Title: A structural equation model of tourism activities, social interaction and the impact of tourism on youth tourists' QOL

Authors: Celeste Eusébio; Maria João Carneiro; Ana Caldeira

Addresses: Department of Economics, Management and Industrial Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal ' Department of Economics, Management and Industrial Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal ' Department of Economics, Management and Industrial Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

Abstract: The current study aims to develop a model in the scope of youth tourism that illustrates structural relationships among the following constructs: 1) frequency of participation in several tourism activities; 2) frequency of social interaction with residents; 3) perception of tourism impacts on several domains of quality of life (QOL); 4) perception of tourism impacts on overall QOL. To achieve this objective, a survey was carried out with university students and 412 completed questionnaires were obtained. The model was tested with partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Results show a strong positive impact of tourism activities on social interaction and a positive impact of both tourism activities and social interaction on all domains of QOL - physical health, social relationships, psychological features and environmental conditions. The paper ends with recommendations for improving the impact of tourism on youth visitors' QOL.

Keywords: tourism activities; social interaction; quality of life; QoL; tourism impacts; youth tourists; young people; partial least squares; structural equation modelling; PLS-SEM; university students; tourist perceptions; physical health; social relationships; psychological features; environmental conditions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTP.2016.077966

International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2016 Vol.6 No.2, pp.85 - 108

Received: 11 Sep 2015
Accepted: 24 Feb 2016
Published online: 28 Jul 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article