Short answer

To gain stakeholder support for tourism development and competitive strategies, focus on demonstrating tangible economic and cultural benefits and fostering a sense of place attachment.

Field
Innovation & Markets
Source
VTechWorks (Virginia Tech) (2002)
Method
Structural Equation Modelling (SEM)
Sample
646 participants
Evidence
Strong effect

Tourism stakeholders' support for competitive destination strategies is significantly influenced by their perception of tourism development impacts and their emotional connection to the place. This innovation & markets research insight is drawn from a 2002 study published in VTechWorks (Virginia Tech). Using Structural equation modelling (sem) with 646 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: To gain stakeholder support for tourism development and competitive strategies, focus on demonstrating tangible economic and cultural benefits and fostering a sense of place attachment.

Study
Innovation & MarketsHigh ImpactStrong effect

Stakeholder Support for Tourism Strategies Driven by Perceived Impacts and Place Attachment

Tourism stakeholders' support for competitive destination strategies is significantly influenced by their perception of tourism development impacts and their emotional connection to the place.

VTechWorks (Virginia Tech) · 2002

01

Key Findings

  • 01Stakeholders' preferences for developing tourism attractions/resources are influenced by their perception of tourism development impacts and their place attachment.
  • 02Greater stakeholder preference for developing attractions/resources leads to increased support for destination competitive strategies (e.g., marketing, DMO roles).
  • 03Stakeholders who perceive economic and cultural benefits from tourism development are more likely to support strategies aimed at enhancing destination competitiveness.
02

Application

Design takeaway

To gain stakeholder support for tourism development and competitive strategies, focus on demonstrating tangible economic and cultural benefits and fostering a sense of place attachment.

How to apply

When planning a new tourism initiative or developing a competitive strategy for a destination, conduct research to understand the local stakeholders' perceptions of tourism's impacts and their connection to the area. Use these insights to tailor communication and development plans to maximize support.

Project actions

  • 01When researching a product or service, consider the different groups of people who have a stake in its success (e.g., users, manufacturers, community members).
  • 02Investigate how these stakeholders perceive the benefits and drawbacks of the product/service and their connection to it.
  • 03Use this understanding to inform your design decisions and how you might gain support for your design.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo develop and empirically test a structural model that explains the relationships between perceived tourism development impacts, environmental attitudes, place attachment, development preferences, and support for destination competitive strategies from the perspective of tourism stakeholders.
MethodStructural Equation Modelling (SEM)
ProcedureA survey questionnaire was administered to tourism stakeholders. Data collected were analyzed using LISREL to examine the hypothesized structural relationships among five key constructs: perceived tourism development impacts, environmental attitudes, place attachment, development preferences, and support for destination competitive strategies.
Sample646 participants
ContextTourism destination management and development

Variables

IV["Perceived tourism development impacts","Place attachment","Environmental attitudes","Development preferences"]
DVSupport for destination competitive strategies
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Employs a robust statistical method (SEM) to test complex relationships.
  • +Focuses on a critical aspect of tourism management: stakeholder support.

Limitations

It can be challenging to accurately measure 'place attachment' or 'perceived impacts' in a simple survey. Stakeholder opinions can also change over time.

Reliability & validity

The study likely used established scales for its constructs, contributing to reliability. The SEM analysis itself aims to assess the model's validity in representing the relationships between variables. However, the specific measures and statistical fit indices would need to be examined for a full assessment.

Think critically

How might a designer proactively foster positive perceived impacts and place attachment among stakeholders before a project even begins?

05

Design Principles

"Engage stakeholders by demonstrating value and fostering connection to ensure support for strategic initiatives."

Understanding the drivers behind stakeholder support is crucial for the successful implementation of tourism development plans and competitive strategies. By aligning development with stakeholder values and perceived benefits, destination managers can foster greater buy-in and ensure long-term viability.

06

What This Means for Your Design

People who work in or care about a tourist place will support ideas to make it more competitive if they think tourism is good for the area (especially money and culture) and if they feel a strong connection to the place itself.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of stakeholder analysis in your design project.
  • 2.Use the findings to justify why you need to understand user perceptions and community impact for your design.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the critical role of stakeholder perspectives in the success of destination competitiveness strategies. By understanding that stakeholders' support is driven by their perception of tourism's impacts and their place attachment, designers and managers can better align development preferences with competitive strategies, ensuring greater buy-in and long-term sustainability. This underscores the need for thorough stakeholder analysis in any project involving community or environmental interaction.

09

Source

VTechWorks (Virginia Tech)

Development of a Structural Model for Tourism Destination Competitiveness from Stakeholders' Perspectives

journal · 2002

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about stakeholder support for tourism strategies driven by perceived impacts and place attachment?
To gain stakeholder support for tourism development and competitive strategies, focus on demonstrating tangible economic and cultural benefits and fostering a sense of place attachment. Evidence: VTechWorks (Virginia Tech) (2002).
Why does "Stakeholder Support for Tourism Strategies Driven by Perceived Impacts and Place Attachment" matter for design?
Understanding the drivers behind stakeholder support is crucial for the successful implementation of tourism development plans and competitive strategies. By aligning development with stakeholder values and perceived benefits, destination managers can foster greater buy-in and ensure long-term viability.
How can designers apply this research?
To gain stakeholder support for tourism development and competitive strategies, focus on demonstrating tangible economic and cultural benefits and fostering a sense of place attachment.
What were the main findings?
Stakeholders' preferences for developing tourism attractions/resources are influenced by their perception of tourism development impacts and their place attachment.. Greater stakeholder preference for developing attractions/resources leads to increased support for destination competitive strategies (e.g., marketing, DMO roles).. Stakeholders who perceive economic and cultural benefits from tourism development are more likely to support strategies aimed at enhancing destination competitiveness.
What research method was used?
Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with 646 participants.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2002 journal from VTechWorks (Virginia Tech).
What should I do differently in my next project?
When planning a new tourism initiative or developing a competitive strategy for a destination, conduct research to understand the local stakeholders' perceptions of tourism's impacts and their connection to the area. Use these insights to tailor communication and development plans to maximize support.
What are the limitations?
The study was conducted in a specific region (Virginia), and findings may not be generalizable to all tourism destinations. The model focuses on specific constructs and may not capture all factors influencing stakeholder support.