Exploring the Influence of Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism on Small Business Creation and Developing the Local Communities' Economy: A Study of Activities, Infrastructure, and Demographic Factors in Sulaymaniyah Governorate – Kurdistan region of Iraq
Influence of Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism on Small Business Creation and Developing the Local Communities' Economy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63841/iue24501Keywords:
Eco-tourism Activities, Sustainable Tourism, Tourism Infrastructure, Small Businesses, Local Community EconomyAbstract
In Sulaymaniyah City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, this quantitative study was conducted in 2024 to examine the relationship between the establishment of small businesses and ecotourism. The total of the 92 respondents, who ranged in income and work experience, were between the ages of 18 and 45, with a few respondents being above 45. The majority of participants who travel for ecotourism, whether frequently or infrequently, primarily visit natural and cultural sites, according to the descriptive statistics. To confirm that the questionnaire items consistently reflected the same concept, a reliability test was conducted. The correlation analysis revealed a moderate to strong positive relationship between ecotourism activities and the development of small businesses. Economic factors and tourism infrastructure have a significant impact on this relationship, as indicated by regression and ANOVA results, which support the idea that these factors encourage small business growth. Additionally, the kinds of small businesses that are established are somewhat influenced by the demographics of visitors. The results show that there is a significant relationship between tourism infrastructure and the enhancement of the economic situation, which encourages local entrepreneurs and the sustainability of those businesses, leading to the optimization of socioeconomic advantages of ecotourism.
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