Sustainability for ecotourism: work identity and role of community capacity building

• Published in: Tourism recreation research 2019-10, Vol.44 (4), p.533-549
• Main Authors: D'Souza, Clare, Taghian, Mehdi, Marjoribanks, Timothy, Sullivan-Mort, Gillian, Manirujjaman, M. D., Singaraju, Stephen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: community involvement; community values; Ecotourism; pro-environmental behaviour; sustainable development; work identity
• ISSN: 0250-8281; 2320-0308
• DOI: 10.1080/02508281.2019.1654727

This research sheds light on community organisations and how they can shape the landscape for ecotourism sustainability. It identifies work identity attributes that involve pro-environmental behaviours for achieving institutional challenges to meet sustainability for ecotourism goals. First, a framework on managing community organisations and its impact is proposed and empirically tested, which includes theoretical perspectives of work identity attributes like pro-environmental behaviours, community values and involvement for building community capacity. A conceptual model was developed to guide this study. A mixed-method study has been designed involving 28 interviews, followed by testing 266 responses, analysed through Structural Equation Modelling and Cluster Analysis. Through identifying clusters of individuals based on their demographics, behaviours and perceived individual effectiveness for supporting eco-tourism the research demonstrates that individuals with pro-environmental behaviour can act as agents of change for realising ecotourism and sustainable development goals. The research highlights that work identities require specific personal attributes to influence the change process through sustainability for ecotourism. By examining these attributes on community values and involvement, this study offers insights for institutional change processes that meet the central tenets of sustainability for ecotourism.