Identification With Resource-Based Occupations and Desire for Tourism: Are the Two Necessarily Inconsistent?

Occupational identity is frequently used to explain why rural residents traditionally involved in natural resource-based occupations have no interest in tourism activities as a form of economic development, with researchers arguing these residents view tourism as inconsistent with the cultural traditions associated with more traditional rural occupations such as logging, mining, or agriculture. However, the link between resource-based occupational identity and attitudes about tourism development has not been systematically tested. Using survey data from three Western communities undergoing social and economic changes, this article examines this relationship and assesses the influence of other variables that may impact the relationship. Results show that while resource-based occupational identity is associated with attitudes toward tourism, perception of the local economic condition is a stronger predictor of such attitudes.