1 Introduction

The tourism industry has seen tremendous growth over the years in concert with the local community’s perceptions and attitudes toward sustainable tourism management practices. Recognizing the consequences of tourism on local people has undergone a radical shift, and it is now a significant issue in constructing long-term and sustainable tourist initiatives (Abdollahzadeh and Sharifzadeh 2014, p. 127; Diedrich and Garca-Buades 2009, p. 512). Tourism development is an essential array of financial activities for mountain economies to develop and revitalize. Mountain landscapes, on the other hand, are ecologically susceptible to alteration and tourism-induced impacts (ICIMOD 2010). In the vast corpus of tourism research, the term ‘impacts of tourism’ has gained prominence. Since the 1970s, there has been a significant increase in interest in residents’ perspectives on tourism, prompting academics and professionals to examine local attitudes closely (Sharpley 2014). This phenomenon could be understood explicitly through an appraisal of residents' attitudes and perception-based assessment. Tourism is fundamentally an integrative transactional process, including a direct and indirect exchange between visitors and locals (Brida et al. 2010, p. 359). The essence of such shared values is the sole experiential takeaway that visitors receive in conjunction with the perception and feel of the place, forming a comprehensive set of overall auditing of the tourist destination. Multiple researchers have examined locals’ perceptions and interpretations of the consequences of tourism activities in specific neighborhoods in recent times (Ko and Stewart 2002, p. 552; Lankford and Howard 1994, p. 123; Alves et al. 2010, p. 23; Choi 2013, p. 76; Cardoso and Silva 2018, p. 688; Cheng et al. 2019, p. 3; Gidebo 2019, p. 651; Zhu et al. 2017, p. 2; Latip et al. 2018, section I; Peters et al. 2018, p. 2). Doodhpathri, a tourist destination of the union territory of J and K in the Union of India, is a nature-based tourist destination located in the northwestern Himalayas. Being a perennial tourist destination, it has diverse tourist attractions ranging from forests, gushing waters, glaciers, lush green meadows surrounded by snow-clad mountains, rural landscapes, and local traditional culture attracting a massive rush of tourists. Tourism activity at Doodhpathri is placed at an emergent level of development, thus augmenting its scope for being a prominent destination for tourist engagement. As a result, tourism is emerging as one of the main economic activities in the region. Even though tourism forms the mainstay of the local economy, not much is known about how people feel about tourism development and subsequent impacts. Moreover, no research has been conducted to investigate the residents’ perceptions of the impacts of tourism. Understanding local communities’ perceptions regarding various aspects of tourism and how they vary may be critical to managing tourism activity, especially in the mountain ecosystems, which are fragile to any tourism-induced impacts. A better understanding of residents’ knowledge of tourism development, their awareness of its benefits, and its perceived impact on their welfare are fundamental to develo** and implementing management strategies that are both sustainable in the long term and sensitive to existing local needs. This paper investigates residents’ perceptions of the impact of tourism and their support for future tourism development at Doodhpathri, an emerging tourist destination in the Kashmir Valley, India.

There is a lot of evidence in the literature that the local community is at the center of tourist growth, their participation being key to the long-term success of the industry (Lee 2013, p. 38; Gonzalez et al. 2018, p.1). Furthermore, the research demonstrates that the locals' perspectives regarding tourism’s effects are vital to the expansion of tourism in the region. It demonstrates that communities' support for tourism depends on their perceptions of its impacts on their community (Bimonte and Punzo 2016, p. 129). How much support tourism development receives from the locals is a big part of how long it will last. Such a level of support, in turn, reflects how local citizens view tourism’s influence on their community (Rasoolimanesh and Jaffer 2017, p. 2; Jackson 2008, p. 242). Several theories have been used to identify the factors influencing residents’ perceptions of tourism. These theories include the Social Exchange theory (Gursoy et al. 2002, pp. 81–82; Gursoy and Kendall 2006, p. 606; Jurowski et al. 1997, pp. 3–4; Nunkoo and So 2016, p. 848; Peters et al 2018, p. 3; Ko and Stewart 2002; Látková and Vogt 2012, pp. 52–53; Rasoolimanesh et al. 2015, p. 336; Wang and Pfister 2008, p. 86; Zhu et al. 2017, p. 3); Stakeholder theory (Byrd 2007). Among these, it seems that SET (Social Exchange Theory) is the most prominent theory employed to explain local’s perspectives (Sharply 2014, p. 45). The core tenet of social exchange theory is that people form opinions about something by weighing the advantages against the costs. This idea is interdisciplinary, with its origins in fields as diverse as economics, anthropology, sociology, and social psychology (Liu 2012, p. 62). Consequently, it was initially applied in the discipline of economics by Homans (1958) to interpret human behavior. Using an expanded social exchange theory, Emerson (1962) and Blau (1964) examined how inhabitants and institutions work together to optimize benefits and minimize costs. This was accompanied by the realization that social exchange theory could be used in different situations to help people better understand how they see each other in a relationship or interaction. When put into the context of tourism, this theory claims that locals would encourage the expansion of the industry if they perceive its positives would exceed its negatives (Rasoolimanesh et al. 2015, p. 336). Alternatively, locals will typically be hostile to tourism expansion if they feel the costs outweigh the advantages. Analyzing and evaluating resident perspectives on tourist development would fill the gap in residents’ assessment research. Most research on how locals feel about tourism effects has been done in the developed world. Minimal research has been conducted on this theme in develo** nations (Liu and Li 2018, p. 1). The fragile mountain ecosystem regions like the Kashmir valley, prone to conflict, have received little consideration in most research conducted in develo** countries. In the Indian context, few studies have examined residents’ perceptions of tourism development. It is often assumed that attracting tourists to mountainous regions will help boost the local economy, especially when many locals abandon the mountainous areas in favor of the cities in search of better livelihood prospects.

