journal of sustainable rural development

journal of sustainable rural development

The Role of Coastal and Marine Tourism in the Socio-Economic Sustainability of Rural Areas (Case Study: Coastal Areas of Chabahar in Southeastern Iran)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mahmood Irandagani 1
Hossein Mollashahi 2
Masoumeh Hafez Rezazadeh 3
1 Ph.D Student, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Zahedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Zahedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran.
3 Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Zahedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran.
10.22034/jsrd.2025.494354.1203
Abstract
Purpose: Coastal and marine tourism is one of the most important sectors of the tourism industry, significantly impacting sustainable development dimensions- particularly its social and economic dimensions- in port and coastal regions. Accordingly, this study aims to examine the role of coastal and marine tourism in the socio-economic sustainability of rural areas (Case Study: the coastal areas of Chabahar in southeastern Iran).
Methods: This applied research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach. The study population consists of residents of Chabahar County, with a sample size of 384 determined using Cochran's formula. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, employing regression analysis, t-tests, and Spearman’s correlation.
Results: The stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed a significant relationship *(P = 0.05)* between coastal and marine tourism and rural economic development across all indicators, indicating that coastal and marine tourism is a strong predictor of economic development. Additionally, the one-sample t-test results showed that all social indicators had a mean score above 3, reflecting the positive impact of coastal and marine tourism on the social development of rural areas in Chabahar. Finally, Spearman’s correlation analysis confirmed a significant relationship between social development indicators and coastal and marine tourism.
Conclusion: The overall results suggest that marine and coastal tourism, as one of the key sectors of the tourism industry in the study area, has substantial impacts on the economic and social sustainability of rural areas. It has provided numerous economic and social opportunities for local communities.
Keywords
Marine and Coastal Tourism
Socio-Economic Sustainability
Rural Areas
Chabahar Coastal Areas
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journal of sustainable rural development
Volume 9, Issue 2 - Serial Number 16
Autumn and Winter
Autumn 2025