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Stakeholders’ Attitudes towards Sustainable Tourism Development in Coastal Communities

Stakeholders’ Attitudes towards Sustainable Tourism Development in Coastal Communities. Whitney Knollenberg. Thesis Committee Dr. Joseph Fridgen , Associate Director for Academic Programs , Center for Sustainable Tourism (Committee Chair)

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Stakeholders’ Attitudes towards Sustainable Tourism Development in Coastal Communities

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  1. Stakeholders’ Attitudes towards Sustainable Tourism Development in Coastal Communities Whitney Knollenberg Thesis Committee Dr. Joseph Fridgen, Associate Director for Academic Programs, Center for Sustainable Tourism (Committee Chair) Dr. HuiliHao, Research Director, Center for Sustainable Tourism Dr. Tom Crawford, Associate Professor, Geography

  2. What is sustainable tourism development? Why do we care what residents think? Description of theory Study location Purpose Method Analysis Results Conclusions Applications Future Research Overview

  3. Sustainable Tourism Development “…achieving sustainable forms of tourism is the responsibility of all stakeholders involved, including government at all levels, international organizations, the private sector, environmental groups and citizens both in tourism destination countries and countries of origin.” • The Berlin Declaration On Biological Diversity and Sustainable Tourism, 1997

  4. Sustainable Tourism Development Actions that contribute to a balanced and healthy economy by generating tourism-related jobs, revenues, and taxes while protecting and enhancing the destination's socio-cultural, historical, natural and built resources for the enjoyment and well-being of both residents and visitors. • Center for Sustainable Tourism

  5. Importance of Residents’ Attitudes • Many studies have been conducted examining resident’s attitudes towards tourism • “…without community support, it is difficult to develop a sustainable tourism industry in a community.” - Andereck and Vogt, 2000 (p. 27) • New research is focusing on resident’s attitudes towards sustainable tourism development (Choi and Sirakaya, 2005 and 2006 )

  6. Stakeholder Theory • Stakeholder Theory • A stakeholder is, “any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievement of the organization’s objectives.” - Freeman, 1984 (p. 46) • Translating Stakeholder Theory to tourism • “Freeman’s concepts requires the tourism planner(s) to have a full appreciation of all the persons or groups who have interests in the planning, process(es), delivery and/or outcomes of the tourism service.” - Sautter and Leisen, 1999 (p. 315) • Not all members of a stakeholder group may feel the same way

  7. Location • The fragile nature of coastal environments requires local decision-makers to consider how their actions may impact the resources that attract tourists, such as the ocean and beaches • Coastal communities have large numbers of second homes, which introduces a new group impacted by tourism

  8. Study Areas Three coastal counties Brunswick, Currituck, Pender Counties, NC • Counties selected due to: • High percentage of 2nd Homes • Different tiers of economic development • Proximity to fragile coastal resources

  9. Purpose This study aims to further enable resident involvement in tourism planning by identifying groups of property owners based upon their attitudes towards sustainable development. • Research Question 1: Among coastal community property owners, are there different stakeholder groups based on their perceptions of sustainable actions in tourism development? • Research Question 2: How do these stakeholder groups compare in terms of sociodemographic characteristics?

  10. Methods • Questionnaire development – pilot tests, focus groups, literature review • Population – Property tax payers (both permanent residents and second homeowners) • Sample –Total of 14,587 members were randomly selected from property tax records • Questionnaire available online, over the phone, or on paper

  11. Subsample Selection • Prior to the completion of data collection a subsample was chosen for this study • Online surveys only • Random selection of 300 cases

  12. Analysis • Similar to the analysis used by Williams and Lawson (2001) and Sirakaya-Turk, Ingram and Harrill (2009) exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis will be used to analyze the data. • Exploratory factor analysis • Used to identify the underlying dimensions of variables designed to measure respondent’s perceptions on the importance of sustainable actions in tourism development • TwoStep Cluster analysis • Determines groups of respondents based upon the dimensions of responses to the variables resulting from factor analysis • Descriptive analysis • Used to create profile of each group based upon their sociodemographic characteristics

