Local people will support tourism development in their society when they are expecting benefit tourism from tourism activities. Findings from this study suggest that the majority of residents in Chiang Rai, even for those who do not work in tourism, have benefit ted from tourism development and they have positive perceptions towards tourism impacts. Personal benefit tourism from tourism development would influence residents’ perception towards impacts from tourism development. In the case of Chiang Rai, residents’ support and dependency on tourism to bring future economic development was shown through the support for local tax charges. Nevertheless, it should be reiterated that over dependence on the tourism industry is risky to the region’s economies as there are hurricanes, storms, tsunami and diseases that could disturb a long term progress of the local economy.