Public perception's of Tourism development: Baku case

ABSTRACT: Tourism industry has become one of the key driver in the development of third world countries. Tourism as a developing sector can positively and negatively affects the society, the economy of local governments, and host communities. From the point view of local governments, the tourism industry is vital power and main tool for economic growth and stability. The quick improvement of tourism sector has impacts on the local communities. According to widely spread thought, the main advantage or strong point of tourism for local communities is the ability of the sector to create new job opportunities, reduce unemployment and raise the life standard of local communities. The economic development function of the industry plays considerable role for developing countries as the outcomes of survey demonstrate that the spread and development of tourism sector positively impacts developing countries. Baku is one of the highly developing destination in last years and tourism being an important sector, can be a mediator for more development of the destination in next coming years. Baku is available destination for the development of tourism industry due to the resources of place. Some basic features make the destination attractive place for visitors e.g. location, capital status, economic development and ancient city images which are the main details for the destination in the tourism sector. Natural resources, strong and diversified industries are the second core components for the development of tourism sector in the selected destination. The aim of this study is to investigate the host community perception and attitudes toward tourism development in Baku based on theoretical framework. Social Exchange Theory is considered as the main theoretical concept which studies the perception of local communities toward tourism and tourism development. According to the theory, the main principle of the concept suggest that local people like to participate and give support to tourism if they believe that they will benefit from it with no cost . This factor leads them to get involved and participate in tourism development in the society. The data for this master thesis was collected from the capital of Azerbaijan and the most developed city in the Caucasus region, Baku. The research method of this study was based on qualitative method and the outcome of study was obtained with the aid of special questions which were prepared based on different factors . The results of this study shows that community attachment, use of tourism resources, community concern and eco centric attitudes, use of tourism resource base, perceived cost and benefit of tourism , community support for tourism after the general attitudes and perceptions of host communities are main aspects measured for host community perception and attitudes toward tourism development . Generally, the host population of Baku have more positive mindset about the tourism and tourism development in their home town and they see tourism very important for the developing industries in the world. Also they consider that the participation of host communities in tourism development can bring more benefits to the national governments. Another important key finding of this study is the local community perceptions. They have positive perceptions for the future of tourism in Baku and they believe that the selected destination for this study can be one of the well-known v business tourism destinations in future, perhaps after resolving the existing problems which have been considered as the main obstacles toward tourism development in Baku. The current study gives some limitations and also implications , based on outcomes of this investigation it can be beneficial to do the same research in other regions of Azerbaijan , not just at the capital even the same investigation can be done in other two country of Caucasus (Armenia and Georgia) for future times. According to other limitation of this master study , the locals of Baku doesn’t have more willingness to participate such kind of academic investigations. This study also gives contribution to the government officials , policy makers in the selected destination due to take account the perceptions of locals in Baku while policy making process. The development of tourism in Azerbaijan , the current image of Baku in the world as a rapidly developing destination , special interest of the local government toward tourism sector in Azerbaijan , tourism potential of the selected destination increase the significance level of this topic as a research issue in tourism . Keywords: Tourism , tourism development , host perceptions of local communities , Baku. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………