Residents' perceptions of tourism impacts and sustainable tourism development

Abstract

Studying ecological, economic and socio-cultural impacts is a critical component of understanding how tourism affects destination communities. This study examined the residents' perceptions of positive and negative impacts of tourism on the host community. The main characteristics of the theoretical discussion on host community perceptions of tourism development are presented. In the empirical part, the author explore how residents in a health spa resort regard tourism as affecting their community, thereby providing a framework for research of perceptions of positive and negative impacts of tourism in a mature tourist destination.