Understanding Intergroup Conflict between Residents and Tourists: A Social Identity Perspective

Intergroup relations are an integral part of tourism experience, as tourists and residents interact to provide/receive services, undertake transactions, share spaces and facilities, and communicate information. Given the differences in cultures, norms, and values between tourists and residents, conflicts can arise that negatively affect tourist satisfaction, destination image, and even the well-being of the local community. However, current understanding of the psychological processing of intergroup conflicts in the international travel context remains limited. Through the social identity lens and theories around it, this chapter discusses how residents are likely to process and respond to intergroup conflicts in tourism. Specifically, residents’ identification with the destination or community will likely be a key mechanism underlying their conflict evaluation, which then drives their affective, cognitive, and conative reactions. The chapter also identifies some possible factors that may moderate residents’ responses, including their social demographics, empowerment, and economic dependence on tourism.