The effect of social capital on environmental behavior of tourists visiting Ilam city
Subject Areas : Urban EnvironmentPakzad Azadkhani 1 , Mohammad Javadi Rad Javadi Rad 2
1 - Associate Professor of Geography, Urban Planning and Architecture, Bakhtar Ilam Institute of Higher Education, Ilam, Iran. *(Corresponding Author)
2 - M. A., Department of tourism management and planning, Bakhtar Ilam Institute of Higher Education, Ilam, Iran.
Keywords: Social Capital, Environmental Behaviors, Tourists, Ilam City.,
Abstract :
Background and Objective: Concerns for nature conservation and the conservation of natural resources have also increased with increasing travel and people's interest in tourism and nature tours. The concern of all environmentalists is how to use natural resources properly and protect them for future generations. In this regard, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of social capital on environmental behavior.
Material and Methodology: This research has been done with a descriptive-correlation method. The statistical population of the study includes tourists entering Ilam city in 2018, of which 384 are selected using Cochran formula by simple random sampling method. The Nahapit and Guchal (1998) social capital standard questionnaire and Emamgholi (2011) environmental behaviors standard questionnaire are used to collect field data. Data are analyzed by SPSS software using correlation and regression tests.
Findings: The findings show that social capital has a significant relationship with the environmental behavior of tourists. Also, the components of social capital have a significant relationship with environmental behaviors. From among the components of social capital, the cognitive capital component, with a beta coefficient of 31%, has the greatest effect on explaining environmental behaviors. The results of the study of the relationship between social capital and environmental components also show a positive relationship between social capital and saving on gas, electricity and water consumption by tourists. However, there is no relationship between social capital and the use of standard products, environmental protection and the use of recyclables.
Discussion and Conclusion: conservation of the environment is a principal the education of which shall be concerned in the initial living years; So that, would be accepted by the local society and tourists as a social principal.
1. Varharami, V. and Hamedinasab, M. The impact of culture on economic growth and tourism. Quarterly Journal of Heritage and Tourism, 2017, 5: 139-166.
2. Eftekhari, A.R. Rural Development Management (2nd Ed.). Tehran: SAMT Publications, 2014.
3. Khamr, G.A., Esmailzadeh Kavaki, A., and Baratpour, A. Assessing the apatial distribution of social capital at urban level using Topsis technique. Geographical Studies of Dry Areas, 2011, 1(4): 95-110.
4. Yazdani, H. and Shams, A. The impact of social capital on environmental behavior of villagers in Marivan. Journal of Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, 2016, 4(4): 75-85.
5. Mahallati, S. Sociology of tourism and travel. Author: Rubber Lankvar, Tehran: Shahid Beheshti University, 2001.
6. Ziayi, M. and Torab Ahmadi, M. Understanding the tourism industry. Tehran: Social Science Publications, 2013.
7. Rahnama, M.T. Comprehensive studies of Ardabil province, 2002.
8. Kazemi, M. Tourism management. Tehran: SAMT publications, 2006.
9. Oladi Qadiklaee, J. An introduction to nature. Author: David Anthony Fenell, Mazandaran: University of Mazandaran, 2003.
10. Bhandari, R. B. Social capital in disaster risk management; a case study of social capital mobilization following the 1934 Kathmandu Valley earthquake in Nepal. Disaster Prevention and Management, 2014, 23(4), 314 –328.
11. Hosnavi, R. and Ramezan, M. Intellectual capital of the organization (1st Ed.). Tehran: Ati Negar Publications, 2012.
12. Riahi, M.E. How social capital affects citizens' physical and mental health. Political and Economic Quarterly, 2011, 286.
13. Tajbakhsh, K. Social capital, trust, democracy and development. Translated by Afshin Khakbaz and Hassan Pouyan, Tehran: Shiraze Publishing, 2007.
14. Cohen, D. & Prusak, l. In good company – how Social capital makes organization work, Harvard Business school press, Boston, Massachusetts, 2001.
15. Navabakhsh, M. and Faeghi, Sr. An introduction to social capital with an urban sociology approach (1st Ed.). Tehran: Culture and Civilization, 2014.
16. Hajar Gasht, K. Investigating the relationship between social capital and employee performance in mobile communications company. MSc in Public Administration, Human Resources Tendency, Islamic Azad University, Qazvin Branch, 2008.
17. Amin Bidokhti, A.A. and Sharifi, N. Investigating the relationship between tourism boom and social capital in coastal areas of the Caspian Sea. Journal of Tourism Management Studies, 2012, 7(21): 121-149.
18. Ahmadian, D. and Haghighatian, M. Sociological Analysis of the Role of Cultural Factors on the Urban Environmental Behaviors (Kermanshah Citizens). Urban Sociological Studies Quarterly, 2016, 6(18): 51-76.
19. Salehi, S. and Emamgholi, L. Experimental investigation of the relationship between environmental awareness and behaviors (study of urban and rural areas of Sanandaj). Iranian Journal of Social Issues, 2012, 3(1), 121-148.
20. Motaghi, A. and Hemmati Gooye, Z. Tourism and environment: investigating opportunities, concerns, and environmental behavior among tourists in Bushehr City. Journal of Tourism Planning and Development, 2012, 1(3): 155-168.
21. Bakhtiari, S., Yazdani, M., and Mohammadi, P. Investigation and analysis of natural gas consumption in household and commercial sectors. International Conference on Oil, Gas, Petrochemical and Power Plants, Non-Governmental Organizations and Centers, Vesta Research Educational Cooperative, 2012, 1: 1-11.
22. Papoli Yazdi, M.H. and Vosoughi, F. Organizing solid waste recycling industries in Mashhad: the necessity of establishing a recycling town. Geography and Development, 2014, 2(3): 147-166.