In this context, the present study investigates residents’ perceptions of tourism’s economic, environmental, and socio-cultural implications in Doodhpathri, NW Himalayas, and their support for future tourism development using the social exchange theory (SET) as a theoretical framework. Furthermore, in the context of Kashmir valley, no empirical study of the resident's perception of tourism development and their support for future development in an emerging destination has been undertaken. The social exchange hypothesis also makes sense and is intuitively attractive as a sound theoretical basis for assessing tourism implications and how they might foster development in an emerging destination, in the case of Doodhpathri. The present study infers that it is a prerequisite to conduct further research on this theme in other geographical settings and socio-economic backgrounds to fill a research gap and add to the existing tourism literature, which could be applied to other mountain destinations across the globe.

2 Literature review

The growth of tourism is a “two-edged sword” as it encompasses both constructive and detrimental facets for the local inhabitants (Wang and Pfister 2007, p. 411). The intensity of indigenous inhabitants’ inclusion in tourism is dynamically linked to tourism impacts on public perception (Eshliki and Kaboudi 2012, p. 340). Individual benefits accrued from tourism are associated with local community involvement in tourism management (Hanafiah et al. 2013, p. 792; Zhu et al. 2017, p. 10). If costs exceed profits gained, residents will negatively perceive tourism activity. However, if residents benefited from this exercise without considerable cost, there would be a positively driven perception (Lee 2013, p.38). An integral part of the “visitor experience” is the behavior of the host community's residents (Murphy 1985, p. 16). Residents’ perspectives and goodwill toward tourists directly evoke a pleasant experience, influencing the likelihood of tourists' repeated visits to the destination and exuding a healthy experience of the place (Carmichael 2006, p. 117). There is a lot of evidence in the literature that the local community is at the center of tourist growth and that their participation is key to the long-term success of the industry (Lee 2013, p. 38; Gonzalez et al. 2018, p. 1). Thus, assessing residents' insights about tourism development prompts tourism and government functionaries to devise an actionable policy for community outreach. This motivates host communities to provide proactive support (Murphy et al. 2000, p. 50). The generosity of the locals of a destination largely determines the positioning of the tourism business and how tourist spots should be planned following an area-specific approach (Andriotis 2005, p. 83). Unlike most other sectors, tourism comprises visitors going places, which generates friction between tourists and inhabitants. It is crucial to examine and document communities’ impressions of tourist effects. This aids in outlining an ideal tourist development strategy while minimizing negative effects on residents.

The local community's support and involvement in the decision-making process guarantee long-term sustainability in tourism development, which is imperative in local tourist attractions. Researchers advocate that it is challenging to sustain tourism in any region that does not value and acknowledge the local inhabitants' inclusion in the active tourism function (McCool et al. 2001, p. 130; Twining-Ward and Butler 2002, p. 372). According to Brida et al. (2010), destination planners must recognize residents' opinions of tourism effects, as they are the primary stakeholders in perceiving the cumulative bearings throughout the process of multiplier effects of tourism development. While tourism's importance to economic and social development as well as a multiplicity of benefits to local people are well documented, even though it has culminated in many effects on which the local people are likely to suffer from waste generation, change in their traditional culture, traffic jams, crimes, and the cost of living seems to be mounting (Nunkoo and Ramkissoon 2010, pp. 52–53). The future viability of the travel and leisure economy depends on several issues, particularly, with particular attention paid to tourism’s impacts on the host community (Chandralal 2010, p. 42). Taking the host community into account when develo** tourism policies ensures positive effects on environmental, economic, social, and cultural aspects (Puiu and Ovidiu 2008, p. 44).

2.1 Community attitudes to tourism

Over the last three decades, researchers have looked into how host communities perceive tourism's effects. The host residents' outlook is central to productive and sustainable development because valuing people’s perceptions and attitudes and how they are evinced regarding tourism development might attract indispensable observance from policymakers. Involving the local community in the implementation of community outreach programs increases their likelihood of success and ensures positive effects on the environment, economy, culture, and society.

