Planning as a Coping Response to Proposed Tourism Development

This case study explores the psychological concepts of stress and coping as experienced by residents of a host community. Stress can negatively affect communities and individuals in myriad ways, leading to community dysfunction, negative health outcomes, and psychological consequences. Successful coping actions can moderate the effects of stress on individuals and communities. Over the span of two years, the community of Sitka, Alaska, undertook two tourism planning processes in response to the proposed development of a cruise pier. Thematic analysis of 29 interviews of Sitka residents and tourism planning participants revealed that the tourism planning process was a form of community coping with the stress of proposed tourism development. Interviews also revealed that individuals engaged in coping to address stressors that manifested during each planning process. Understanding how residents of host communities respond to stresses brought about by tourism development is a step forward in understanding the host–guest relationship.