Rural residents’ social distance with tourists: an affective interpretation

Kyle Maurice Woosnam; Dongoh Joo; Manuel Alector Ribeiro; Cassandra Johnson Gaither; José J. Sánchez; Robert Brooks

doi:10.1080/13683500.2023.2191836

Treesearch

Rural residents’ social distance with tourists: an affective interpretation

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Kyle Maurice Woosnam, Dongoh Joo, Manuel Alector Ribeiro, Cassandra Johnson Gaither, José J. Sánchez, Robert Brooks

Year:

2023

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Southern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2023.2191836

Source:

Current Issues in Tourism

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Abstract

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 12hypotheses 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.

Keywords

Positive emotions, negative emotions, emotional solidarity, social distance, resident and tourist relationship, social encounters

Citation

Woosnam, Kyle Maurice; Joo, Dongoh; Ribeiro, Manuel Alector; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra; Sánchez, José J.; Brooks, Robert. 2023. Rural residents’ social distance with tourists: an affective interpretation. Current Issues in Tourism. 17(3): 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2023.2191836.