Residents’ perceptions of tourism conflict with Chinese tourists: does economic dependence matter?

ABSTRACT

In recent years, tourism conflict involving Chinese tourists has caused problems related to tourism development in many countries. This research addressed the influence of tourism conflict on local residents’ perceived benefits and costs and their support of tourism development and the moderating role of economic dependence. Survey data from 890 local residents in Taiwan and Thailand revealed that tourism conflict positively influenced perceived costs, and perceived benefits positively influenced support of tourism development. Perceived costs negatively correlated to support of tourism development. Furthermore, economic dependence moderated these relationships. Finally, we discuss management implications and propose suggestions for future studies.

KEYWORDS:

• Tourism conflict
• perceived benefit
• perceived cost
• support of tourism development
• economic dependence
• residents
• social exchange theory
• Chinese tourists
• Taiwan
• Thailand

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.