A sustainable market-oriented approach: Permanent and second home residents' perceptions in a nature-based destination

Abstract

This research was performed due to the need of adopting a sustainable market-oriented approach in tourism resources. Drawing on the fact that residents' perceptions are considered crucial to achieve sustainable tourism, little research has been conducted regarding permanent and second home residents. Hence, this research aimed to explore the effects of their attitudes on sustainability, understood within a market-oriented perspective. In view of the dissimilarities of results obtained in literature regarding the hypotheses proposed, the findings offer revealing contributions. The data analysis showed that the most significant effects were related to the impact of residents' perceived benefits on sustainability and support for tourism, presenting significant differences among the two sample groups. Although in both samples the effects were positive and meaningful, the permanent sample disclosed a stronger effect than the second homeowners' group. This study offers interesting insights for scholars and managers by shedding light on the understanding of tourism.