Impacts of tourism on residents: an analysis of the integrated threat theory

ABSTRACT

This paper applies the Integrated Threat Theory as a framework for an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach to examine the impacts of tourism on Seychelles’ residents. In-depth interviews of 28 informants revealed residents’ perceptions of tourism’s negative impacts. Findings were combined with factors from previous studies in a quantitative survey of 281 respondents for a more comprehensive view. Results revealed that residents perceived restricted access to beaches near hotels, the strain on public infrastructure, economic leakages, and unfavourable employment prospects (vis-a-vis expatriate staffers) as unsavoury aspects of tourism. These impacts notwithstanding, Seychellois remain positively disposed to tourism and hold favourable attitudes towards tourists. Thus, while realistic and symbolic threats were confirmed, they did not translate into intergroup anxiety and negative stereotypes.

KEYWORDS:

• Beach tourism
• integrated threat theory
• residents’ perceptions
• Seychelles
• Tourism‘s impact

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

John Ayo Olaghere

John Ayo Olaghere is an Associate Professor at the School of Economics and Management, Hunan Institute of Science and Technology (China). He holds a doctorate degree from California Southern University, USA. His research interests include tourism, supply chain management, and African management studies.