Tourism and Residents’ Quality of Life: A Critical Examination

Abstract

This academic paper aims at increasing awareness and understanding of extant knowledge relating to empirical research undertaken on how residents’ quality of life (QOL) is impacted by tourism activities. The paper will deliberate related definitions, critically examine selected theoretical frameworks and main themes of extant empirical research in relation to tourism and residents’ QOL, with a focus on Pacific context. Strengths and weaknesses of selected theoretical frameworks discussed include social exchange theory, social representations theory and bottom up spillover theory. It also scrutinizes concepts related to how the actions of tourists and the activities of tourism businesses affect indigenous host communities in relation to impacts on residents’ QOL. It concludes with an overview of current limitations and future research opportunities encompassing tourism activities and residents’ QOL scholarship. Future research opportunities highlighted include an expansion of ontological and epistemological issues in relation to research related to resident atitudes to tourism and quality of life in indigenous communities.

Understanding the tourist-resident relationship through social contact: progressing the development of social contact in tourism

“…Social exchange theory is widely used in explaining residents' attitude towards local tourism development, however less studies have applied it in understanding tourists' attitude towards tourism and their travel experience (Fan, Liu & Qiu, 2019). Moreover, the theory was challenged by its ignorance of different cultural contexts, the complexity of social relations, and the irrational attitude and behaviours (Matatolu, 2019). Social exchange theory is also used together with other well-established theories, such as Doxey's (1975) Irridex Model andButler's (1980) tourism area life cycle (TALC) to understand residents' attitude and attitude change in tourism development.…”

How do locals perceive the touristification of their food market? The case of Barcelona's La Boqueria

“…Nunkoo et al (2013) argue that most studies of community attitudes towards tourism use SET as their theoretical foundation. Moreover, they state (p. 12) that the “popularity of SET can be attributed to the fact that the theory recognizes the heterogeneous nature of a host community.” Meanwhile, Ap (1992, p. 685) argues that SET is “logically and intuitively appealing one that may be used to explain why residents develop positive or negative perceptions of tourism impacts.” Conversely, SET has been criticized for its inability to depict complex social relations (Moscovici, 1981), while according to Matatolu (2019, p. 136) “theory assumes that human beings act rationally when deciding on an exchange.”…”

Do Climate Change Interventions Impact the Determinants of Health for Pacific Island Peoples? A Literature Review

“…The tourism industry thus has the potential to improve the social and structural determinants of health, although the potential for negative consequences should be carefully monitored to ensure that Pacific communities retain ultimate control. More work is needed to examine both the documented and potential negative health impacts of tourism on the determinants of health, such as those stemming from livelihood unreliability (Puig-Cabrera and Foronda-Robles 2019) and the poor relationship between tourism income and happiness (Matatolu 2019). Such work should also take into account alterations to the industry brought on by climate change.…”