Studying the Impact of Tourism Development on Social Tolerance and Its Dimensions in Mazandaran Province
Keywords:
Path analysis, Political behavior, Ideology, Identity, Social tolerance, Tourism developmentAbstract
The study aimed to examine the impact of tourism development on social tolerance and its identity, ideological, behavioral, and political dimensions among host communities in Mazandaran Province. This applied and cross-sectional research employed a documentary–survey approach. The statistical population comprised residents aged 20 and above, and a sample of 384 participants was selected using Cochran’s formula through random sampling. A researcher-made questionnaire measured four dimensions of social tolerance. Content validity was confirmed by experts, and reliability was verified with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.709. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, gamma correlation coefficients, one-way ANOVA, and path analysis in SPSS. Results revealed a significant and positive relationship between tourism development and social tolerance. The strongest effects were observed on identity tolerance (γ=0.634) and ideological tolerance (γ=0.632), while moderate effects were found on behavioral (γ=0.473) and political tolerance (γ=0.340). The overall correlation between tourism development and social tolerance was strong (γ=0.713). Path analysis indicated that tourism’s impact on social tolerance was largely indirect through the mediating roles of identity and ideological tolerance (total β=0.744). Tourism development significantly enhances social tolerance within host societies, mainly by fostering identity and ideological openness. Integrating tourism policies with cultural literacy and community education programs is recommended to promote sustainable coexistence and social capital.
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