THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TOURISM IMPACTS, HAPPINESS AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
Perunjodi Naidoo[1]
Prabha Ramseook-Munhurrun[2]
Soolakshna Lukea-Bhiwajee[3]
Sadhiska Bhoojedhur[4]
Original Scientific Article
DOI: 10.35666/25662880.2021.7.13
UDC: 338.48:17.022.34(698.2)
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of tourism on the happiness of the local community in Mauritius. A study on happiness is important since in recent years, it has been acknowledged that the contributions of tourism should not be measured in economic terms alone. It is important to look at the long-term contributions of tourism and the development of an industry such as tourism should seek more significant and broader outcomes for its population. Hence, its relationship to happiness cannot be overlooked because studies have shown that happy people are more likely to perform positive activities and display optimistic behaviours that benefit societies at large. The study uses a quantitative approach through the use of a questionnaire. The quantitative data for this study were collected from a sample of 600 local residents in Mauritius. It was found that two factors, namely economic impacts, and local services significantly and positively influenced community happiness and support for tourism mainly due to the considerable economic dependence and significance of the tourism industry for Mauritius. Contrastingly, health and well-being impacts negatively influenced community happiness and resident’s support for future tourism development. Other tourism impacts did not directly significantly influence happiness and the residents’ perceptions of future tourism development.
Key words: Happiness, Tourism Impacts, Community, Wellbeing, Mauritius