The Moderating Role of Motivation Towards the Dynamism of Residents' Intention to Participate in Tourism Development in Langkawi Malaysia

ABSTRACT Motivation is a crucial factor in encouraging local involvement in tourism progress, yet it is often overlooked in tourism literature. To address this gap, this research examines the moderating role of motivation in the relationship between opportunity, knowledge, social identity, attitude, expected benefits and willingness to participate in tourism expansion. Data from 382 respondents were collected and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS‐SEM). The results indicate that all the factors studied significantly influence the community's willingness to engage in activities related to tourism. This implies that these factors play a key role in shaping the community's intentions to participate in activities aimed at supporting tourism expansion in their area. Furthermore, we identified motivation as a moderator in the relationship between the study constructs and the intention to participate in sustainable tourism. The study emphasises how important it is for the government to create policies and offer training that encourage community involvement in the growth of the tourism sector in order to promote community involvement, remove obstacles to participation and improve community collaboration.