The existing research in the field of tourism has exhibited a clearer understanding of how residents perceive the dynamic and complex phenomena of tourism. Since the goals of tourism planning and development are to seek maximization of benefits and minimization of the costs of tourism, it is apparent that the effective evaluation of tourism impacts will be valuable information in successful strategies for tourism product development and operation. With these perspectives, this study attempted to investigate the underlying dimensions explaining residents' perceived tourism impacts and to identify relationships between determinants and residents' perceived tourism impacts. The social exchange theory provided a fundamental framework for this study. The dimensions of the tourism impacts were addressed by explicating economic, social/cultural, environmental/physical impacts of tourism development from literature review. Ten determinants which affect residents' perception were identified from past research on tourism impacts: birthplace, length of residency, community attachment, tourism related jobs, recreational activity, tourist contacts, tourism policy participation, travel experience, levels of tourism development, and growth of community. Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Newport News MSAs areas were selected as the study area because these areas provide fine multifaceted tourism attractions, generates many tourists, and influences the host community' life. A total of 316 useful respondents (13.2%) were analyzed by using the SPSS program. Two research questions were proposed. Factor analysis, multiple regression analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANAOVA) were performed. From the findings of this study, residents perceived the impacts of tourism as five different dimensions embodying economic benefits, social costs, cultural enrichment, environmental deterioration, and physical enhancement. Their perceptions were affected by eight out of ten determinants. Generally, a higher level of tourism development and growth of community affects residents' perceptions of tourism impacts. Residents who were natives, who have higher community attachment, and who had been living in the research area for a shorter time period had more concerns about the perceived impacts of tourism. In addition, perceived tourism impacts were significantly differed across household incomes and ethnic groups. For future study, it is suggested that a further investigation of determinants affecting residents' perceptions is needed for better understanding and explanation of the impacts of tourism. It is believed that this study would help tourism planners and developers formulate and implement better strategies. / Master of Science

This study compares the perceptions of long-term residents in rapidly and moderately growing nonmetropolitan communities regarding the effect of newcomers on the community. Data for the study came from a 1975 survey of 1,065 adults in seven Utah communities. Results show that a significantly larger proportion of long-term residents in rapidly growing communities than in moderately growing communities feel that newcomers are having a bad effect on the community. The relationship between perceived effect of newcomers and various personal attributes are examined with rate of population growth as a control variable. The attributes are: 1) length of residence, 2) age, 3) sex, 4) religious preference, 5) income, 6) proportion family living nearby, and 7) proportion of friends living in the community. Brief attention was given to examining newcomers' perception of the effect newcomers are having on the community with the use of length of residence variable. The differences between the long-term and short-term residents were not statistically significantly different. But because of theoretical and practical consideration the remainder of the analysis focused on the attitude of long-term residents. None of the differences between the subgrouping for the respective attributes were statistically significant in both moderate and rapidly growing communities. In rapidly growing communities only one hypothesis was supported with respect to the differences in attitude towards newcomers. The supported hypothesis was that Mormons would be more likely to perceive the effect of newcomers as being bad than would non-Mormons. within the moderately growing communities, statistically significant differences were found between income groups, but they were not in the direction of the hypothesis. Perhaps the most important evidence that rate of population growth influences the long-term residents' perception of newcomers is that, except for non-Mormons, the percentage feeling that the effect of newcomers was bad was highest in rapidly growing communities. This indicates that the pressures associated with rapid growth are generally perceived across a wide variety of subgroups. The particular exception, the non-Mormons, suggests that in particular cases a subgroup might perceive the changes as beneficial and to view the overall process of growth , including the newcomers, more positively.

Rural areas face issues that leads to economic downturns. Nature based tourism is practiced to overcome these issues and improve economic development. The residents in the tourism destinations experience the outcomes of nature-based tourism and rural development. Their perception towards nature-based tourism depends on the outcomes they experience. Recognizing their perceptions aid the smooth operation of nature-based tourism. Moreover, residents’ contribution is impacted by their perception. Three research questions were developed to recognize the residents’ perceptions. The questions were perception of residents, expectations of residents and delivery of those expectations. Social exchange theory was the main theory used and economical, socio cultural and environmental aspects were the main focus. The research was conducted as a quantitative study. 66 responses were collected as the sample from Granö, a rural tourism destination in Northern Sweden. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. The results showed that residents perceive and expect nature-based tourism to develop economy, develop socio culture and protect environment. Further residents perceive and expect tourism aids to make people stay, rather than move out from the destination. In addition, the level of expectations was higher than their perception, but the delivery of those expectations was lower than both expectations and perceptions. The findings contribute tourism planners to cater the perceptions and expectations of the residents of a rural destination. Consideration of residents’ perceptions and expectations will make them feel their voices being heard and enhance smooth operation of tourism in the destination.

Submitted by Fabiany Feitosa (fabiany.sousa@ufba.br) on 2016-09-15T19:11:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva, Paulo Oliveira.pdf: 2092842 bytes, checksum: d5bc1ae7afbeddbdc47f291f89a390e2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Angela Dortas (dortas@ufba.br) on 2016-10-13T17:02:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva, Paulo Oliveira.pdf: 2092842 bytes, checksum: d5bc1ae7afbeddbdc47f291f89a390e2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-13T17:02:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva, Paulo Oliveira.pdf: 2092842 bytes, checksum: d5bc1ae7afbeddbdc47f291f89a390e2 (MD5) / A presente dissertação consiste num trabalho de investigação, descritivo e exploratório, cujo objetivo foi analisar a atuação socioambiental da empresa Cerâmica Artesanal Serra da Capivara, identificando como a organização pesquisada se posiciona diante da questão da responsabilidade socioambiental na perspectiva da comunidade local e seu entorno. A revisão de literatura permitiu a delimitação do arcabouço teórico sobre a responsabilidade socioambiental, enfatizando a sua vertente organizacional. A natureza da pesquisa foi qualitativa e com base no estudo de caso realizado, concluiu-se que a empresa estudada possui uma conduta socioambiental boa na percepção dos moradores locais, principalmente no que diz respeito à geração de renda e a preocupação ética com a preservação do meio ambiente e do Parque Nacional Serra da Capivara. Além disso, observa-se que a empresa desenvolve ação filantrópica e valoriza a cultura local. Contudo, a empresa pesquisada precisa aprimorar seus canais de comunicação e alinhar suas perspectivas organizacionais com os interesses dos moradores locais. A pesquisa revelou, ainda, a existência de conflitos na criação do Parque Nacional Serra da Capivara, questionamentos da população sobre o propósito da empresa, a falta de serviços públicos essenciais na comunidade e a importância da conscientização e capacitação dos moradores sobre a exploração de atividades vinculadas a área do turismo. / This dissertation is a work of research, descriptive and exploratory, aimed to analyze the environmental performance of the company Ceramic Craft Serra da Capybara, identifying how the researched organization stands on the issue of environmental responsibility from the perspective of the local community and its surroundings. The literature review allowed the delimitation of the theoretical framework on social and environmental responsibility, emphasizing its organizational aspects. The nature of the research was qualitative and based on conducted case study, it was concluded that the studied company has a good environmental conduct in the perception of local residents, particularly in regard to income generation and ethical concern with the preservation of environment and the Serra da Capivara National Park. Moreover, it is observed that the company develops philanthropic action and values the local culture. However, the company researched needs to improve its communication channels and align their organizational perspectives with the interests of local residents. The survey also revealed the existence of conflicts in the creation of the Serra da Capivara National Park, population questions about the company's purpose, lack of essential public services in the community and the importance of awareness and training of the residents on the activities of exploration linked to tourism.