(Jeelani et al. 2022, p. 7). Diverse channels of revenues and expenses affect host communities’ perspectives and, as observed from the studies, can be categorized into three parts; socio-economic, cultural, and environmental implications (Gursoy et al. 2010, p. 381; Murphy 1985, p. 16). A comprehensive visitor impact study may help regional planners and local decision-makers simultaneously flag actual problems and challenges so that appropriate policies and responses can be devised (Allen et al. 1988, p. 20; Belisle and Hoy 1980, p. 85). In every social setup, the variables that determine inhabitants' viewpoints, as well as the type and intensity of the consequences, are highly varying in nature. The social fabric of an immediate society substantially impacts its ability to constructively assimilate the many shared values and conventions that visitors bring with them (Mansfield 1992, p. 379). Since most tourism is an exchange between cultural and environmental expenses and economic benefits, people handle it by underplaying the adverse consequences and stressing financial revenues to uphold satisfaction with their community (Cavus and Tanrisevdi 2003, p. 267; Faulkner and Tideswell 1997, p. 24). Tourism development in any area can contribute positively to local development but also tends to cause environmental deterioration and erosion of local identity and traditional values if its growth is uncontrolled and unplanned (Syamlal 2008, p. 2).

The indigenous society's engagement in tourism planning in emerging economies is generally insufficient, limited, or neglected (Dola and Mijan 2006, p. 2). Cater (1994) underscores the significance of local community engagement in responsible tourism, mainly in develo** nations. Because of the emphasis on local collaboration and a community-based strategy for tourism planning, host communities are widely ignored in the planning process, administrative auditing, and decision-making. In emerging nations with centralized development cultures, marginalization is evident (Teye et al. 2002, p. 670). Drake (1991) believed that the involvement of local people is widely viewed as critical to the effectiveness of sustainable tourism management and planning. Social inclusion is not only at the heart of the policy-making and growth of tourism, but it is also an essential component of long-term tourism viability (Murphy 1988, pp. 97–98). Understanding the host community’s familiarity with mountain tourism development, its beliefs, and its responsiveness to its visible impacts is imperative for policymakers in develo** and executing long-term sustainable tourism strategies.

2.2 Tourism in the study area

The northwestern Himalayas have long been a famous tourist destination attracting people worldwide. Since ancient times, sages and travelers from all over India and surrounding nations have come to the valley for knowledge and spiritual purposes, attracting sages and prodigies from all over India and surrounding nations (Malik and Bhat 2015, p. 11). Tourism accounts for almost 7% of the total GDP of Jammu and Kashmir, employing directly and indirectly about 2 million people. A flourishing sector transcending inter-regional boundaries, tourism can have either favorable or unfavorable effects on the region with economic, environmental, social, and cultural magnitudes (Arrow et al. 1993, p. 4608). However, the tourism impacts and non-tourism activities on socio-cultural and environmental issues are hard to separate and evaluate (Briassoulis 2002). Mountain ecosystems like the Himalayas are especially susceptible to climate change owing to limited adaptive ability, resources, and cascade effects on downstream environments (Ahsan et al. 2021, p 0.2, Ahsan et al. 2022, p. 1665). The increased pressure on the population, commercial forestry, tourism activities, and economic prosperity are the leading causes of the destruction of the environment in the Himalayan ecosystem (Rawat and Sharma 1997). Mountain tourism is essential as it is often promoted as a source of community outreach that may give substitute income options, encourage population growth, expand local economies, and address poverty problems (Sinclair and Ham 2000). However, this exercise is often fraught with perceived risks of environmental and cultural decadence, affecting the complete identity of bio-physical and the composite image of the area. The valley of Kashmir, tucked between the breathtaking Himalayas, offers a wide variety of natural delights such as serene meadows, gorgeous pine woods, captivating treks, streams, snow-clad mountains, freshwater lakes, and an appealing climate, which has made this valley a sought-after tourist destination (Malik and Bhat 2015, p. 11). As an outcome of these naturally gifted traits, the Kashmir Valley has been globally euphemized as “Heaven on Earth." Doodhpathri is the perfect example of a place that is filled with all the bounties of nature and adds another jewel to the glorious beauty of Kashmir. Tucked away among the magnificent hills and the lovely fir forests, the place presents a beauty so untouched and raw that it leaves one enchanted and mesmerized.

