Is This about Feeling? The Interplay of Emotional Well-being, Solidarity, and Residents’ Attitude

There is limited empirical research on the role played by residents’ feelings toward tourists in influencing residents’ emotional well-being and attitude about tourism. The major objective of this study is to propose a theoretical model integrating emotional solidarity, emotional well-being, and residents’ attitude. In order to test the proposed model, a survey of residents in China was undertaken. Structural relational and mediation analyses were applied to assess the relationships involving residents’ emotional solidarity with tourists, emotional well-being, and residents’ attitude. The construct of emotional solidarity had three dimensions in the study: welcoming nature, sympathetic understanding, and emotional closeness. Results indicate that welcoming nature, sympathetic understanding, and emotional closeness directly influence residents’ attitude and emotional well-being. Additionally, the relationships involving residents’ welcoming nature, sympathetic understanding and emotional closeness with tourists, and attitude were mediated by emotional well-being. Theoretical and practical implications as well as future research opportunities are provided.