Title: Youth's perception of tourism impact: policy implications for Folgaria (Italy)

Authors: Michela Faccioli

Addresses: Master in Tourism and Environmental Economics (MTEE), Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), Edificio Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, Crta. de Valldemossa km. # 7, 5 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the perceptions of tourism impacts and policies of the young residents (between 18 and 35) of the mature Alpine destination of Folgaria (Italy). The data, collected by a mail survey, suggested that youth displays overall positive views of the repercussions of tourism, except for environmental impacts and community involvement in decision making. A Probit model was also implemented to analyse the determinants of individuals' political support for current tourism development. More favourable views of the tourism policy system were observed with increasing level of knowledge about the different initiatives considered. Finally, a principal component analysis outlined the political priorities for the future of the destination.

Keywords: youth; resident attitudes; resident perceptions; young residents; young people; tourism impacts; socio-demographic variables; age; Folgaria; Italy; policy implications; mature destinations; Alpine destinations; Alps; mountains; positive views; tourism repercussions; environmental impacts; community involvement; decision making; communities; municipalities; communes; probit model; regression; dependent variables; determinants; individual support; political support; tourism initiatives; PCA; principal component analysis; political priorities; future plans; tourism policy; tourists.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2011.046710

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2011 Vol.4 No.1, pp.1 - 35

Received: 08 Sep 2010
Accepted: 28 Jan 2011
Published online: 02 May 2012 *

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