Impact of Tourism on Socio-Economic Structures : A Case Study of Saidpur Village in Islamabad

This study identifies the positive and negative aspects of tourism as perceived by the residents of Saidpur village, and the influence of selected variables on resident response. It is hypothesized that the perception of tourist impact varies with the distance a person lives from the tourist zone and with the resident's socio-economic status. They want their government to offer more economic incentives and eliminate any restrictive measures in order to stimulate tourism in the area. The positive attitudes of the villagers toward tourism may be a function of the incipient stage of tourism development in this area. Further study will also describe the patterns of inter-regional travel, domestic tourism and the role of tourism in developed area of developing countries. Such descriptions provide the starting point for raising policy issues about the potential for tourism to make a greater contribution to socio-economic development. Balancing economic well-being with social and environmental well-being has been mentioned as a significant consideration affecting the role of tourism in socioeconomic development.