Doctoral thesis of Philosophy: Understanding host community attitudes towards tourism and resident-tourist interaction: A socio-behavioural study of Melbourne’s urban-rural fringe

The present study contributed to the body of knowledge by providing a theoretical framework in modelling and predicting host residents’ interactive behaviour towards tourists, and a comprehensive understanding of the roles that psychologic, demographic and socio-graphic factors plays in the different directions of community attitudes towards tourism. It also provided tourism authorities with practical recommendations and implications in terms of tourism planning and a harmonious relationship between the host residents and tourists.