TY - JOUR

T1 - Residents' perception and attitudes towards tourism impacts: A case study of the small rural community of Folgaria (Trentino - Italy)

AU - Brida, J.G.

AU - Osti, Linda

AU - Faccioli, Michaela

N1 - Cited By :97 Export Date: 17 March 2023

PY - 2011/5/31

Y1 - 2011/5/31

N2 - PurposeThe aim of this paper is to analyse how the impacts of tourism are perceived by a local population and which factors affect the relationship between impacts and perceptions' formation, with specific consideration of the framework in a mountain resort. For this purpose, the paper explores the existing literature on issues related to host perceptions and attitudes and involves a primary data collection in the mountain community of Folgaria in Northern Italy.Design/methodology/approachThe number and quality of the questionnaires collected allowed a quantitative analysis of the hosts' perceptions and attitudes to be performed, and a cluster analysis has demonstrated the existence of different groups within which members have common features and similar perceptions and attitudes.FindingsIn general, this research work has revealed a recognition by the residents of the positive economic impacts of tourism. Also, the social and cultural impacts are recognized to be positive, but at a lower degree. In terms of the future tourism polices, the different groups identified in the cluster analysis exert different positions.Originality/valueThe paper presents the first study of residents' perceptions and attitudes applied to a small mountain community.

AB - PurposeThe aim of this paper is to analyse how the impacts of tourism are perceived by a local population and which factors affect the relationship between impacts and perceptions' formation, with specific consideration of the framework in a mountain resort. For this purpose, the paper explores the existing literature on issues related to host perceptions and attitudes and involves a primary data collection in the mountain community of Folgaria in Northern Italy.Design/methodology/approachThe number and quality of the questionnaires collected allowed a quantitative analysis of the hosts' perceptions and attitudes to be performed, and a cluster analysis has demonstrated the existence of different groups within which members have common features and similar perceptions and attitudes.FindingsIn general, this research work has revealed a recognition by the residents of the positive economic impacts of tourism. Also, the social and cultural impacts are recognized to be positive, but at a lower degree. In terms of the future tourism polices, the different groups identified in the cluster analysis exert different positions.Originality/valueThe paper presents the first study of residents' perceptions and attitudes applied to a small mountain community.

U2 - 10.1108/14635771111137769

DO - 10.1108/14635771111137769

M3 - Article

VL - 18

SP - 359

EP - 385

JO - Benchmarking

JF - Benchmarking

IS - 3

ER -