Factors affecting residents´ support for sustainable tourism development in Cape Verde

Understanding how locals react to the phenomenon of tourism in their community and the factors that influence them to demonstrate support are major areas of discussion within the resident perception and attitude study. To acquire a more in-depth comprehension of this phenomenon, three objectives are presented: (1) to develop and validate a new Resident Empowerment through Tourism Scale (RETS 2.0), by integrating economic and environmental empowerment dimensions and abbreviate the current RETS; (2) to examine the relationship between imperialism, empowerment, and support for sustainable tourism development (SSTD), and to analyze if residents are able to become empowered through an imperialistic tourism development model; and (3) to analyze the effect of empowerment on benefits and costs of tourism impact, and SSTD within an all-inclusive context. These objectives aim to contribute to the existing knowledge in three unique ways. First, the study contributes to literature by developing and validating a new version of the Resident Empowerment through Tourism Scale: RETS 2.0. The revised scale incorporates economic and environmental empowerment dimensions. A pilot study surveyed a sample 233 samples from Boa Vista, followed by the primary study that collected dat from a sample of 509 residents on Sal Island. With the ability to assess the economic and non-economic elements of tourism, RETS 2.0 provides a deeper comprehension of residents’ role in the sustainability of tourism, as well as understanding the current challenges of climate change, economic instability, and active local engagement, present in tourism communities. Second, the study examines the relationship between perceptions of imperialism, empowerment, and SSTD. A blend of Weber’s Theory of Formal and Substantive Rationality (WTFSR) and Institutional Theory is used. Empirical data from a sample of 341 residents allow to estimate the proposed model. Statistical analysis using IBM AMOS tests 341 samples. Results reveal that the relationship between perception of imperialism and empowerment is insignificant. Despite this, empowered residents demonstrated more SSTD. Findings suggest that, although such practices are evident within vulnerable communities, institutions should cater to locals’ needs and aspirations. Third, the study investigates the effect of empowerment on benefits and costs of tourism, and SSTD within an all-inclusive tourism context. WTFSR and Social Exchange Theory are used. Data collected through a face-to face survey in Cape Verde (n=341) was used to estimate the proposed model with the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) mehod. SmartPLS software is used to test 341 samples. While findings indicate a positive effect of empowerment on benefits and SSTD, effect of empowerment on costs of tourism is not supported. In addition, results reveal that only PAIR Benefits have a moderating effect of relationship between empowerment and SSTD. These findings highlight the importance of engaging residents in tourism development and promoting inclusivity for the sustainability of tourism.