  13. Sustainable Actions • Measured on a scale of 1 (Not at All Important) – 5 (Very Important) • These actions were adapted from Sustainable Travel International's 12 categories of sustainability • These actions were identified through a literature review

  14. Results – Factor Analysis • Fifteen variables used to measure property owners’ attitudes towards sustainable actions in tourism development • Cronbach’s alpha = .935 • Principal component analysis (PCA) extraction used

  15. Eigen Value = 8.13 Variance Explained = 54.16%

  16. Results – Cluster Analysis • The 15 variables were used to create a mean factor score • This score was used in TwoStep cluster analysis to determine the groups of property owners • Three groups were discovered and an ANOVA test confirmed their mean factor scores were significantly different

  17. X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

  18. Results – Sociodemographic Profiles * Significant at .05

  19. Additional Characteristics • Attitudes towards current levels of tourism development • Advocates had the most members (15.1%) who felt tourism had reached a point where they wished they purchase property elsewhere • Satisfaction with quality of life • Moderate satisfaction with healthcare, housing, recreational opportunities and water quality

  20. Conclusions • Research Question 1: Among coastal community property owners, are there different stakeholder groups based on their perceptions of sustainable actions in tourism development? • Within the population of property owners there are three attitude-specific stakeholder groups: Skeptics, Supporters and Advocates • Differing attitudes on what actions are important

  21. Competing Destinations Public Land Managers Economic Impacts Local Businesses Socio-Cultural Impacts Local Policy Makers Developers Advocates Environ ment Activist Groups Property Owners Supporters Skeptics Tourists Tourism Planners Coastal Zone Mangers Employees Historians/Preservation Groups Business Groups Environmental Impacts Adapted from Sautter, E. T. and Leisen, B. (1999). Managing stakeholders: A tourism planning model. Annals of Tourism Research, 26(2), 312 – 328.

  22. Conclusions • Research Question 2: How do these stakeholder groups compare in terms of sociodemographic characteristics? • There are few sociodemographic features which distinguish the members of each group • Adds to the challenge of identifying all stakeholder groups

  23. Applications • A change in tourism development would require input from property owners • Planners should be aware there is potential for conflict among property owners • These findings support the need for further public involvement in the tourism planning process

  24. Apply data collection methods to larger population Further exploration of relationship between support for general tourism development and attitudes towards sustainable actions Explore other predictors of attitudes towards sustainable actions Future Research

  25. References Andereck, K.L. and Vogt, C.A. (2000). The relationship between residents’ attitudes toward tourism and tourism development options.Journal of Travel Research, 39, 27 – 36. Berlin Declaration (1997). The Berlin declaration on biological diversity and sustainable tourism. International Conference of Environment Ministers on Biodiversity and Tourism. March 6–8. Berlin, Germany: United Nations. Center for Sustainable Tourism (n.d.) What is Sustainable Tourism? Retrieved from www.sustainabletourism.org Choi, H.C. and Sirakaya, E. (2005). Measuring residents’ attitude toward sustainable tourism: Development of sustainable tourism attitude scale. Journal of Travel Research, 43 (3), 380 – 394 Choi, H.C. and Sirakaya, E. (2006). Sustainability indicators for managing community tourism. Tourism Management, 27, 1274 – 1289 Freeman, R. E. (1984). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Boston, MA: Pitman. Sautter, E. T. and Leisen, B. (1999). Managing stakeholders: A tourism planning model. Annals of Tourism Research, 26(2), 312 – 328 Sirakaya-Turk, E., Ingram, L, and Harrill, R. (2009). Resident typologies within the integrative paradigm of sustaincentric tourism development. Tourism Analysis, 13, 531 – 544 Williams, J. and Lawson, R. (2001). Comuity Issues and Residents Opinions of Tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 28(2), 269 - 290

  26. Questions?

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