Health, Wellness and Tourism: healthy tourists, healthy business ...

The theoretical significance of understanding residents’ attitudes is their connection with
behaviour (Lepp, 2006). Ajzen and Fishbein (1980) explain this connection with their Theory
of Reasoned Action (TRA). TRA is a hierarchical model, which asserts that behaviour is
influenced by behavioural intent, which is influenced by attitudes and subjective norms
(perceived social pressure for a particular behaviour), and both of these are influenced by
beliefs. In a meta-analysis of past research, found widespread support for the validity of TRA.
In the literature there are also frequent references to issues such as tourism development and
its relationship with residents’ attitudes (Butler 1980; Doxey 1976; Perdue et al. 1990). Butler
(1980) described tourism development as a series of stages through which a destination
evolves: exploration, involvement, development, consolidation and stagnation. This idea is
also expressed in Doxey theory (Doxey, 1976) when he said that those residents’ attitudes
varies with the stage of development of the tourist destination. For the author, residents’
attitudes are positive during the initial stages of tourism development but become increasingly
negative as a destination evolves towards stagnation. A possible addendum to this is Lepp’s
(2006) suggestion that, at destinations with no prior knowledge of tourism, initial tourism
development will be met with suspicion, anxiety and fear.
Dogan (1989) also referred to the importance of tourism development level when predicted
that residents’ adjustments will be homogenous in communities where tourism is in its initial
stages of development and, as a destination matures, various adjustments might emerge, some
in conjunction with tourism and some in opposition. The author emphasise that success or
failure of adjustment strategies influences residents’ attitudes.
The residence area proximity in relation to the main tourism area is another important
relationship to understand residents’ attitudes and perceptions (Gursoy and Rutherford 2004;
Jurowski and Gursoy 2004; Lankford 1997; Sheldon and Hoy 1980; Sheldon and Var 1984;
Sheldon and Abenoja 2001). Belisle and Hoy (1980) identify the perceived positive and
negative impacts by residents, considering the hypotheses that perception vary with the
distance a person lives from the tourist zone and with socio-economic status. The authors
conclude that, effectively, the distance affects significantly the perception of tourism impact
but there are small variances in expressed opinions which may indicate that all groups find
some direct and indirect benefits in tourism. They also note that the incipient stage of tourism
development can contribute to a positive attitude toward tourism.
Gursoy et al (2004) explore also the effects of the distance residents live from attractions on
their attitudes toward tourism by a theoretical model based on the social exchange theory
developed. The model, proposes that support is based on residents’ evaluation of both the
perceived benefits/costs and the state of the local economy. The distance between the
residence area and the attraction had a significant effect on how the costs and benefits were
evaluated. The negative relation between the uses of the resource and the perceived benefits
implies that those who live closest to the attraction feel that an increase in the number of
tourists might negatively impact their ability to use it. The nearby residents may be concerned
about losing their ability to use the resource as they used to. They may also be worried about
traffic congestion, crime, litter, noise, and cost of living increases Lankford (1997).
Residents sensitive to environmental issues who lived closest to the area appear to be more
likely to support tourism than the in-between group residents with similar environmental
attitudes. The Jurowski (1994) study determined that ecocentric attitudes positively impacted
support for the cultural and historic tourism but negatively impacted support for other types.
Consequently, close-in residents with stronger ecocentric attitudes may have been more