Tourism economic dependency and community dynamics: Exploring the impact on well-being, support, and pro-tourism behaviours

Abstract

This study examines how residents’ economic dependency on tourism influences subjective well-being, satisfaction with tourism, community support, and pro-tourism behaviours. While economic reliance is often linked to greater tourism support, other studies highlight dissatisfaction stemming from perceived social and environmental costs, pointing to a nuanced and underexplored dynamic. Addressing this gap, the study explores the moderating role of economic dependency within the broader framework of resident-tourism relationships. Drawing on data from a representative sample of 1,524 residents in the Algarve, a region heavily dependent on tourism, this research employs partial least squares structural equation modelling with multigroup analysis (PLS-MGA). Results reveal that tourism economic dependency significantly moderates key psychological and behavioural responses to tourism, particularly by enhancing the positive influence of community support on pro-tourism behaviours. These findings underscore the importance of considering economic contexts when promoting sustainable tourism strategies and highlight the central role of community cohesion in fostering resident engagement with the tourism sector.