Repertory grids and the measurement of levels of community support for rural ecotourism development

Publication Type:
Journal Article
Citation:
Journal of Ecotourism, 2018, 17 (3), pp. 239 - 251
Issue Date:
2018-07-03
Full metadata record
© 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Many of the world’s iconic ecotourism attractions reside in heterogeneous rural localities (or places). Over time the nature of these settings evolve, which can lead to tourism and other industry sectors (e.g. forestry, mining, agriculture etc.) at different times coming to hold positions of legitimacy in the eyes of local people. Local people will form opinions on the merits of ecotourism development on the basis of an evolving interplay of economic, environmental and social forces. These forces are framed on the basis of a locality’s history, as well as on the basis of current conditions. In the present paper the authors will explore the merits of employing Personal Construct Theory based repertory grids as a methodological tool to understand the subjective realities of local people. Drawing on the results an expanding body of scholarship that has used repertory grid methodologies in destination image studies; the authors will offer comment on the merits whereby repertory grids can be taken out of an academic led research setting and used within communities themselves to shed light on the individual perceptions that variously cause support or opposition to ecotourism development.
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