Community integration: A Case Study of Costa Smeralda, Italy

Abstract: Community integration is considered as one of the integral components of tourism sustainability. This study analyzes the residents’ perceptions of the impact of tourism and community integration in tourism planning in Costa Smeralda, a destination located in the island of Sardinia, Italy. The study suggests that residents recognize, even if slightly, the economic, environmental, and sociocultural benefits of tourism and would like to support its further development in their area. However, a low level of community integration was also found, suggesting that policymakers should run internal marketing operations based on the residents’ sociodemographic characteristics so that they feel involved and committed to tourism planning and place branding