Responsible Tourism Practices and Support for Sustainable Tourism Development: The Perspectives of Local Community in Wayanad
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Date
2025-01
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Avinashilingam
Abstract
Sustainable tourism gained significant attention in the 1990s. Responsible Tourism Practices (RTP) emerged as a key framework to ensure tourism development that aims to attain sustainability goals, community benefits, increased environmental protection, and social justice. RTP emphasizes the involvement of local communities, as their engagement and attitudes directly influence tourism's outcomes. Wayanad was selected as a pilot region for RTP implementation in Kerala due to its socio-cultural and environmental significance. However, there needs to be more research on how responsible tourism practices have been applied in Wayanad and their effects on local communities. This study aims to bridge this gap by evaluating the implementation of RTP in Wayanad, focusing on how it affects local communities' perceptions of tourism impacts, their Quality of Life Satisfaction (QOLS), and their support for sustainable tourism development (SSTD). It integrates the Triple Bottom-Line Theory, exploring the interaction between tourism impacts (economic, social, environmental, and cultural), community well-being, RTP, and
OQLS. The research adopts a quantitative methodology, using statistical tools such as Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), and Moderation Analysis to test the relationships. The findings reveal a positive relationship between tourism impacts and residents' well-being across various life domains, influencing their overall quality of life satisfaction
and support for sustainable tourism. RTP significantly moderates the effects on economic, social and environmental dimensions of quality of life satisfaction, although it does not significantly moderate the cultural impacts on emotional well-being. These results suggest responsible tourism practices can improve community’s well-being amidst tourism development. Still, there is a need to mitigate the negative effects to enhance emotional well-being. This study contributes to tourism theory by introducing a Responsible Tourism Model that links tourism impacts, Sense of well-being in all life domains, and OQLS to SSTD. The model offers valuable insights for tourism planners and stakeholders, advocating for a more nuanced approach to RTP implementation that addresses both positive and negative tourism impacts. Further research is needed to explore the cultural dimensions of RTP and emotional well-being in depth. Keywords: Tourism Impacts, Sense of well-being in various Life Domains, Overall Quality of Life Satisfaction, Responsible Tourism Practices, Support for Sustainable Tourism Development.
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Tourism Management