Sustainable Tourism Development in Times of Pandemic: Correlational Analysis Applied to Residents of a Portuguese Historic Town

Abstract

This study explores the relationships between different determinants of residents’ support for sustainable tourism development (STD) and certain sociodemographic profile variables. A quantitative approach was used, based on a questionnaire applied over the internet to residents of a historic town in the north of Portugal. 250 valid questionnaires were obtained. In data analysis, descriptive statistics and correlational analysis were used. The results show that the levels of perception regarding the concepts under study are relatively low to moderate. There is a greater community attachment than community involvement, a more intense perception of the benefits than the costs of tourism, moderate support for the STD and a low economic dependence on the tourism sector. The results of the comparisons between the concepts under analysis and the sociodemographic profile variables showed the existence of several significant associations.

Keywords

• community involvement
• community attachment
• economic dependence
• tourism impacts
• sustainable tourism development