The relationship between local residents' sense of belonging and sustainable tourism attitude: The case of Ayvalık-Küçükköy

The primary aim of this study was to identify the relationship between place attachment and attitudes toward sustainable tourism among local residents of Ayvalık–Küçükköy, and to determine whether these variables differ according to participants' demographic characteristics. To this end, between September 2 and 10, 2024, a field application was conducted with local residents of Ayvalık–Küçükköy. A total of 294 participants completed face-to-face interviews and written questionnaires; after the allotted time, all instruments were collected and the application was concluded. The data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0.1. Independent-samples t-tests and one-way ANOVA were employed. In order to examine the relationship between place attachment and sustainable tourism attitudes, Pearson correlation analysis was conducted. Additionally, the study investigated whether these main variables and their subdimensions differed by participants' demographic characteristics.Results indicated significant differences in place attachment by participants' place of origin, age, education level, and years of residence in Küçükköy. Similarly, attitudes toward sustainable tourism differed significantly according to these same demographic factors. Among the subdimensions of place attachment, the "Place Dependence & Place Identity" dimension was found to correlate at a moderate and significant level with the "Environmental & Economic Sustainability" and "Social Sustainability & Participation" dimensions of sustainable tourism attitudes. The other subdimension of place attachment, "Place Dependence & Spirit of Place," showed a moderate, significant correlation with "Environmental & Economic Sustainability" and a weaker but still significant correlation with "Social Sustainability & Participation." Finally, a positive, moderate, and statistically significant relationship was found between overall place attachment and overall sustainable tourism attitudes.