Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.32728/ric.2024.101/3
Understanding residents’ perceptions and attitudes towards tourism development in urban destinations: the Case of Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Smaranda Adina Cosma
; Department of Hospitality Services, Faculty of Business, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Ionuț Călin Căzan
; Department of Hospitality Services, Faculty of Business, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Anghel Tudorel Cozma
; Department of Hospitality Services, Faculty of Business, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Horațiu Vasile Borza
; Doctoral School of Communication, Public Relations and Advertising, Babeș-Bolyai Uni-versity, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Sažetak
Purpose. This study aims to explore the intersection of local community engagement and urban tourism development within the context of competitiveness, focusing on Cluj-Napoca, Romania, as an emergent urban destination. By examining residents’ perceptions and attitudes towards tourism, this research contributes to understanding on how urban tourism can be a catalyst for competitiveness and sustainability in developing countries.
Design/Methodology/Approach. Using a descriptive research design, this study collected data from the citizens of Cluj-Napoca to analyze their attitudes toward tourism from a local perspective. The methodology involves surveying residents to gather insights into their perceptions and experiences with the city’s tourism sector.
Findings and Implications. The findings reveal that a significant majority (94%) of the respondents, Cluj-Napoca residents, perceive the city to have a developed tourism potential, with 85% having interacted with tourists. Notably, 36% report no influence of tourism development on their daily activities, while a minimal 4% perceive a negative impact. Impressively, 96% identify a positive influence of tourism on their personal life. These results underscore the importance of resident support in the sustainability and success of urban tourism destinations, offering valuable insights for both theoretical frameworks and practical applications in tourism development. Destination marketers must employ a variety of techniques to reach their target market. Widespread education and awareness initiatives might be a first step toward a better knowledge of the sector and, eventually, more acceptance of its advantages for the community.
Limitations. The study’s limitations include its focus on a single urban destination within a developing country, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the research design relies on self-reported data, which may introduce biases.
Originality. This paper contributes new insights into the field of tourism studies by focusing on the residents’ perspective of tourism development in an urban setting of a developing country, a relatively underexplored area in the existing literature. The positive perceptions and attitudes of Cluj-Napoca residents towards tourism, coupled with the minimal reported negative impacts, highlight the potential for sustainable urban tourism development that benefits both locals and visitors.
Ključne riječi
residents’ perceptions; resident’s attitudes; resident-tourist interaction; resident’s support; community satisfaction
Hrčak ID:
318537
URI
Datum izdavanja:
9.4.2024.
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