Increasing tourism activity and a rising population have indeed been attributed to a large volume of solid trash creation in Srinagar. Most of Srinagar's municipal solid waste is deposited on land without any control. When the trash is thrown away haphazardly, it causes problems that directly impact human and animal health, leading to economic, ecological, and biological losses (Suhaib and Jyoti 2017, p. 2, Ahmad et al. 2015, p. 3661). In Kashmir, unplanned tourism has contributed to the deterioration of water resources. The picturesque Dal Lake has been severely impacted due to mismanagement and unregulated tourism, resulting in eutrophication and water quality deterioration (Mushtaq et al. 2013, p. 633). Residents perceive positive perceptions regarding economic impacts. However, the Kashmir valley has mixed views on ecological and socio-cultural impacts (Charag et al. 2020, pp. 750–752). The rising temperature at Gulmarg and Pahalgam tourist hill stations is a grave concern for the viability of tourism, specifically winter tourism in the area (Dar et al. 2014, p. 2560). So far, the influence of tourism on the host population at Doodhpathri has not been documented, as the region falls under the category of a "virgin and emerging tourist destination." The region’s economic base is primarily subsistence agriculture, like cattle rearing, wood collection, etc. With the development of tourism in the area, the agrarian economy may shift toward a market-oriented economy, which can boost the region’s economy. The development of tourism is expected to provide a significant economic platform that will not only be effective in terms of the growth of the economy but will also result in significant structural changes in the workforce of the region, which in turn will also result in the conversion of marginal workers into primary workers. The growth of tourism can enhance the living standard of local and indigenous people by providing them with new sources of revenue, more job openings, better public services, and more richness in their cultural traditions. Accommodation and other types of visitor lodging may offer a profitable market for local items, encouraging indigenous people to keep up their traditional arts and crafts as tourism grows. Tourism can also negatively influence land prices, the cost of living, frequent traffic jams, crowding, increased crime, drug use, and competition for resources and facilities. Although some studies have been conducted at different hill stations in the northwestern Himalayas mainly focusing on the environmental viewpoints of tourism effects, mismanagement and free flow of tourism have led to a sudden shift in land use, generation of solid waste, reduction in forest cover (Malik et al. 2011, p. 7), and deterioration in water quality (Rashid and Romshoo 2013, p. 4717–4718) and associated challenges in the Lidder catchment of Kashmir. Doodhpathri's growth as a tourist destination is in its early stage, but it is fastly turning out to be one of Kashmir's most popular tourist locations. Figure 1 shows that Doodhpathri is an emerging tourist destination in the Kashmir valley, with more than 1 million tourists having visited over the last decade. Figure 1 also reveals how the number of tourists changed over the years. Many factors, like COVID-19 and political turmoil, have affected the magnitude and flow of tourists to the destination. Therefore, destination planners must assess how residents interpret the effects of tourism during the initial stage of development, as they are the main stakeholders in ensuring the long-term sustainability of tourism. Therefore, the main aim of the current research is to look at the consequences of tourism on the local indigenous population and assess the influence of these factors on public support for future tourist development in Doodhpathri tourist hill station, in the Kashmir valley. This study will be the first attempt to examine the effects of tourism on this destination in conjunction with the perception-driven impact analysis. This would help to generate a valuable database for future tourism development strategies in similar tourist destinations worldwide.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Tourist arrivals at Doodhpathri (2011–2020)

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3 Study area

Doodhpathri is popularly known as the "Valley of Milk" owing to its frothing milky waters formed due to the rapids from the stream (Shaliganga) flowing through the region. This place is emerging as the region’s new destination for tourist activities. It is located at an altitude of 2730 m (ASL) in a bowl-shaped valley in the middle range of the northwestern Himalayas. It is located in the Kashmir valley's Budgam district, about 45 km from the summer capital of the UT and 22 km from the district headquarters. Located within the geographical coordinates of 33° 57′ 60–33° 45′ 30  N latitude and 74°35′ 36–74° 21′ 20 E longitude (Fig. 2). The area is directly accessible from Srinagar via Khan Sahib, Beeru, Budgam, etc. Although the region can be reached via several routes, the current condition of roads is dilapidated, often acting as a bottleneck for tourism growth. As such, public transport service to the region is very inadequate and, as such, private taxis and personal cars are being used as a means of transportation. The sub-tropical climate of Doodhpathri is quite pleasing, and its temperature ranges between − 4 and 31 °C. An alpine valley surrounded by snow-capped mountains, lush green pastures carpeted with flowers in spring and summer, magnificent hills, evergreen fir forests, the slo** landscape dotted with shepherd huts, and the milky white flowing water of the Shaliganga stream through the meadows provides a rare view of juxtaposing both the natural and adventurous streams of tourist typologies in the area. The resort provides an opportunity for trekking, horse riding, angling, and river rafting beside lakes, glaciers, and religious shrines, adding tourist options. Doodhpathri, with its alluring beauty, attracts an increasing flow of tourists every year and is becoming one of the most sought-after places in Kashmir among tourists. The population of Doodhpathri is primarily migrant (Gujjars), though, in the surrounding sub-region, several hamlets and villages are found with a population of about 14,563 (2734 households), literacy rate of just 47%, and a sex ratio of 987 as per census 2011. The region's economy is mostly based on farming. More than 60% of the population is involved in subsistence farming, such as raising animals, collecting firewood, mining coal, which shows that the region has a fragile economic base.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Study area map (Doodhpathri, Kashmir, India)

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4 The survey instruments and data analysis

