Assessing resident perceptions of destination ecotourism image and their support of environmental practices
Niche Tourism and Sustainability: Perspectives, Practices and Prospects, CABI International, ss.41-51, 2025
- Yayın Türü: Kitapta Bölüm / Araştırma Kitabı
- Basım Tarihi: 2025
- Doi Numarası: 10.1079/9781800626669.0004
- Yayınevi: CABI International
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.41-51
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Ecotourism, Governance, Resident perceptions, Sustainability, Zero waste
- Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Niche tourism includes different types of tourism that focus on sustainability. One example of niche tourism is ecotourism, which is considered highly associated with the environment. In the ecotourism context, the development of direct environmental practices aims to conserve the environment. To that extent, the concept of zero waste management offers environmental benefits not only to the local community but also to the destination. This chapter focuses on resident perceptions over destination ecotourism image and examines their support in relation to the adoption of environmental practices by the local community. Drawing from interviews performed with residents of the island of Tilos (Greece), the findings indicate a high level of environmental awareness towards the adoption of a zero waste programme that is considered part and parcel of ecotourism development efforts. The support from the local authorities played an important role in enhancing resident awareness. Despite different stakeholders' conflict of interests, residents in Tilos support the zero waste programme. This chapter, therefore, offers several theoretical and practical implications which may contribute to the efficient development of ecotourism as a sustainable niche tourism form.