Quality of life and tourism impacts: a community perspective

• Main Author: Acha-Anyi P Nkemngu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AfricaJournals 2015-01-01
• Series: African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure
• Subjects: Quality of life; tourism impacts; local community
• Online Access: http://www.ajhtl.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_11_vol_4_1_2015_jan-june.pdf

This study proposes a conceptual model for optimising local community support and active participation in tourism development. Empirical data is collected and analysed on residents’ perceptions of various elements of tourism impacts based on the sustainable tourism triple bottomline and how respondents think tourism will affect their quality of life and community life. Literature on the Social Exchange Theory (SET) and the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) is reviewed in order to determine the considerations that residents are likely to make in deciding whether to support tourism or not. Hence, the paper concludes that optimising community participation in tourism requires giving due diligence to residents’ perceptions of tourism impacts and the effects these are likely to have on their quality of life and their community.