To investigate the influencing factors on support for tourism development and perceived economic benefits in the context of ski tourism

ABSTRACT This study examines the effects of influencing factors on support for tourism development and perceived economic benefits including community attachment, emotional solidarity and interest for participation in snow ski tourism in Iran. In addition, the mediation role of perceived economic benefits between the influencing factors and support for tourism development is examined. The present study relies on a survey of 300 residents of Pooladkaf, a recently known snow ski resort in Iran where tourism is still at its emerging stage. Partial least squares – structural equation modelling has been employed to analyse the data. Evidence from the study indicates that emotional solidarity has positive effect on support for tourism development. However, the hypothesized path relationships between community attachment and resident’s interest in participation were not supported. The study also shows that emotional solidarity and interests have positive effects on perceived economic benefits, and indirectly on support for tourism development through perceived economic benefits. The study makes an important theoretical contribution to the extant literature by way of applying a revised framework of social exchange theory to investigate the effects of community attachment, emotional solidarity and interest in participation on perceived economic benefits and support for tourism development in the context of ski tourism.