Tourism Related Impacts as Perceived by Three Resident Typology Groups in San Pedro, Belize

tourism related impacts;community perceptions;sustainable tourism;tourism;resident typologies

Banks, Sarah Katharine ; Dr. Gene Brothers, Committee Chair,Banks, Sarah Katharine ; Dr. Gene Brothers ; Committee Chair

University:North Carolina State University

关键词: tourism related impacts;    community perceptions;    sustainable tourism;    tourism;    resident typologies;   

Others  :  https://repository.lib.ncsu.edu/bitstream/handle/1840.16/4655/etd.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

美国|英语

来源: null

【 摘 要 】

Tourism destinations located within a developing country will likely be increasingly made up of both Native Residents and foreign expatriates, either attracted based on perceived economic development potential or specific environmental and social characteristics making up the community.In recognizing this community makeup, and studying these varying points of view, a greater consensus pertaining to the direction future community development should take may be achieved.This study of tourism on Ambergris Caye, Belize compared the perceptions of three different resident typology groups so as to determine how their differing characteristics as defined by the typology influenced their particular views on acceptable levels of change pertaining to the impacts associated with tourism development.The study defined three resident typologies, the Developer Tourist, the Condo Tourist and the Native Resident, in order to assess their different perspectives toward the tourism industry based on their involvement in the tourism industry and level of attachment to the destination area.The study utilized secondary data analysis of current development levels, as well as survey questionnaires and in-depth qualitative interviews of members of the three typology groups in order to determine perceptions of the various impacts on a rapidly growing island destination.These methods enabled the researcher to determine whether and in what way the perceptions of the three resident typology groups differed concerning tourism impacts on the economic, environmental and sociocultural conditions of their home community.In addition, the findings were assessed through the use of three theoretical frameworks, McCool's 'Limits of Acceptable Change', Butler's 'Tourism Area Life Cycle' and Nielsen et al.'s 'Last Settler Syndrome.'It was believed that the perceptions of each of the three resident groups would best be defined according to a specific development model, with any similarities or overlap of perceptions being of particular relevance.This analysis of the differences and similarities as viewed by three typology groups of tourism related impacts and the placing of these perspectives within three specific development conceptual frameworks has resulted in the opportunity to better explain these differences and move the analysis of tourism development and community planning forward.It was found that each of the resident groups differ significantly concerning their own perspective of tourism related impacts within their home community.This signifies that even though the reality of the level of development is actually indisputable, based on factors such as number of hotels, rooms, and visitors enabling the placement of the tourism area within a particular development stage, the different perspectives expressed by the resident groups signify that they may believe this development stage to be quite different than that reality.The importance in understanding that these differing perspectives exist within a single development stage and location is necessary to attempt to achieve a consensus among the different residents.The need is then to educate the various groups as to how their perspective fits within the current development stage, as well as within the perspective of the other groups.Further, findings showed that although the three resident groups differed concerning their opinions as to the economic and social costs and benefits of tourism, all three groups agreed that ongoing environmental degradation was likely based on current development levels.Through the use of such information, development patterns of typical tourism destinations may be better conceptualized and community-based concerns and consensus may be articulated as a means to help meet future development goals.