Community Support for Religious Tourism

Abstract

In recent years, tourism has increased significantly, especially in developing countries, due to the development of infrastructures like good roads, well-connected airports, and hygienic accommodation facilities. However, the host community's attitude is critical for a tourism destination's strategic growth, development, and sustainability. As such, this study analyses attitudes and perceptions of the local community in Thrissur, a famous cultural destination in Kerala, India. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was adopted to develop a model for perceived tourism support with community attachment and overall quality of life. This model uses seven constructs: temple place image, economic benefits, social benefits, physical benefits, community attachment, overall quality of life, and perceived tourism support with forty-four attributes. The result indicates that Temple place image, socioeconomic and physical benefits, community attachment, and overall quality of life are predominant determiners for perceived tourism support of the local community.