Rural residents' social distance with tourists: an affective interpretation

This study examined the role of basic (i.e. positive and negative) and complex (i.e. emotional solidarity) emotions in explaining residents' preference for both intimate and casual social encounters (i.e. social distance) with tourists. Considering a burgeoning rural destination in the U.S., kn...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCurrent issues in tourism Vol. 27; no. 6; pp. 939 - 953
Main Authors Woosnam, Kyle Maurice, Joo, Dongoh, Ribeiro, Manuel Alector, Johnson Gaither, Cassandra, Sánchez, José J., Brooks, Robert
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Abingdon Routledge 18.03.2024
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
emotional solidarity
Emotions
Factor analysis
Hypotheses
negative emotions
Positive emotions
resident and tourist relationship
Rural populations
social distance
social encounters
Tourists
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Summary:This study examined the role of basic (i.e. positive and negative) and complex (i.e. emotional solidarity) emotions in explaining residents' preference for both intimate and casual social encounters (i.e. social distance) with tourists. Considering a burgeoning rural destination in the U.S., known for its natural and cultural amenities, data were collected on-site and online from 511 residents. A two-step sequence of analysis (i.e. confirmatory factor analysis followed by structural equation modelling) was undertaken to test 12 hypotheses within a proposed conceptual model. Eight hypotheses were supported; three of those not supported involved negative emotions as antecedents to emotional solidarity. A high degree of variance was explained in emotional solidarity and social distance. Implications and recommendations are also discussed.
ISSN:1368-3500
1747-7603
DOI:10.1080/13683500.2023.2191836