Inter-relações entre fatores cognitivos e emocionais capazes de influenciar o apoio de residentes ao desenvolvimento do turismo religioso

Abstract

This study addresses the management of the resident community stakeholder, recognizing its power of political influence and economic interest in tourism development in any destination. With this, the perceptions and emotions of residents regarding the development of tourism in their usual surroundings can contribute useful information to the development of strategies that allow sustainable management of tourism in destinations in the most diverse situations. In this sense, this study's main objective is to analyze the interrelationships between cognitive and emotional factors capable of influencing residents' support for the development of religious tourism. Three theories originating from psychology were used to support this research, namely: Social Exchange Theory; Place Identity Theory; and Emotional Solidarity Theory. The first theory allows the investigation of cognitive factors and the second and third involve those related to identity and emotional components, which may influence residents' support for the development of tourism in a location. In view of the survey and analysis of studies that addressed the topic, as well as the mentioned theories, a systematic review of the literature was carried out for theoretical composition regarding the modeling of relationships between cognitive and emotional factors capable of influencing residents' support for development of tourism. The study is a descriptive study with a mixed qualitative-quantitative approach under the auspices of the hypothetical-deductive method. A structural model of the relationship between variables capable of influencing residents’ support for tourism development is tested considering dimensions supported by the mentioned theories. Data collection procedures included the use of an interview script and a research questionnaire, both applied to the resident population of the religious tourism destination investigated. The results demonstrated the existence of significant relationships between residents' perception of quality of life and the impacts of religious tourism, as well as between the identity of the place and support for tourism development, the latter being mediated for emotional solidarity. Based on the results found, it is considered that for effective management of the resident community stakeholder and a harmonious development of tourism, it is worth considering strategies aimed at maximizing the positive impacts of tourism, valuing, and conserving the identity of the place, as well as factors of residents’ emotional solidarity with others.