It has been widely recognized by the existing academic literature that a tourism planning that is sensitive to resident’s perceptions, needs and attitudes towards tourism development is an integral component of sustainability (eg Choi & Sirakaya, 2006) and a necessary condition to obtain residents’ support for tourism development (Ap, 1992) and higher sense of belonging to the place (Del Chiappa & Atzeni, 2015). Further, it is needed to reach community empowerment, high level of individual participation (Mitchell & Reid, 2001) and brand ambassadorship behavior (eg Simpson & Siguaw, 2008)

That said, it could be argued that achieving an actual community integration and participation in tourism planning and development it is needed that residents have the opportunities, the abilities and the resources to carry it out; hence, no limitations should exist preventing residents to exert an active role in tourism development.