Stakeholder perspectives on the Pitons Management Area in St. Lucia: Potential for sustainable tourism development

Based on the theoretical construct of stakeholder theory, my research sought to explore the perspectives of three stakeholder groups (local community residents, visitors and the public sector) in order to gain a better understanding of their support for the Pitons Management Area (PMA) in St. Lucia. My study constituted three main objectives: (1) to examine stakeholders' support for the PMA as a World Heritage Site; (2) to evaluate stakeholders' support for sustainable tourism development in the PMA; and (3) to analyze similarities and differences between the perspectives of the three groups. To address the objectives, theoretical models for residents and visitors were formulated and tested. My study used both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data were solicited from residents using a survey instrument that included open-ended questions. Similarly, for visitors, data were collected by use of a survey instrument, while in-depth interviews were conducted among officials from the public sector. The study comprised a total of 555 participants: 319 residents; 219 visitors; and 17 from the public sector.;Based on the results, all three stakeholder groups generally held positive perceptions of the PMA as a World Heritage Site. For the most part, the three stakeholder groups were also supportive of both the designation of a World Heritage Site, and Sustainable Tourism Development in the PMA. The results, based on the hypothesized model for residents, revealed that Community Attachment and Environmental Attitudes were directly related to both Support for the designation as a World Heritage Site, and Support for Sustainable Tourism Development in the PMA. Study results also determined that these relationships were partially mediated by Perceptions about the PMA. However, the Level of Involvement in the PMA among residents was not found to have any statistically significant relationship with the outcome variables. Regarding the results for visitors, Environmental Attitudes, Economic Attitudes, and Social Attitudes were found to have strong direct relationships with Support for Sustainable Tourism Development in the PMA. Data analysis for the public sector stakeholder group revealed the following four major themes, which included sub-themes: (1) Beauty and Designation; (2) Community Integration; (3) Management Challenges; (4) Sustainable Tourism Development.;Findings of this research highlight a number of key practical implications for sustainability of the PMA. They include the need for: increased collaboration among stakeholder groups; greater involvement of local community residents in the management and decision-making; greater coordination between various organizations in the public sector; education of stakeholder groups on the meaning of World Heritage Status; and the development of a comprehensive plan for tourism in the PMA.;My research contributed to the literature and stakeholder theory in numerous ways. In particular, it examined the amalgamated perspectives of community residents, visitors and the public sector with regards to sustainable tourism development at a World Heritage Site. My research could be employed as a foundation to expand and continue the research on stakeholder involvement and sustainable tourism development in general as well as in the context of the PMA.