Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences of Development (Sociology), Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
2
mazandaran unPhD student in Development Sociology, Department of Development Social Sciences (Sociology), Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
10.22080/jtpd.2026.29425.4001
Abstract
The growing environmental challenges associated with tourism expansion in the natural areas of Mazandaran Province have made the study of tourists’ environmental behavior a significant sociological concern. Drawing on Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital, this study examines the relationship between cultural capital and the environmental behavior of domestic tourists. A survey method was employed, and data were collected through a researcher-developed questionnaire. The study population consisted of domestic tourists aged 15 years and older who visited Chalus County, Iran, in September 2024. Using convenience sampling, 200 respondents were selected. Cultural capital was measured across three dimensions: embodied, objectified, and institutionalized. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation test in SPSS.
The findings revealed that tourists’ environmental behavior was at a moderate level, while some environmentally harmful practices toward the natural environment remained evident. Significant positive relationships were found between all dimensions of cultural capital and environmental behavior. Among them, embodied cultural capital showed the strongest association, whereas objectified and institutionalized cultural capital demonstrated weaker but significant relationships. In addition, adherence to religious practices was positively associated with environmental behavior, although the relationship was relatively weak.
The results suggest that tourists’ environmental behavior is shaped by cultural dispositions, lifestyles, and cultural experiences. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence from the Iranian socio-cultural context and offers practical implications for tourism policymakers and cultural institutions seeking to promote environmentally responsible tourism.
Keywords: Cultural Capital; Environmental Behavior; Domestic Tourism; Cultural Lifestyle; Religious Practices; Bourdieu.
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