Examining residents’ cultural intelligence, place image and foreign tourist attractiveness: A mediated-moderation model of support for tourism development in Cappadocia (Turkey)

Abstract Tourism development at any destination is inextricably linked to the resident's supportive behavior, especially in times of destination crisis, recovery and anti-tourism movements. Given the heightened importance of resident's perspectives and increasing competition to attract foreign tourists, the present study examines the impact of residents' cultural intelligence, place image and foreign tourist attractiveness on the support for tourism development. The conceptualized model was examined using partial least squares structural equation modeling with 664 residents' responses in Cappadocia, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site in Turkey. Interestingly, the study validates significant mediating-moderating effects, as foreign tourist attractiveness fully mediates residents' cultural intelligence and support for tourism development, whereas resident's place image negatively moderates foreign tourist attractiveness and support for tourism development. Considering the limited insights on residents' cultural intelligence and foreign tourist attractiveness, the present study advances the established theory on tourist-resident interaction and the support for tourism development. Besides new findings on resident's place image (through its negative interaction), the study also sets strategic directions for tourism planners and destination marketers to ensure resident's support for tourism development.