Examining Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Ecotourism and Sustainable Economic Development: Insights from the Border Regions of Ardabil Province

Seyed Mousavi, Mir Hamid; Madani, Javad; Nemati, Vali

Examining Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Ecotourism and Sustainable Economic Development: Insights from the Border Regions of Ardabil Province

Document Type : Extract article from research project

Authors

Mir Hamid Seyed Mousavi ¹ ^¶

Javad Madani ²

Vali Nemati ³

¹ MSc of Tourism, Department of Public Administration and Tourism, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration and Tourism, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

³ Assistant Professor of Department of Public Administration and Tourism, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

Abstract

Background and Aim: Ecotourism, as a sustainable approach to utilizing natural resources, plays a significant role in improving the livelihoods and economic resilience of local communities. In border regions, this approach can, in addition to creating employment opportunities, enhance cultural identity and social interactions. This study examined the impact of cultural–social dimensions of ecotourism on the sustainable economic development of border residents in Ardabil Province, Iran. The novelty of this research lies in its localized focus on border areas and in analyzing the effects of cultural–social dimensions on sustainable economic indicators, an issue that has received limited attention in previous studies.
Methodology: This applied research employed a descriptive–analytical method. The statistical population consisted of residents of the border areas of Ardabil Province, with a sample size of 384 individuals determined using Cochran’s formula and selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS through descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation, and multiple regression analysi.
Results and Findings: The results indicated that all cultural–social components had a positive and significant relationship with sustainable economic development at the bivariate level. However, in the multivariate model, environmental education and awareness and institutional trust had the strongest positive effects, whereas cultural attitudes and social capital showed significant negative effects. Local participation also had a positive and significant, but weaker, effect compared to the correlations.The findings highlight the importance of investing in environmental education, strengthening institutional trust, and enhancing local participation to promote sustainable economic development. Moreover, the need to reform cultural approaches and improve social capital to align with sustainability goals was emphasized. Overall, the results can serve as a strategic basis for developing ecotourism-oriented policies in the country’s border regions.

Keywords

Ecotourism

Sustainable Economic Development

Socio-Cultural Dimensions

Sustainability

Border Regions

Ardabil Province

Subjects

Rural Tourism

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