Local Community Perceptions and Participation Types for Tourism Development: Inputs for the City’s Tourism Plan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/jir.v3i3.5622Keywords:
Community Involvement, Community Perception, Sustainable Tourism, Tourism DevelopmentAbstract
This study explores the perceptions and levels of involvement of local communities in tourism development within Dipolog City. It utilized descriptive-causal research, investigating residents residing near prominent tourist attractions, employing quota sampling to select 90 respondents. A validated self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data, with a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.81 satisfactory reliability. Weighted means were applied to assess community perceptions regarding the economic, environmental, social, and cultural development of tourism, as well as participation types manipulative, passive, consultative, participation driven by material incentives, functional, interactive, and self-mobilization roles. Univariate statistical tests examined the relationship between community perceptions and their involvement levels. Results found that respondents held predominantly positive perceptions of tourism’s potential benefits across multiple domains despite their low income and educational attainment. Although community engagement was primarily described by manipulative, passive, consultative, and functional participation, involvement in interactive, incentive-based, and self-mobilization activities was comparatively low. Pointedly, positive perceptions of tourism development affect the increased participation in passive, functional, interactive, and self-mobilization roles, illustrating the critical role of community attitudes in building active engagement. However, manipulation, consultation, or incentive-based participation was not significantly affected by perceptions suggesting capacity-building initiatives, community empowerment, and inclusive planning are strategies to improve residents’ involvement. Building community organizations, working with academic institutions for community-based tourism, and strengthening local participation in decision-making processes need to be in place. A longitudinal and mixed-method research may be conducted to clarify the causal-relationship between perceptions and involvement in tourism development.
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