Residents' perception and attitudes towards tourism impacts: A case study of the small rural community of Folgaria (Trentino – Italy)
Abstract
Purpose
The 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/approach
The 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.
Findings
In 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/value
The paper presents the first study of residents' perceptions and attitudes applied to a small mountain community.
Keywords
Citation
Gabriel Brida, J., Osti, L. and Faccioli, M. (2011), "Residents' perception and attitudes towards tourism impacts: A case study of the small rural community of Folgaria (Trentino – Italy)", Benchmarking: An International Journal, Vol. 18 No. 3, pp. 359-385. https://doi.org/10.1108/14635771111137769
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited