Residents' perceptions of wine tourism development. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Shuangyu; Barbieri, Carla; Anderson, Dorothy; Leung, Yu-Fai; Rozier-Rich, Samantha
• Is Part Of: Tourism management. Volume 55(2016)
• Page Start: 276
• Page End: 286
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Attitudes -- Community Impacts -- Personal Benefits -- Residents' Perceptions -- Wine trail -- Wine tourism; Tourism -- Periodicals; 338.4791
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2016.02.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-5177

Abstract

Abstract: Wine trails have been studied insufficiently within the tourism literature despite of their recent rapid development worldwide. In response, this study examines residents' perceptions of wine tourism development in terms of personal benefits and community impacts. It also explores whether residents' socio-demographics and levels of wine enthusiasm, and wine trails' tourism characterization influence residents' perceptions. Following a stratified random sampling procedure, residents living along two wine trails in the Piedmont region of North Carolina (U.S.) were surveyed. Results indicate that residents are neutral in their perceptions of the Piedmont wineries in terms of both personal benefits and community impacts. Residents' socio-demographics and level of wine enthusiasm, as well as the comprehensiveness of wine trails' tourism amenities were significantly associated with residents' perceptions. Results also indicate that personal benefits mediate residents' perceptions of community impacts. In addition to the oretical and methodological contributions, this paper outlines management implications for wine trails. Highlights: The study examines residents' perceptions of wine tourism development. Residents are neutral in their perceptions of local wineries in terms of personal benefits and community impacts. Demographics, wine enthusiasm, and trails' tourism comprehensiveness are associated with residents' perceptions. Personal benefits mediate residents' perceptions of community impacts.