Incorporating emotion into social exchange: considering distinct resident groups’ attitudes towards ethnic neighborhood tourism in Osaka, Japan

Abstract

While numerous studies have utilized SET to examine the residents’ attitudes towards tourism, relatively scant from the literature is a discussion regarding the influence of emotion generated through SET among residents on their attitudes towards tourism. In addition, past studies mainly explored the social exchange between visitors and locals, while neglecting the social exchange within a local community. The goal of this study is to examine the influence individuals’ emotions toward their ethnic counterparts within a community can have on residents’ (i.e., members of the dominant ethnic group—Japanese and members of the ethnic minority group—Koreans) attitudes toward ethnic neighborhood tourism within the Korean neighborhood of Ikuno, Osaka, Japan. Ikuno has the highest concentration of Korean residents in Japan, and the town has become a destination of cultural tourism centered on Korean culture. Analysis of 640 completed questionnaires revealed while attitudes of Korean residents, who are more likely to perceive economic benefits from tourism have more favorable attitudes towards tourism, Japanese residents form their particular attitudes towards tourism based on the emotional solidarity they experience with their Korean neighbors. These findings indicate both utility of economic approach of social exchange theory and significant role of emotion in social exchange.

Keywords:

• Affect theory of social exchange
• emotion and social exchange
• ethnic neighborhood tourism
• Japan
• Osaka
• residents’ attitudes
• social exchange theory

Disclosure statement

potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 24611010.

Notes on contributors

Naho U. Maruyama

Naho Maruyama is an Associate Professor in Regional and Tourism Policy at Takasaki City University of Economics, Japan. Her research interest includes tourism and ethnic minorities, residents ` perception to ethnic tourism, and World Heritage Site and tourism. Her current research focuses on residents ` attitudes towards tourism in Korean and Brazilian neighborhoods throughout Japan. Her work has appeared in Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Tourism Management, and International Journal of Tourism Research.

Samuel J. Keith

Sam Keith is a Doctoral Graduate Assistant in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at the University of Georgia. His research interests include the community impacts of urban green spaces, outdoor recreation experiences, and pro-environmental behavior. His current research is investigating the role urban greenway trails play in the environmental gentrification of a city. Sam’s work has appeared in Landscape and Urban Planning and Ecosystem Services.

Kyle M. Woosnam

Kyle M. Woosnam is an Associate Professor in Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Natural Resources, Recreation and Tourism Program at University of Georgia, USA. His research interests concern social-cultural and economic impacts of tourism, resident-tourist interactions within tourist destinations, and sustainable tourism development and planning. He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Travel Research and Leisure Sciences and his work has appeared in Annals of Tourism Research, Tourism Geographies, and Journal of Travel Research.