ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF TOURISM ON LOCALS' PERCEIVED IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM.

Since engagement of locals plays a key role in the success of any tourism development, understanding how residents perceive sustainable tourism and the ways it is influenced by their perception about environmental impacts of tourism provides researchers, administrators and service providers in tourism sector with invaluable insights. Thus, the current research vies to contribute to the knowledge concerning how local residents in Perhentian and Redang Islands in Malaysia perceive environmental impacts of tourism and the importance of sustainable tourism. Study results reveals that the highest concern about the environmental impacts of tourism was perceived for landscape, air quality, and water quality, respectively. Moreover, by investigating the causal link between perception towards six major environmental impacts of tourism and the perceived importance of sustainable tourism, it was found that only environmental impacts of tourism on air quality and landscape significantly influenced local residents' perceptions about the importance of sustainable tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]