A structural equation model of tourism activities, social interaction and the impact of tourism on youth tourists' QOL. (2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eusébio, Celeste; Carneiro, Maria João; Caldeira, Ana
• Is Part Of: International journal of tourism policy. Volume 6:Number 2(2016)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 108
• Publication Date: 2016
• Subjects: tourism activities -- social interaction -- quality of life -- QoL -- tourism impacts -- youth tourists -- young people -- partial least squares -- structural equation modelling -- PLS-SEM -- university students -- tourist perceptions -- physical health -- social relationships -- psychological features -- environmental conditions; Tourism -- Periodicals; 338.479105
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1750-4090

Abstract

The current study aims to develop a model in the scope of youth tourism that illustrates structural relationships among the following constructs: 1) frequency of participation in several tourism activities; 2) frequency of social interaction with residents; 3) perception of tourism impacts on several domains of quality of life (QOL); 4) perception of tourism impacts on overall QOL. To achieve this objective, a survey was carried out with university students and 412 completed questionnaires were obtained. The model was tested with partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Results show a strong positive impact of tourism activities on social interaction and a positive impact of both tourism activities and social interaction on all domains of QOL - physical health, social relationships, psychological features and environmental conditions. The paper ends with recommendations for improving the impact of tourism on youth visitors' QOL.