Understanding Residents' Resistance Towards Tourism: The Mediating Role of Attitudes in Response to Perceived Congestion and Pressure on Public Services

This study investigates residents' resistance to tourism and the mediating role of attitudes in response to perceived congestion and pressure on public services. A quantitative survey was conducted with 221 residents from Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and Penang, using a 5-point Likert scale to measure responses. The results indicate that attitudes towards tourists significantly influence resistance to tourism (β = 0.556, p < 0.001). Congestion in public spaces indirectly affects resistance through attitudes towards tourists, with partial mediation observed (β = 0.116, p = 0.005). Pressure on public services also affects attitudes towards tourists (β = 0.544, p < 0.001) and subsequently, resistance to tourism (β = 0.226, p = 0.009), with full mediation observed in this relationship (β = 0.303, p < 0.001). The findings highlight the critical role of residents' attitudes in shaping their resistance to tourism, particularly in response to infrastructural pressures, offering valuable insights for policymakers aiming to manage tourism's social impact.