Wine Tourism: the role of community sentience

Abstract

Wine tourism has emerged as an economic diversification strategy for wine regions, seeking to valorize local products and attract investments. Like any sector, wine tourism impacts various aspects of residents' lives where it is implemented. This impact can influence the decision to support tourism development in the community. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the role of residents' sentience in supporting the development of wine tourism, using Social Capital Theory (SCT) and Stakeholder Theory (ST) as methodological bases. The research employed an online questionnaire, with 549 responses, of which 498 were considered for analysis. The results indicate that community sentience is positively related to community attachment, perception of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of tourism, as well as support for tourism. While economic impacts have a positive influence on tourism support, they do not motivate community participation. Social impacts may motivate participation, but they are not directly related to tourism support. Environmental impacts are crucial for both participation and tourism support. Surprisingly, community participation has a negative relationship with tourism support. Additionally, community sentience can positively impact all proposed relationships in the study. These results highlight the importance of considering residents' perceptions and attitudes in the planning and development of wine tourism, suggesting that community engagement strategies and environmental impact mitigation can promote greater acceptance and support for this tourism activity. In conclusion, understanding residents' sentiments is essential for sustainable wine tourism development. By integrating community perspectives and addressing their concerns, stakeholders can foster a supportive environment for wine tourism that benefits both the industry and the local community.