Being Rational and Emotional: An Integrated Model of Residents’ Support of Ethnic Tourism Development

Abstract

Residents' support is critical to the success of ethnic tourism and has been the focus of many research efforts. This study enriches relevant discourse with a comprehensive view that integrates rational and emotional perspectives to map the drivers behind minority residents' support in the context of ethnic destinations in China. Based on social exchange theory and place attachment theory, a mediation model was proposed to capture the effects of rational factors (perceived costs and benefits) and emotional factors (place identity and place dependence). This model was tested using data collected from 294 ethnic residents in Xijiang Miao Village in China. Structural equation modeling confirmed that place identity and place dependence fully mediate the effects of perceived benefits and costs on residents’ support. Practical implications for tourism planning and development in ethnic destinations are also discussed.