Residents' attitudes to proposed tourism development

This article discusses resident attitudes to tourism development. Research employing a questionnaire survey and focusing on a proposed development was conducted in a rural New Zealand region. There was general support for this plan, but the community was not homogeneous in its views. Perceived positive impacts were the provision of a community facility, job creation, and the promotion of the area for tourism. Perceived negative impacts included more drunken driving, traffic problems, and increased noise. There was evidence of gender differences as well as a high degree of community attachment to the area. The findings are discussed in relation to national tourism surveys in this country. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.