The indigenous community's attitude and perspectives regarding tourism development effects and their enthusiasm for future tourism development were assessed using a quantitative research approach based on a self-reported questionnaire. As recommended by earlier studies, the investigation was conducted using a non-probability convenience sampling technique with 344 residents (Harun et al. 2018, p. 4; Charag et al. 2020, Section. iv; Korca 1998, p. 198; Teye et al. 2002, p. 673). The survey was developed in response to a thorough literature analysis of locals' attitudes and opinions on the impacts of tourism development, (Akis et al. 1996, pp. 486–487; Dyer et al. 2007, p. 413; Gursoy et al. 2002, p. 91; Gursoy and Rutherford 2004, p. 505; Johnson et al. 1994, pp. 636–635; Ko and Stewart 2002, pp. 524–525; Korça 1996, p. 696; Kuvan and Akan 2005, pp. 698–699; Liu and Var 1986, p. 200; Vargas-Sánchez et al. 2009, p. 378). As depicted in Fig. 2, the study was conducted at the tourist destination of Doodhpathri. It was based on personal interactions involving locals who were asked to participate by the researcher between May and June 2021. A pilot survey with 30 participants was conducted to determine the viability of the survey procedure. Some questions were dropped due to the pilot study's findings (e.g., tourism enhances soil erosion, exclusion of locals from natural resources, reduction in vegetation cover). The sample respondents interacted through a door-to-door survey, and a single respondent was considered from each household, thus making it more representative of the host indigenous community. According to the 2011 census, the area has 2734 households spread across 29 villages and hamlets. The optimum sample size for the present study by applying the formula (Yamane 1973) at a 95% confidence level was 349. However, only 344 valid responses (98.5%) were found valid for further analysis. The final survey instrument was categorized into three components. The first segment asked about residents’ demographic information, but no identities were revealed, preserving the interviewees' anonymity. The second section covers statements about tourism's environmental, socio-economic, and cultural components. Residents' viewpoints on the implications of tourism expansion were elicited through the use of 23 impact indicators. Participants were interviewed to rate these 23 impact statements on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree; 2 = Disagree; 3 = Agree; 4 = Strongly Agree). The third component of the survey focuses on people's willingness to participate actively in potential tourist development programs at Doodhpathri and comprises nine items.

A descriptive statistical examination was performed to establish the indigenous population’s demographics and to compute the mean and standard deviation of all variables to reveal how the locals see and support potential tourism growth. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). Exploratory factor analysis was used to evaluate the component structure of the items that represent the inhabitants' perspective of tourist development. To determine the underlying constructs, the 23 items were factor-analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and the varimax rotation method (Dolnicar and Grun 2008, p. 19; Hair et al. 2010). The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) sample appropriateness test and Bartlett's test of sphericity were used to determine the data fitness. The factor loading matrix was analyzed, and items with a factor loading of 0.45 or less and cross-loading on two or more items were removed from further analysis (Hair et al. 2010). Additionally, the Eigenvalues obtained for each factor were employed to support their retention for additional study. For each item, Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was determined to assess the scale’s internal consistency. Using descriptive statistics, which included the mean scores of each variable, the basic properties of the data set were described (Heung et al. 2010, p 0.248) as depicted in Table 2. Factor extraction is done using the Eigenvalue criteria, which must be greater than 1. Factor analysis extracted five components with factor loadings greater than 0.45, accounting for 60.48 percent of the total variance, as shown in Table 3. Four items in the exploratory factor analysis demonstrated considerable cross-loading with several factors and were eliminated from further analysis (Hair et al. 2016). So, as shown in Table 3, 19 of the 23 measurement items were loaded onto the five factors.

5 Results

5.1 Sample profile of the respondents (344)

As shown in Table 1, most of the respondents comprised males (67.73%), whereas females made up (32.26%) of the whole sample. Most of the respondents (50.87%) were in the 18–35 age group; (35.17%) were in the 36–55 age group; and the rest (13.95%) were over 55. So far, the level of education is concerned, (8.13%) were postgraduates, (18.60%) were graduates, (46.22%) had up to secondary level education, and the rest (27.03%) had no formal education. Most of the respondents (60.17%) were in the income group of less than INR 5000 per month; (31.10%) of respondents were in the income group of INR 5000–20,000, and the rest (8.73%) had more than 20,000 per month. Thus, more than 92% of the respondents were in the low-income group.

Table 1 Demographic profile of respondents (N = 344).
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5.2 Descriptive statistics findings

The outcome of the descriptive analysis for the 19 items is provided in Table 2. The outcome of the mean findings shows that certain products have a more significant impact on the community than others, while others have both favorable and detrimental effects. The advantages of tourism, for example, boost job opportunities (2.59), Meeting tourist is a valuable experience (2.88), tourism enhances the image of the area (2.76), generation of waste (2.77), changes in traditional culture (2.64), tourism increases the standard of living (2.89), tourism causes water quality deterioration (2.53), tourism increases recreational facilities (2.57). The impacts of tourism on waste generation, changing traditional cultures, and water quality deterioration are causes for concern. The relatively high standard deviation values manifest the non-uniformity of perceptions in the local community. Since the area is an emerging destination, the fruits of tourism development have not trickled down to the whole area. For such destinations, the disagreement is evident because only a tiny portion of the local community currently benefits from tourism and sees it as a boon. However, a significant portion of the population is yet to be exposed to the impacts of tourism. Overall, the mean values show that tourism is seen as a growing industry because most people in the area are more interested in its positive effects.

