Community Participation and Quality of Life in Nature-based Tourism: Exploring the Antecedents and Moderators

Abstract

This study offers a conceptual framework reflecting relationships among nature-based antecedents of community participation in an ecotourism destination en route to achieving quality of life of the local community. The study also examines the moderating role of political instability and government policy in ensuring community participation and attaining quality of life, respectively. Data were collected through a structured survey from 449 local community members of Sundarbans, Bangladesh, which were analysed using SmartPLS based structural equation modelling. Results revealed that community participation depends on natural attraction and motivation of the people to be involved with ecotourism activities. Such participation is found to influence quality of life of the community people. The results show support for significant moderating effects of political instability and government policy on the relationship between (i) ecotourism motivation and community participation, and (ii) community participation and quality of life, respectively. The findings offer significant theoretical and practical implications.