Determinants of Residents’ Support for Sustainable Tourism Development: An Empirical Study in Midyat, Turkey

Abdullah Uslu, Emrullah Erul, José António C. Santos (), Sanja Obradović and Margarida Custódio Santos
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Abdullah Uslu: Department of Tourism Management, Manavgat Tourism Faculty, Akdeniz University, 07600 Antalya, Turkey
Emrullah Erul: Department of Tourism Management, Tourism Faculty, İzmir Katip Celebi University, 35620 İzmir, Turkey
José António C. Santos: School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism, Campus da Penha, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Sanja Obradović: Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Faculty of Science, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Margarida Custódio Santos: School of Management, Hospitality and Tourism, Campus da Penha, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-14

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which residents’ perceptions of their place image can predict their perceptions of the impacts of tourism, and ultimately, to elucidate their support for sustainable tourism development in Midyat, Turkey. This city currently faces a range of negative impacts associated with tourism, such as inflation, high leakage, threats to family structures, environmental degradation, pollution, and crowding. At the same time, Midyat seeks to maximize the positive impacts of tourism, including job creation and employment, environmental protection, cultural and educational enrichment, and recreational opportunities. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a strategic shift in development. The study population consists of residents residing in Midyat, Turkey, from whom three hundred and fifty-six questionnaires were collected. PLS (Partial Least Squares) path analysis was utilized to analyze the research model constructed based on the literature. The results demonstrated that residents’ place image significantly predicted two out of three impacts of tourism, namely, socio-cultural and economic impacts. Additionally, residents’ perceptions of environmental and socio-cultural impacts were significant predictors of their support or opposition to sustainable tourism. While perceived environmental impacts have a positive effect on support for sustainable tourism, perceived economic impacts have a negative effect. This finding can guide tourism planners and professionals to make more informed decisions and take stronger steps toward sustainable tourism development. This study revealed that the quality of life, job opportunities, infrastructure, and economic income of Midyat’s residents are insufficient. However, the city is characterized by social attributes, such as friendliness, trust, and supportiveness. The results are limited to local residents, and using only one tourist stakeholder to assess sustainable tourism development is insufficient. Therefore, additional research must be performed to guarantee the involvement of other tourism stakeholders.

Keywords: perceived tourism impacts; residents’ place image; sustainable tourism development; Midyat (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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