Table 2 Descriptive analysis of Items.
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5.3 Results of factor analysis

To assess the dimensionality of 23 impact variables, the residents' attitudes toward tourism activities were assessed using principal component analysis (PCA). Upon applying the varimax rotation method, five factors were found to have eigenvalues greater than 1, explaining 60.48% of the overall variation. All components with an eigenvalue of > 1 were included. All components with a factor loading of more than 0.45 were considered for further testing. Hair et al. (2010) found that if the representative sample is higher than 150, a factor loading of 0.45 is sufficient. The results of Bartlett's sphericity test were noteworthy (Chi-square 2415.210, 0.0001). The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) sample adequacy score was 0.876, indicating that the data can be factored (Tabachnick and Fidell 1989, p. 614). The 19 variables' Cronbach alpha consistency is at 0.88, which is greater than 0.6, indicating that the data is eligible for further research (Kaiser 1974, p. 35). The higher the internal reliability of the variables in the scale, the closer the alpha coefficient is to 1.00 (Tabachnick and Fidell 1989).

Tourism’s "economic effects" on the indigenous community are the first aspect to consider. It explains 34.63% (Table 3) of the overall variance and has a mean of 2.39; SD = 1.252, which holds an overall positive view. The results indicate that the demand for labor (factor loading 0.702), increasing job opportunities (factor loading 0.696), and increasing household income (factor loading 0.657) has a favorable effect on the host community. Most residents viewed it as a developmental opportunity for their community to improve their livelihood; besides the favorable economic impacts, most residents (Mean = 2.61, SD = 1.28) showed a negative attitude toward increasing prices because of tourism (Factor loading 0.500).

Table 3 Factor analysis of tourism evaluation (Extraction method: PCA; Rotation method: varimax with Kaiser Normalization; Rotation convergence in 14 iterations).
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The second factor, reckoned as "social-cultural impacts" of tourism, explains 8.60% of the total variance (Table 3), with a mean of (2.29; SD 1.31) loaded with four variables showing the perceived social effects of tourism. Given the socio-cultural point of view, indicators ‘Tourism interrupts the quiet life of the area', with a mean score of 1.91, factor loading 0.761, does not believe that tourism has any effect on their quiet life and has a friendly perception toward the growth of tourism in their region. Besides, from the perspective of evaluating social problems and tourism, residents’ perception signified the least impact, with (mean = 1.87; factor loading 0.587) perceiving tourism as a boon to their area. Furthermore, residents were in favorable agreement toward tourism development as tourism improves the ‘image of the area', having mean = 2.76; SD = 1.30. Concerning the preservation of traditional culture and tourism impacts, the perception of residents was mainly inclined toward the changing cultural signifiers and community values vis-à-vis tourism activities with a mean score of 2.64; Factor loading 0.617.

The third factor, entitled "Environmental impacts," comprises three factors (destroying agricultural lands, water quality deterioration, and waste generation), registered 6.05 percent of the variation and had a (mean = 2.50; SD = 1.30). As per statistics, inhabitants in Doodhpathri witnessed significant adverse effects on the environment of tourism, particularly water quality degradation (mean 2.53; SD = 1.30) and garbage creation (mean 2.77; SD = 1.32). A portion of these negative impacts was due to the generation of solid waste, including water bottles, glass bottles, waste paper, and polyethylene bags throughout the peak season. The lack of dustbins at appropriate locations and waste management plans has led to the generation of waste products, impacting tourist satisfaction and water quality deterioration.

The fourth factor, named "Life quality effects," consists of five variables and accounts for 5.77% of the variance with a (mean = 2.53; SD = 1.32). This is a constructive aspect since the residents of Doodhpathri have realized the benefits of tourism in their livelihoods. The sub-indicators viz., Tourism improves their quality of life (mean 2.50; factor loading 0.628), Meeting tourists is a valuable experience (mean 2.88; factor loading 0.607), Standard of living is increased by tourism (mean 2.89; factor loading 0.598), and Public facilities improvement (mean 2.57; factor loading 0.515) indicate that the locals believe that the growth of tourism has led to improved infrastructure and services like roads, shop** facilities, telecommunications, and public services that have been significantly enhanced by tourism.

The fifth factor, labeled as "overcrowding impacts" of tourism with a 5.41% variance, having a mean score (mean = 1.82; SD = 1.16) concurs that there is no concern regarding the impacts of "traffic congestion’ during peak season (mean 2.03; Factor loading 0.796) and crowding (mean 1.61; Factor loading 0.777) on the local community. The residents were constructive regarding this factor and believed that tourism in Doodhpathri does not promote overcrowding issues. Tourism facilities should be increased to minimize the effects of the seasonality of visitation and explore the potential of tourism at Doodhpathri.

5.4 Residents' support for potential tourism development

The evaluation of the findings in Table 4 revealed that overall residents (mean 3.39, SD = 0.739) favor future tourism development in Doodhpathri. Most residents believed tourism should be actively developed (mean of 3.47) and were in favor of additional tourism facilities (mean of 3.42) so that more tourists would come to this destination. Moreover, residents perceive tourism as an essential part of their community (mean 3.40) and are in support of its long-term prosperity (mean 3.48).

