Do level of tourism development and its type make a difference in residents' perceptions? Learning from Turkish cases

Abstract

PurposeThis study provides insights on the perceptions of residents in destinations offering different tourism products at different levels of tourism development.Design/methodology/approachA total of 1,122 valid responses were gathered through surveys from the residents of three unique destinations, with different levels of tourism development. Non-parametric tests were performed since the data was gathered on an ordinal scale and not distributed normally.FindingsThe tourism perceptions of the residents formed a five-factor structure, namely “socioecological negative”, “socioeconomic positive”, “socioecological development (wellbeing)”, “negative perceptions of tourism” and “tendency to become visitor”. All dimensions except for “socioeconomic positive” differed significantly by destinations in terms of level of tourism development or type of tourism product offered.Research limitations/implicationsResidents' perceptions of tourism differ based on different tourism products and different levels of tourism development of destinations. The residents of the most mature destinations in terms of tourism development have the most negative perceptions of tourism.Originality/valueAlthough there are studies investigating how residents' perceptions differ based on the level of tourism development of destinations, this study, with its holistic approach, aims to provide insights on how residents' perceptions of tourism differ based on the tourism products offered by different destinations. The selected destinations differ from each other in both their level of tourism involvement and products they offer, hence the originality of the current study with its unique contribution to the related body of knowledge.