The social impacts of tourism: A case study of Bath, UK

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify and examine the attitudes of residents in Bath, United Kingdom, towards tourism development. This paper holds that impact research conducted on hosts' perceptions is predominantly descriptive and lacking in a consistent approach to measurement. The primary aim here is to establish a benchmark study for the city, enabling future longitudinal and comparative analyses of host attitudes. A sample was secured from the residents, and factor and regression analyses conducted, to ascertain whether there were any underlying dimensions regarding their attitudes toward tourism development, and whether socioeconomic and demographic characteristics were useful predictors of these attitudes. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.