<p>Tourism development in developing countries often produces uneven economic, social, and environmental outcomes, making residents’ perceptions a critical determinant of sustainable tourism growth. This study examines how residents’ perceptions influence tourism development outcomes at the economic, community, and individual levels by comparing two distinct tourism models in Bangladesh: ecotourism and mass tourism. Focusing on Lawachara National Park and Tanguar Haor, the study integrates Social Exchange Theory, the Tourism-Led Growth Hypothesis, Community Attachment Theory, and Growth Machine Theory to hypothesize that residents’ support for tourism reflects a net evaluation of perceived benefits, costs, and tourism dependence. Primary survey data collected from local communities are analyzed using ordered probit, logit, and quantile regression models to capture both average effects and distributional heterogeneity. The results show that mass tourism generates short-term economic benefits linked to tourism-dependent livelihoods but remains vulnerable to seasonality and institutional limitations, whereas ecotourism settings are more strongly shaped by environmental concerns and place attachment. Governance quality and perceived equity in benefit distribution are also found to significantly influence residents’ support for tourism development. The findings highlight the need for differentiated, context-sensitive tourism policies that balance economic opportunities with ecological sustainability and community welfare, contributing comparative evidence from a developing-country context to the tourism development literature.</p>