Factors Predicting Rural Residents’ Support of Tourism

This study examined the factors predicting attitudes toward tourism of residents from a dozen communities in Arizona, generally following the model developed by Perdue, Long, and Allen, using social exchange theory as the foundation. Findings indicated that in general, personal characteristics did not predict attitudes toward tourism, but community dependence on tourism was a predictor. Personal benefit from tourism predicted both positive and negative effects of tourism and support for additional tourism among residents of the Arizona communities; this was consistent with Perdue, Long, and Allen. Positive effects of tourism, however, did not predict tourism planning. Although support for additional tourism did predict tourism planning, it was a positive rather than a negative relationship as reported by Perdue, Long, and Allen. As expected, support for social exchange theory was mixed; the existence of personal benefit from tourism was not a significant predictor of support for tourism planning.