Different voices from community groups to support sustainable tourism development at Iranian World Heritage Sites: evidence from Bisotun

Support for sustainable tourism development (SSTD) at UNESCO World Heritage Sites varies significantly among community groups, with farmers, businesses, handicraft sellers, and local government employees exhibiting distinct perspectives. A study of Bisotun, Iran, found that while community attachment, involvement, and perceived benefits universally positively influence SSTD, the strength of these effects differs across groups. This suggests tailored strategies are needed to engage diverse stakeholders effectively. The research employed structural equation modeling on survey data from 489 respondents, applying social exchange and identity theories to analyze group-specific dynamics in a developing country context.

Olya, H. G. T., Alipour, H., & Gavilyan, Y. (2018). Different voices from community groups to support sustainable tourism development at Iranian World Heritage Sites: evidence from Bisotun. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 26(10), 1728–1748. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2018.1511718