Resident empowerment in all-inclusive context: cost–benefit perception and support for sustainable tourism development in a small island destination

This study examines the relationships among resident empowerment, perceptions of tourism costs and benefits, and support for sustainable tourism development (SSTD) in a small island destination dominated by all-inclusive resorts. Using survey data from 341 residents in Cape Verde and employing PLS-SEM analysis, results reveal significant relationships between empowerment, benefits, and SSTD. The perception of all-inclusive resorts' positive impacts moderates the relationship between empowerment and SSTD, while the perception of all-inclusive resorts' costs does not moderate any relationships. The study contributes to understanding how all-inclusive tourism development influences resident attitudes and support for sustainability in small island contexts. The findings underscore the importance of empowering residents and managing perceptions of tourism impacts to foster SSTD. Practical implications include the need for policies that promote local empowerment, equitable benefit distribution, and mitigation of negative impacts to ensure long-term sustainability of small island destinations and beyond.