The Effect Of Local People’s Cultural Sensitivity And Emotional Solidarity Levels On Their Attitudes Towards Tourism Development: The Case Of Şanlıurfa

Abstract

The attitudes of local people, who interact with different cultures and consist of subcultures within themselves, towards tourism can have a positive or negative impact on the development of tourism in the region they live in. These attitudes have been examined in the relevant literature within the framework of the tolerance model, theory of planned behaviour, social exchange theory, meta-perception theory, contact hypothesis, religion theory, and intercultural sensitivity development model. The aim of this research is to determine the effect of the relationship between cultural sensitivity and emotional solidarity on the attitudes of local people towards tourism effects. For this purpose, a survey technique was applied to local people living in Şanlıurfa and data was obtained from 519 people. The obtained data were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 24.0 statistical software. The research variables were examined depending on a model developed based on theoretical knowledge. Structural equation modeling was used to test the research hypotheses related to the model. In addition, the mediating role of emotional solidarity as the third variable in the relationship between cultural sensitivity and attitude towards tourism development was examined with structural equation modeling. In line with the basic assumptions, it was determined that the cultural sensitivity levels of the local people have a significant effect on their attitudes towards the effects of tourism; a significant and positive relationship between the cultural sensitivity of the local people and the emotional solidarity levels towards local and foreign visitors visiting the destination; and the emotional solidarity levels of the local people towards visitors have a significant and positive effect on their attitudes towards the effects of tourism. It is recommended that tourism activities in the region be developed and carried out with practices that will contribute to the cultural sensitivity and emotional solidarity levels of the local people.