The Economic and Environmental Impact of Tourism on Quality of Life of Residents in Kerala

This study investigates how the economic and environmental impact of tourism affects the quality of life (QOL) of residents. The proposed model in this study structurally depicts that satisfaction with life in general derives from the satisfaction with particular life domains. Overall life satisfaction is derived from material well-being, which includes the residents sense of well-being as it is related to material possessions and health and safety wellbeing domains. The model also posits that residents perception of tourism impacts (economic and environmental) affects their satisfaction of particular life domains. Accordingly, the study proposed a hypotheses: Does tourism affect the quality of life of residents. Social exchange theory has been the dominant theoretical framework employed in the study to evaluate residents evaluation of tourism development. The sample population consisting of residents residing in Ernakulum district who are directly and indirectly related to tourism was surveyed. The sample was proportionally stratified on the basis of seven Taluks in Ernakulum District. Four hundred and fifty respondents completed the survey. Structural Equation Modelling and Multiple Regression were used to test study hypotheses. Findings of this study also showed that there is a positive relationship between the economic impact of tourism and quality of life of residents in the community, meaning that as residents perception of the positive economic impact of tourism increases, their satisfaction of material well-being increases too; and that residents increased satisfaction of the material well-being affected their overall life satisfaction.