Social perception of tourism: quantitative studies based on public opinion surveys in spanish destinations

Abstract

Studies on the social perception of tourism are extremely diverse and often with contradictory results and conclusions. Considering the Spanish destinations on which there are publications in this regard (destinations located in Andalusia, the Canary Islands,the Balearic Islands, Catalonia and the Valencian Community), we have selected a qualitative sample that represents them, looking for similarities and differences in their theoretical approaches. To this end, various aspects of residents' opinions regarding the positive and negative impacts of tourism are assessed. Not with the aim of obtaining a universal model, since we not only consider it unfeasible, but also it would not be desirable to arbitrarily standardize so much diversity and complexity, but with the aim of making a theoretical-methodological contribution that, although not exhaustive, can be useful in this field of study for both researchers and tourism managers.