Table 4 Support for future tourism development (N = 344).
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6 Discussions

The study results reveal that the indigenous community is well aware of the impact of tourism on their environment and significantly appreciates the positive ones. The study results illustrate that the income generated from tourism is made by local authorities and trickles down to the residents. The results of the economic impact of tourism were the same as in other studies concluding that the economic effects of tourism development are predominantly seen positively (Gössling 2001, pp. 436–437; Gursoy et al. 2010, p. 9; Samuelsson and Stage 2007, p. 51). Various studies, for instance, yielded comparable results (Hammad et al. 2017, section. discussion) in Abu Dhabi; Andereck et al. (2005, p. 1067) in the USA; Andereck and Nyaupane (2011, p. 257) in Arizona; Stylidis et al. (2014, p. 269) in Greece Latkov and Vogt (2012, p. 60) in Midwest State, USA; Rasoolimanesh et al. (2016, p. 11) in Malaysia, concluded that locals have a favorable view of the economic benefits of tourism. However, there were some negative impacts as perceived by residents, this may be attributed to the increasing land value, the cost of labor, and the exclusion of local control over the local resources, but overall, the locals at Doodhpathri agreed that tourism has a significant contribution by providing job opportunities, demand for labor, increasing household income, and the potential to propel the economy of the local community. This role of tourism development is perceived as the most significant benefit, as it offers the inhabitants job prospects and other economic benefits (Choi and Sirakaya 2005, p. 388). It is also argued that the positive argument in favor of the development of tourism in any region is related to the economic impact the local community is expected to achieve (Brankov et al. 2019, p. 136; Dyer et al. 2007, pp. 416–417). Regarding social and cultural impacts, the locals have a positive attitude toward tourism development. This may be due to the cultural fluxes of different consumption patterns, shifting occupational patterns, fashion, the commercialization of host community culture, diminishing community interconnection, and more (Boissevain 1979, p. 87; Choi and Sirakaya 2005, p. 388; Eraqi 2007, p. 195; Latip et al. 2018, section “discussion, Para. V”). This impact on changing traditional culture can be preserved by organizing cultural events and services and educating cultural consciousness, specifically among younger generations, which in turn will maintain the community’s unique traditional fabric. Overall, the analysis demonstrates that locals were highly apprehensive about tourism's impact on their culture. Similar results corroborate the findings of Brunt and Courtney (1999, p. 509), demonstrating that residents' ascribing tourism's social implications is significant. This might be due to the residents' sensitivity to undesirable socio-cultural costs compared to the predicted economic advantages of tourist flow. The residents show a negative perception of the environmental concerns, which appear to be more worrying given the contemporary emphasis on eco-tourism and sustainable tourism research methods.. These impacts were similar to the results of numerous studies (Aref et al. 2009, p. 133; Cohen 1978, p. 225; Bagri and Kala 2016, p. 31). Furthermore, as per KO and Stewart (2002), tourist growth has a detrimental influence on the natural environment and is intrinsically associated with changes in the quality of water and waste generation. The thrust of these works has been on the physical effects of tourism, like water quality deterioration, the production of waste, and other types of pollution. These problems associated with environmental impacts are also urged in the Doodhpathri Master Plan 2011–32. As a result, future tourism growth possibilities in Doodhpathri might face major obstacles if locals' attitudes are not handled appropriately. The locals at Doodhpathri believe that tourism has improved infrastructure and services like roads, shop** facilities, telecommunications, and public services. Residents also consider tourism an opportunity to meet people from diverse cultures. The results indicate that tourism offers the locals of Doodhpathri a feeling of community well-being and pleasure as their living standards have been significantly enriched due to tourism. Further, the results revealed how the growth of tourism at Doodhpathri has improved the living standards of the indigenous community as their standard of life has increased, public facilities such as roads, communication, and attractions, and meeting people of diverse cultures. According to the studies, the promotion of tourist products in any territory has a remarkable influence on the living standards of the local inhabitants (Andereck and Nyaupane 2011, p. 250). Because of their area’s booming tourism market, inhabitants could experience other festivals, hotels, and attractions. These results were consistent with similar works (Dyer et al. 2007, p. 418; Nunkoo and Ramkissoon 2010, p. 48). However, dissatisfaction with recreational facilities at Doodhpathri may be attributed to its initial stage of development, and addressing issues such as develo** more recreational facilities needs a multifaceted, long-term approach so that the resident's quality of life will be enhanced and will attract more and more tourists, kee** in consideration the sustainability of Doodhpathri. Tourism at Doodhpathri is viewed as an economic driver, and its positive effects outweigh its negative impacts. As stated by Gursoy and Rutherford (2004, p. 508), the host community favors tourism growth if they see tourism as a way to produce revenue and generate jobs. Further, the residents perceive that Doodhpathri Development Authority has promoted the destination efficiently and is in support of providing knowledge about the destination while develo** tourism strategies and plans, and accept that the future of Doodhpathri is sustainable. Generally speaking, the present study found that the local indigenous people perceived more positives and supported tourism growth in their area. According to the existing literature, residents' support for tourism development is determined by how they perceive the costs and benefits of it, which can result from a wide range of social, economic, and environmental factors (Rasooolimanesh et al. 2015, p. 338, Zuo et al. 2017, p. 52). The current study’s findings align with these findings and support SET. Social exchange theory makes assumptions about locals based on their experiences with the cost and benefits in the context of tourism. Positive impact perceptions were found to have a significant relationship with support for tourism due to the various benefits tourism brings to the community. Economic benefits are reported to be the most critical determinants of positive perceptions and support for future tourism development before the start of tourism growth; it is pivotal to ascertain the local inhabitants' attitudes and expectations regarding the expansion of tourism as well as the trade-off between the costs and advantages of such development. Butler’s (1980) “Tourism Area Life Cycle Model” explains the tourist destinations' life cycle in six stages namely, exploration, involvement, Development, consolidation, stagnation, and decline or rejuvenation. Butler's model predicts that the impacts of the tourism sector will alter over the various stages of tourism development. As a result, host perspectives will differ over the various development stages (Butler 1980, pp. 6–9). Residents' perceptions of the destination phase of the life cycle model confirm that Doodhpathri is in either the involvement stage of the destination life cycle since they indicated how excited visitors were to visit Doodhpathri. This research confirms that there were particular worries about tourism growth, which locals thought had both favorable and detrimental implications on their quality of life. Before beginning new tourism initiatives or modifying current destinations, developers and policymakers must know the dynamics of these effect elements and how the residents perceive them. Balancing the benefits and drawbacks of tourism development is critical, so it is necessary to gauge how locals perceive it regularly. Tourist planners must develop the optimum solutions for sustainable tourism growth to strengthen the aspects seen favorably. Additionally, they should work to minimize the effects of any issues or components that are viewed negatively. For policymakers, the present study has relevance as the indigenous community feels that tourism has led to negative environmental effects, and a specific environmental policy concerning the issue must be framed and implemented. Additionally, environmental education, waste management programs, resource conservation, etc. can improve locals' perceptions and trust in tourist growth. That will make it possible for tourism planners to comprehend the feelings of those who come into contact with tourists directly and give them essential information for develo** strategic tourism development policies. The present study broadens the attention on the indigenous community's perceptions of the impact of tourism development by reviewing their insight on where there is the transition of the economy from being primarily agrarian to an emerging tourist industry. As an emerging tourist destination located in an ecologically fragile area, the study’s findings will form the basis for planners to formulate policies in consultation with the local bodies, as they are the stakeholders whose local knowledge will be of immense value. Doodhpathri has the potential to be the gateway to a plethora of potential tourist destinations like Diskhal, Dander, Ashtar, Pal maidan, Bargah, and Tosai maidan in the middle Himalayas. Due to its virginity, Doodhpathri has a huge potential that, if properly exploited, can enhance the economic development of the region as well as the poverty reduction strategy in the region. It is imperative that its biotic potential is properly analyzed and the infrastructure development to suit the region’s long-term sustainability. Besides, the destination provides visitors with a unique experience of exotic climate, beautiful landscape with bountiful high altitude meadows surrounded by dense, lush green forests, gushing milky waters of Shaliganga and Sukhnag, opportunities for adventure tourism, angling, pony ride, local indigenous food, and many more things. To maintain the socio-ecological fabric of the destination, the development of this ecologically sensitive area should be along the lines of sustainable development.

