, 1990;Ko and Stewart, 2002;L atkov a and Vogt, 2012;McGehee et al, 2002;Gursoy and Rutherford, 2004;Sharma et al, 2008;Nunkoo, 2015;Adongo et al, 2017;Latip et al, 2018;Stylidis and Terzidou, 2014). These advantages, however, are frequently joined by an expansion in the cost of living (Alrwajfah et al, 2019;Ko and Stewart, 2002;Nugroho and Numata, 2020), a general increase in the prices of goods and services (Alrwajfah et al, 2019;Andereck et al, 2005;Brunt and Courtney, 1999;Nugroho and Numata, 2020), rising property prices (L atkov a and Vogt, 2012; Nugroho and Numata, 2020), etc.…”

“…These impacts comprise an increase in crime and drug use (Deery et al, 2012;Pizam, 1978), prostitution (Sharma et al, 2008), dislodging of residents and land-use problems (Unalan, 2013). From the existing studies, a positive relationship between social benefits and support for tourism development is found (Jaafar et al, 2017;Gursoy and Rutherford, 2004;Adongo et al, 2017;Latip et al, 2018;Stylidis and Terzidou, 2014) and also established a negative relationship between social costs and support for tourism development (Jaafar et al, 2017;Gursoy and Rutherford, 2004;Adongo et al, 2017).…”

“…From an environmental point of view, tourism develops the environmental awareness of local residents (Amuquandoh, 2010), preserves and protects the environment (Adongo et al, 2017;Amuquandoh, 2010;Sharma et al, 2008), may be a positive impact. Tourism without check damages the environment (Ko and Stewart, 2002;Latip et al, 2018;L atkov a and Vogt, 2012), boosting water and air pollution allied to the development of tourism (Ko and Stewart, 2002). Many researchers point out that the traffic congestion and tourist overcrowding are wreaking havoc on the environment and causing locals to complain.…”

“…A perception of overcrowding may arise as a result of growth in tourist arrivals (Del Chiappa et al, 2018;Garc ıa-Hern andez et al, 2017;Lee et al, 2020). Researchers have recognized a positive relationship between environmental benefits and support for tourism development (Amuquandoh, 2010;Latip et al, 2018) and a negative relationship between environmental costs and support for tourism development (Adongo et al, 2017;Amuquandoh, 2010;Stylidis and Terzidou, 2014).…”

Spectacle of Conservation and Tourism in Protected Areas: Analysis of Management, Issues and Tourist Satisfaction

“…The growth of ecotourism parallels rising concerns about environmental issues in protected areas (Benedetto et al, 2016;Xu & Fox, 2014;Latip et al, 2018). While previous investigations of ecotourism development and environmental issues in protected areas have found considerable variation in the environmental perceptions of visitors, it remains unclear whether and how these visitor environmental perceptions might affect their support for ecotourism development.…”