Title: Hosts perceptions of tourism and its impacts: a case of four Slovene communities

Authors: Anton Ogorelc; Borut Milfelner

Addresses: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, Razlagova 14, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia ' Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, Razlagova 14, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Abstract: The study focuses on the emerging tourism industry in four communities in the Eastern Slovenia at different level of tourism development. Using social exchange theory, the research explores rural residents' perceptions of the economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts of tourism. The paper examines the differences and similarities in perceptions between two groups of respondents: residents employed in tourism business and other residents. The findings suggest that there are more similarities between the two groups than expected in terms of the positive impacts of tourism. However, non-industry residents expressed more concern about the negative socio-cultural and environmental impacts. Residents' perceptions of positive and negative impacts tourism varied in communities under different stages of tourism development. However, contrary to expectations, residents in advanced stages of tourism were not more antagonistic towards tourism. Finally, the residents' satisfaction with tourism is significantly higher in destination in development and consolidation stages than in the mature stage.

Keywords: local community; sustainable tourism development; social exchange theory; community tourism impacts; Slovenia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSE.2017.087039

International Journal of Sustainable Economy, 2017 Vol.9 No.4, pp.359 - 379

Received: 23 Jun 2016
Accepted: 12 Sep 2016

Published online: 05 Oct 2017 *

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