TOURISM DEPENDENCE AND HOST COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS. NOTES ON THE SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY

Abstract

This article examines the opinions of the local
population on the south coast of the Spanish
province of Alicante regarding the development
of tourism in recent years, analysing their
perception of the benefi ts of tourism using the
social exchange theory. This study is presented
in two stages. The qualitative stage, which
is based on in-depth interviews and focus
groups, acts as a guide for the second stage,
which consists of a survey conducted with the
resident Spanish population. It was found that
people linked to the tourist sector through their
work view tourism as the driving force behind
the economic and social development of their
towns, although they are more critical than
others of the model that has been established.
They defend the development process that has
taken place, but feel that overcrowding brings
their towns to a standstill and needs to be
resolved.