Negative perception of the local community towards tourism development

Purpose – Tourism has positive and negative sides. Due to ecological disturbance, cultural diffusion, and poor perceptions, tourism can sometimes be seen as a burden to locals and the area. If these perceptions are not addressed appropriately, it can lead to a chain of conflicts. This study explores people's negative perceptions towards tourism in their locality. Methodology/Design/Approach – Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Respondents were asked to rate their views on a 5-point Likert scale. Both primary and secondary data were used to achieve the objective of the study. Findings – The results indicate that local people are happy to receive tourists in their villages. However, they have certain concerns that need to be addressed for sustainable tourism growth. Anti-social activities such as drugs, alcoholism, prostitution and lack of measures to protect the ethnic group from outside influences are some of the key areas that require immediate attention. Originality of the research – Similar studies have been conducted before, but in the study area (Arunachal Pradesh, India), which is ecologically sensitive and geographically remote, a detailed study on negative perceptions alone was not conducted. Various dimensions were also added to understand healthy and relative perceptions.