112
M. D. Petrovi´ c et al.
important given rapid post-industrial transitions and the lack of economic diversity.
Particularly problematic in resource-dependent rural regions, the personal service
and retail sectors that support local hospitality can create dependency themselves
(Campón-Cerro et al. 2017). Numerous researchers have examined the rural residents’ perceived impacts of tourism in terms of benefits (e.g. provides employment
opportunities, increased community pride, improves a rural infrastructure, facilities
and services, etc.) and detriments (e.g. disturbance of wildlife, causes conflicts in
traditional societies and values, leads to inflation of land value, etc.) (Tosun 2002;
Andereck et al. 2005; Choi and Sirakaya 2005; Petrovi´ c et al. 2017a, b). Among many
available analytical frameworks, sustainable development is particularly appealing
because it holistically captures the frame of environmental, economic and sociocultural impacts (both positive and negative) that rural activities related to tourism
produce (Xu et al. 2016).
As a selected case study for this research, Serbia has extremely favourable conditions for the development of community-based tourism. According to Petrovi´ c et al.
(2018), the visitors interested in spending time in rural surroundings can participate in
agricultural works with their hosts (so-called “life-participating” concept in tourism),
and moreover, a number of communities are situated near interesting natural and
man-made sightseeing locations, which the visitors can involve in an organized visit.
Additionally, it is possible to organize visits to various exhibitions, which are held in
the surroundings, as well as the tourist events and traditional shows through which
they can learn about folk customs and the characteristics of rural life. This variety of
tourist resources and the richness of cultural heritage are specially enhanced by the
exceptional hospitality and cordiality of the local population (Demirovi´ c et al. 2018).
Moreover, as in many other countries, community-based tourism is a very important element for multifunctional rural development (Knickel and Renting 2000; Ohe
2007).
This chapter aims to test how community-based tourism activities have an effect
on local communities’ welfare and sustainable solutions for tourism development in
rural areas. The study objective, relying on the method proposed by Lankford and
Howard (1994), is to analyse the Tourism Impact Attitude Scale (TIAS) with the
aim to explore rural residents’ attitudes (the case of selected locations in Serbia with
developed community-based tourism activities) toward tourism and its influence on
residents’ well-being and interests and the sustainability of their local environments.
For this purpose, factor analysis and one-factor analysis of variance will be applied.
2 Theoretical Background: Effects of Community-Based
Tourism on Rural Residents and Possible Partnerships
Globally speaking, community-based tourism is a very significant and growing
sector of rural economy. Rural areas are the basic resource for the development
M. D. Petrovi´ c et al.
important given rapid post-industrial transitions and the lack of economic diversity.
Particularly problematic in resource-dependent rural regions, the personal service
and retail sectors that support local hospitality can create dependency themselves
(Campón-Cerro et al. 2017). Numerous researchers have examined the rural residents’ perceived impacts of tourism in terms of benefits (e.g. provides employment
opportunities, increased community pride, improves a rural infrastructure, facilities
and services, etc.) and detriments (e.g. disturbance of wildlife, causes conflicts in
traditional societies and values, leads to inflation of land value, etc.) (Tosun 2002;
Andereck et al. 2005; Choi and Sirakaya 2005; Petrovi´ c et al. 2017a, b). Among many
available analytical frameworks, sustainable development is particularly appealing
because it holistically captures the frame of environmental, economic and sociocultural impacts (both positive and negative) that rural activities related to tourism
produce (Xu et al. 2016).
As a selected case study for this research, Serbia has extremely favourable conditions for the development of community-based tourism. According to Petrovi´ c et al.
(2018), the visitors interested in spending time in rural surroundings can participate in
agricultural works with their hosts (so-called “life-participating” concept in tourism),
and moreover, a number of communities are situated near interesting natural and
man-made sightseeing locations, which the visitors can involve in an organized visit.
Additionally, it is possible to organize visits to various exhibitions, which are held in
the surroundings, as well as the tourist events and traditional shows through which
they can learn about folk customs and the characteristics of rural life. This variety of
tourist resources and the richness of cultural heritage are specially enhanced by the
exceptional hospitality and cordiality of the local population (Demirovi´ c et al. 2018).
Moreover, as in many other countries, community-based tourism is a very important element for multifunctional rural development (Knickel and Renting 2000; Ohe
2007).
This chapter aims to test how community-based tourism activities have an effect
on local communities’ welfare and sustainable solutions for tourism development in
rural areas. The study objective, relying on the method proposed by Lankford and
Howard (1994), is to analyse the Tourism Impact Attitude Scale (TIAS) with the
aim to explore rural residents’ attitudes (the case of selected locations in Serbia with
developed community-based tourism activities) toward tourism and its influence on
residents’ well-being and interests and the sustainability of their local environments.
For this purpose, factor analysis and one-factor analysis of variance will be applied.
2 Theoretical Background: Effects of Community-Based
Tourism on Rural Residents and Possible Partnerships
Globally speaking, community-based tourism is a very significant and growing
sector of rural economy. Rural areas are the basic resource for the development