The role of locals in supporting cruise tourism: impacts on health and safety, overall quality of life, and behavioral intentions

Residents are vital to the sustainable development of cruise tourism. This study integrates Social Exchange Theory and Bottom-Up Spillover Theory to investigate how residents of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – a rapidly emerging cruise tourism destination – perceive the impacts of cruise tourism on their health and safety, overall quality of life, and behavioral intentions to support its growth. Drawing on data from an online survey of 450 residents, structural equation modeling was employed to examine the relationships among perceived tourism impacts (economic, socio-cultural, and environmental), perceptions of health and safety, life satisfaction, and support behaviors. Findings reveal that among the three impact domains, only environmental impacts significantly influence residents’ perceptions of health and safety. In turn, these perceptions strongly predict overall life satisfaction, leading to intentions to support cruise tourism. This study offers a novel theoretical framework and practical implications for tourism policymakers to prioritize environmental sustainability and community well-being.