23. Mollakarami, Sh. And Khodadian, M. Detergents and the environment. EPA website, 2017.
24. Zare Chahuki, M.A. and Sanaiee, A. Payment for ecosystem services, an economic tool for the conservation of natural resources. Journal of Strategic Research in Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, 2018, 3(2): 123-134.
25. Najafi, F. 8 ways to conserve natural resources. Economic section of Iran Online site, 2015.
26. Patchen, M. Public attitudes and behavior about climate change. Purdue climate change research center outreach publication, 2006, 601.
27. Dolnicar, S. and Leisch, F. (2008). An investigation of tourists’ patterns of obligation to protect the environment. Journal of Travel Research, 2008, (46): 381-391.
28. Yoon, J. I.; Kayle, G.; Sutton, S. G. Climate change and environmentally responsible behavior on the Great Barrier Reef. Australia, 2010.
29. Park, D. B., Lee, K. W., Choi, H. S., and Yoon, Y. Factors influencing social capital in rural tourism communities in South Korea. Tourism Management, 2012, 33(6): 1511-1520.
30. Hwang, D. Influence of social capital on community-based action in tourism development: a study of social network analysis. Ph. D. Dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign city, Champaign County, Illinois, United States, 2012.
31. Molina, M. A.; Sainz, A. F. ; Olaizola, J. I. (2013). “Environmental knowledge and other variables affecting pro-environmental behaviour: comparison of university students from emerging and advanced countries”. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2013, (61): 130–138.
32. Oluyinka, O. Self-Monitoring and Responsible Environmental Behaviour: the Mediating Role of Attitude towards Littering. Frontiers in Psychological and Behavioral Science Jan, 2013, 2(1), 31-38.
33. Liu, J., Qu, H., Huang, D., Chen, G., Yue, X., Zhao, X., and Liang, Z. The role of social capital in encouraging residents' pro-environmental behaviors in community-based ecotourism. Tourism Management, 2014, 41, 190-201.
34. Axsen, J. ; Kurani, K. S. (2014). Social Influence and Proenvironmental Behavior: The Reflexive Layers of Influence Framework”. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design. 2014, 41(5): 847-862.
35. Cascante, D. , Harper, A and Sticks, G. (2015). International amenity migration: Examining environmental behaviors and influences of amenity migrants and local residents in a rural community. Journal of Rural Studies. 2015, (38): 10-11.
36. Larson, L., Stedman, R., Cooper, C. and Decker, D. (2015). Understanding the mul-tidimensional structure of pro-environmental behavior. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 2015, (43): 112-124.
37. Zhang, Lei and Gao, Jing. Exploring the effects of international tourism on China's economic growth, energy consumption and environmental pollution: Evidence from a regional panel analysis, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2016, (53): 225–234.
38. Khoshfar, G.R., Abdollahpour, M., Karimzadeh, S. Investigating the impact of second home tourism on social capital (case study: Liresar and Siyavarz villages in Tonekabon county). Tourism Planning and Development, 2012, 1(2): 131-152.
39. Salehi, S. and Emamgholi, L. The impact of social capital on environmental behaviors (case study: Kurdistan province). Sociology of Iran, 2012, 13(4), (Ministry of Science): 90-115.
40. Mohammadi Yeganeh, B., Cheragh, M., and Velayi, M. The role of religious tourism in rural development with emphasis on quality of life and social capital case study (Ghopchaq Village of Miandoab County). Geographical Sciences Applied Research, 2013, 13 (30).
41. Salehi, S., Salar, M., and Habibi, S. Environmental behavior of coastal tourists (case study: Noor city). Second National Conference on Tourism, Geography and Sustainable Environment, 2014.
42. Fathi, Z., Kanani, M.A., Chavoshian, H. Analysis of environmental behaviors of residents of Rasht with emphasis on life style. Journal of Cultural Sociology, 2015, 6(3): 91-109.
43. Aligholizadeh Firouzjayi, N., Ramadanzadeh Lasbouyi, M., Esmaeili, M. Measuring the environmental behavior of tourists in desert destinations (case study: rural areas of Khor and Biabanak county). Journal of Rural Research, 2015, 6(2): 253-274.
44. Ghazani, E., Bizhani, M., and Chizari, M. The role of social capital in the development of natural tourism from the viewpoint of villagers of Mazandaran province. Iranian Agricultural Extension and Education Sciences, 2016, 12(1): 35-69.
45. Seif, M.H., Rastegar, A. Talebi, S., Karimifard, T., and Tajouran, M. Presenting an adaptive causal model of factors affecting environmental protection behaviors (case study: Fars Province domestic and foreign tourists). Social studies of tourism, 2017, 5(10): 99-125.
46. Cheraghi, M., Mohammadi Yeganeh, B., and Saeedi, N. An analysis of the development of tourism in rural areas with emphasis on social capital (case study: Dastjerdeh village, Tarom county). Geography of Tourism Space, 2007, 6(24): 101-114.
47. Jafari, S., Najarzadeh, M., Jafari, N., and Rajabi, N. The structural relationship between perceived value and tourist satisfaction with environmentally responsible behavior: the mediating role of tourism participation. Journal of Tourism Management Studies, 2007, 12(37): 115-151.
48. Kabiri, A. and Karimzadeh, S. Sociological analysis of the relationship between social capital and environmental concerns. Journal of Applied Sociology (Isfahan University of Humanities Research Journal), 2017, 28(1): 35-65.
49. Technical consulting engineers. Master Plan of the City of Ilam. Department of Roads and Urban Development, 2013.
50. Population and Housing Census of Ilam Province. Statistical Center of Iran, 2018.
