Generation Z members' intentions to work in tourism in their World Heritage Site hometowns

Abstract

This study analyzes the impact of four dimensions on Generation Z’s intentions to work in the tourism industry in their hometown of Antequera (Malaga, Spain) within the specific tourism context of World Heritage Sites (WHSs). We estimate the influence of young residents’ perceptions toward tourism development through WHS recognition, community involvement, and place attachment on this variable, following the theory of planned behavior (TPB). A structural equation model based on variance by partial least squares, PLS-SEM, has been proposed. The results show that Generation Z's community involvement, place attachment, and positive perceptions toward tourism development directly influence their intentions to work in their WHS hometown; meanwhile, the negative perceptions toward tourism development have no direct impact on these intentions to work.