Host perceptions of tourism impactsacross demographic variables

It is increasingly recognized that achieving the goal of favorable community support for the tourism industry requires an understanding of how residents formulate their attitudes/perceptions toward tourists and tourism industry. They may contribute to the well-being of the community through their participation in the planning, development and operation of tourist attractions and by extending their hospitality to tourists in exchange for the benefits (e.g. income) of tourism. Residents may also play an important role in discouraging tourism by opposing it or showing hostile attitudes toward tourism developers and tourists. Unless tourism development is more responsive to people's needs over the long term, it may not be worth the social, cultural and environmental impacts and changes to host communities. In view of this well-known belief, an attempt has been made in the present study to measure variation in residents’ perception towards tourism impacts across demographic variablesin Kashmir Valley. The study is based on data gathered from three hundred and eighty four (384) respondents andthe results lead us to the conclusion thatthere exists insignificant variation (p>0.05) ontourism impacts on majority of demographic variables under reference, meaning that residents’ perceive the tourism impacts alike and don't differentiate them on demographic basis. Finally, the study also brought to light that there exists significant variation (p<0.05)on environmental impacts on some of the demographic variables under reference. An overall broad-based education and awareness campaigns needs to be launched on a large scale which can prove to be an important step towards enhancing local residents increased understanding/perceptions of the tourism industry and ultimately of fueling greater support and more positive views of what tourism can do for their communities.