Do residents realise enough about what tourism brings them?

Our Knowledge Update took place LIVE on February 29. During this annual knowledge event, we and the HZ Coastal Tourism Knowledge Center team present the most current insights from our research to policy officers from municipalities and provinces, entrepreneurs, trade organizations, site managers, and other interested parties. I provided a sharing session on 'balance and residents', which focused on the most important results from our resident survey and the importance of resident benefits. A topic that is very current in Zeeland but is also closely linked to the research questions within the living environment theme from the CELTH Agenda Conscious Destinations.

The search for balance is very topical

I asked those present why this topic is important to them. This was followed by answers such as 'it is a current political discussion in our municipality', 'tourism contributes largely to the quality of life in Zeeland', 'over-tourism should not take on a life of its own', and 'residents often complain about tourism, this seems me unfairly'. Participants then indicated that when they think of 'balance and residents' they think of things such as 'balance', 'image problem', 'negative press image', 'no factual discussion but feelings', and a 'livable environment for both target groups'.

A lot of negativities but tourism brings us what we need, right?

The interests of residents and tourists (or those who make money from tourism) appear to be increasingly at odds, with gut feeling, parrots, and the influence of the media playing an important role. In addition, residents continue to see new hotels and cottages being built, while policies in many municipalities no longer allow this: the problem of so-called pipeline projects. In some municipalities, sentiment seems to be turning against every new development. The audience wondered whether residents realise what tourism brings them. Because let's be honest: the supermarket may be busy in the summer, but without tourism that supermarket would not have existed at all.

Research for conversation based on facts

To ensure that the discussion about balance can be conducted based on facts, the HZ Coastal Tourism Knowledge Center conducts research into the way residents view tourism. The 2021/2022 survey among residents of 8 Zeeland municipalities shows that support for tourism is under pressure. Only a narrow majority indicate that they support tourism and want it to remain important for their municipality. That does not mean that the rest disagree: a quarter is neutral towards tourism. Half of residents believe that the benefits of tourism outweigh the disadvantages. Residents must seem to experience more and more disadvantages and fewer advantages of tourism. For example, on the coast, 80% of residents think that tourism leads to more traffic problems, and 55% that tourism makes it too busy. However, more than 80% of residents also realise that tourism creates more shopping and catering establishments, and 70% that tourism strengthens the local economy.

Attention needed to increase the benefits

For a good 'balance', the disadvantages that residents experience from tourism must be addressed. However, our research shows that it is at least as important to ensure that residents experience more benefits from tourism. This involves both creating awareness about what tourism already brings to residents and increasing those benefits. In Zeeland, for example, multifunctional accommodations are paid for from tourist tax income and Zeeland municipalities spend a relatively large amount of money on (the maintenance of) public greenery, from which residents also benefit. There could be better communication about this! In addition, residents often have good ideas about how they could benefit even more from tourism. By talking to them, they feel involved - which has a positive effect on support - and we can work towards a form of tourism from which residents mainly experience the benefits.

Cooperation at the national level

The ambition has been expressed both at the national level (with the Netherlands Destination Perspective 2030) and at the Zeeland level (with the Future Destination Zeeland 2030 Outlook) that residents benefit as much as possible from tourism. The aim is for tourism to make the highest possible contribution to the well-being of residents, and this also contributes to support. Because this way of thinking is still relatively new, universities of applied sciences and DMOs work together at a national level in the Residents' Profit Leaders Group. With this group, we want to answer questions such as: what do we mean by resident benefit? What parts does it consist of? How do we measure it? And what can we do to promote profit? For example, we have developed a framework, NBTC has collected good examples and this year we are conducting joint research into measurement methods under the banner of CELTH.

Knowing more?

The full report of our research among residents in Zeeland can be found on the website of Kenniscentrum Kusttoerisme. NBTC recently made this publication about the activities of the Leaders Group Residents' Profit. Or contact us!

Daniek Nijland
Theme manager Living Environment at CELTH & Researcher at HZ Kenniscentrum Kusttoerisme