Satisfaction with Tourism Development in a Coastal Community:

A comparison of Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation

Jill Naar

Whitney Knollenberg

Huili Hao, Ph.D.

Center for Sustainable Tourism Serving the state, the region and the nation

1. Climate, Weather and Tourism

2. Community Sense of Place

3. Renewable Energy in Tourism

4. Best Sustainable Tourism Practices

5. Engagement and Community Outreach

Applicable Research– Coastal Community Tourism Development– Primary and Secondary Homeowners

• Attitudes towards tourism development• Part of a larger multi-faceted study of amenity rich communities

Tourism Development– Where and why is it occurring?

• Amenity-rich communities

– Who does it effect?• Second-Home Owners (Stedman, R.C., 2006) • Residents (Andereck, K.L. & Vogt, C.A., 2000)

– What should be done about it?• Explore residents’ attitudes towards tourism development

(Lankford, S.V., Pfister, R.E., Knowles, J, & Williams, A, 2003)

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Age and Tourism Development– Older cohorts of residents had negative view

(Huh, C. & Vogt, C.A., 2008)

– Older cohorts of second home owners had positive view

(Tomljenovic R. & Faulkner B., 2000)

– Areas of concern(Burdge, R.J., 1994; Colmean, P., 1990)

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Tourism and Aging– Cohorts vs Generations (Hareven, T.K., 1994).

– Baby Boomers and Silent Generation (Howe, N & Strauss, W, 2000)

• 1943-1960• 1925-1942

– Travel preferences by cohort membership(Pennington-Gray, L., & Kerstetter, D. L., 2001)

– Not a homogenous group (Lehto, X. Y., Jang, S., Achana, F. T., & O'Leary, J. T.,

2008)

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Life Course Theory» (Elder, G. H., 1998)

– Timing of life transitions

– Timing of individual life transitions

– Role of historical events

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Purpose of Study

To determine if there is a significant relationship between cohorts’ satisfaction with tourism development in a southeastern coastal county

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Hypothesis

There will be a relationship between respondents’ cohort membership and respondents’ level of satisfaction with tourism development.

IV: Cohort membership

DV: Satisfaction with tourism development

Analysis: Independent t-test

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

• Secondary data analysis

• Focus groups used to guide instrument design

• Online survey with option for hard copy or phone interview version– Sample of 8,000 residents– 11% response rate

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Theme 1: Accessibility

Access to and from the county during tourists season

The management of traffic generated by tourists

Theme 2:

Current Tourism Development

Stability of the county’s tourism economy

Number of tourism businesses

The amount of tourism commercial development

Theme 3: Economic Impact

Retail prices compared to other coastal resort communities

Sales tax compared to other coastal resort communities

Level of property taxes

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Characteristics of Participants

Home Ownership N %

Primary 496 58

Secondary 362 42

Cohorts within Second Homeowners

N %

Baby Boomer (1943-1960)

248 68

Silent Generation(1925-1942)

114 32

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Characteristics of Participants

70%

30%

GenderMale Female

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

96%

Baby Boomers Silent Generation

Highest Education

N % N %

Less than high school

1 .4 0 0

High School or GED

16 6.5 5 4.5

2 year college/ 17 6.9 13 11.7

Some college, but no degree

26 10.6 18 16.2

4-year college 88 35.8 30 27.0

Post graduate 98 39.8 45 40.5

Level of Education of Participants

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Employment Characteristics of Participants

Baby Boomers Silent Generation

N % N %

Full-time 133 54.3 11 9.7

Part-time 22 9.0 7 6.2

Own my own business

34 13.9 10 8.8

Looking for work

1 .4 0 .0

Retired 44 18.0 82 72.6

Other 11 4.5 3 2.7

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Baby Boomers Silent Generation

N % N %

$15,000-34,999 1 0.5 6 6.5

$35,000-74,999 26 12.1 28 30.4

$75,000-149,999 89 41.6 35 38.0

$150,000-399,999 85 39.7 21 22.8

>$400,000 13 6.1 2 2.2

Annual Household Income of Participants

Theme 1: Accessibility

Variable Baby Boomers

Silent Generation

P value

Mean SD Mean SD

Access to and from, the county during tourist season

2.04 .93 2.08 .87 .35

Management of traffic generated by tourists

1.81 .78 1.99 .88 .60

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

1=Not Satisfied 2= Somewhat Satisfied 3= Satisfied 4=Highly Satisfied

Theme 2: Current Tourism Development

Variable Baby Boomers Silent Generation P value

Mean SD Mean SD

Number of tourism businesses 2.47 .79 2.53 .76 .49

Stability of the county’s tourism economy

2.45 .77 2.48 .84 .34

Amount of tourism commercial development

2.39 .88 2.46 .88 .80

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

1=Not Satisfied 2= Somewhat Satisfied 3= Satisfied 4=Highly Satisfied

Theme 3: Economic Impact

Variable Baby Boomers

Silent Generation

P value

Mean SD Mean SD

Retail prices compared to other coastal communities

2.67 .75 2.73 .72 .34

Sales tax compared to other coastal resort communities

2.34 .82 2.41 .84 .88

Level of property taxes 2.39 .94 2.43 .96 .67

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

1=Not Satisfied 2= Somewhat Satisfied 3= Satisfied 4=Highly Satisfied

Conclusion

• Majority (92%) of second homeowners in this community were within these two cohorts

• Life course theory may not be applicable– Caveat to theory, some views overlap cohorts

• Overall both cohorts were somewhat satisfied – Mean scores similar– Most satisfied-Economic Impact– Least satisfied- Accessibility

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Limitations• Secondary Data Analysis

– Using Life Course Theory as a lens

• Low response rate– Incentive– Avoid over-surveyed communities

• Location specific– Unable to generalize

• Life course– Different life stages

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Future Research

• Theories– Social exchange theory

• Variables – Related to quality of life

• Affordability of housing, cleanliness, recreational opportunities

– Demographics

• Length of residency, business ownership, income, education level

• Cohort differences– Sustainable actions

• Include all members of household

– Intra cohort

– Longitudinal cohort study

• Location– Other amenity rich

communities

• Home ownership– Primary vs. secondary

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Application• Satisfaction of second homeowners tourist experiences• Readiness of community for tourism development• Consideration of cohorts when marketing

– Since this study cannot be generalized• Emerging market of Baby Boomers• Three important factors to consider may be

– Accessibility– Current Tourism Development– Economic Impact

Background Methodology Results Conclusion Application

Questions?

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