This study has several limitations that must be addressed to provide further research opportunities. Because the study's data was limited to villages near/around the study area, the results could not be generalized to other villages. Further, it is possible if research could be conducted on individual demographic factors like age, gender, the status of occupation, education status, and duration of residence to establish whether there are any disparities or commonalities that may exist, resulting in a practical framework for a comprehensive and sustainable tourism approach.

7 Conclusions

Despite Doodhpathri being on the tourist map of the Kashmir Valley over the last decade and experiencing remarkable growth in tourism during recent years, no study has examined its potential in the regional tourism sector. This study focused on examining residents' opinions and experiences toward tourist development, which is still underexplored to its full potential. This study was conducted in response to concerns about potential tourism effects research in develo** tourist destinations. The present study aimed to learn more about locals’ perceptions regarding tourism development implications and their support for potential sustainable tourism development at Doodhpathri, providing valuable inputs and recommendations for establishing preliminary data on visitor impacts on the local inhabitants in the comprehensive development plans. From a broader viewpoint, the study’s outcomes reveal that the indigenous community perceives that tourism development has brought many more positive impacts than negative impacts to the destination. The research output indicates that tourism development at Doodhpathri boosted economic avenues in terms of employment generation and household income and strengthened socio-cultural benefits and living standards indicators. Regarding local opinions and attitudes regarding the growth of tourism, the findings of this study will act as a road map for tourism regulators in locations that are still in the early stages of the process. The study findings have revealed significant evidence of local support for future tourist promotion. Planners should also be conscious that how locals perceive these effects are determined by a variety of factors, including the destination's economic situation, cultural values, and level of development, so to attain residents' acceptance, policymakers and entrepreneurs must strike a careful balance between residents' priorities and commercial priorities judiciously. Furthermore, since the nature of the destination may fluctuate over time, people's evaluations of tourist externalities and acceptance of future tourism growth must be monitored regularly. That will allow the relevant authorities to work with the native community to develop comprehensive plans and policy decisions for the overall sustainability of the destination.