Evaluation of the repertory grid method in studies of locals' attitude towards tourism development processes

In this paper the possibility of employing personal construct theory and the repertory grid method in studies of local attitudes towards tourism development from both a theoretical and methodological perspective is assessed. This work follows on from a critical review of the research methods used in the past research works which dealt with the question of attitudes and perceptions of local communities toward tourism development in their localities. A case study of local attitudes and perceptions towards tourism development in tourist settlements, over four tourism development stages in Israel, is used to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of personal construct theory and the repertory grid method in tourist environmental cognition studies. Subsequently, methodological conclusions and suggestions about how to overcome the problems which arise in this study are drawn. -Authors