Residents' perceptions of quality of life in a surf tourism destination: A case study of Las Salinas, Nicaragua

Tourism development has been treated as a panacea for the economic woes of lesser developed countries (LDCs). Studies examining the impacts of tourism on local residents have failed to capture the way in which rural residents in LDCs perceive their lives before considering the impact of tourism. To understand residents' perceptions of their quality of life in the face of tourism development, we present the results of a case study in Las Salinas, Nicaragua. We accomplish our objective by drawing on the perspectives of residents of who have been exposed to the development of facilities and services for surf tourists.