The Application of SEM Technique for the Assessment of Factors Influencing Local Community Members in Destination Development: a study of the district of Jammu And Kashmir – India

Abstract

Community participation is a tool to achieve sustainable tourism development. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors influencing community participation in destination building and its consequences for the local inhabitants in the form of social, tourism and economic development. The model is based upon the various constructs portraying the influence of various factors on community participation. This study used explorative factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and Structural Equation Modeling [SEM] technique for determining the structural estimates between constructs. Data for this study was collected from 214 questionnaires from residents of different tourist destinations in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir [J&K]. The result revealed that personal, economic factor has the most significant impact followed by social and least by environmental factor upon the local community participation Moreover, the respondents agreed that destination development has contributed a lot in terms of economic and followed by other two factors. Conclusions endrose the view of the way how local community perceive tourism plays an important role in the development of indigenous tourism.