WOMEN'S SENSE OF BELONGING: MODERATING ECONOMIC, SOCIOCULTURAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Despite the tremendous development in the literature on sustainable tourism, the focus remains especially on government regulation and international cooperation. As will be seen, the present study is rare in adopting a bottom-up approach that focuses on the perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs of the communities. Therefore, this study aims to explore the positive impacts of community-based tourism, including economic, sociocultural, and environmental factors, on sustainable tourism development. Furthermore, it investigates the moderating role of women's sense of belonging in such relationships. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was adopted to analyze the survey results from 183 Omani women. The participants were selected via convenience sampling, therefore facilitating efficient data gathering over the course of the investigation. Convenience sampling was approved given the exploratory nature of the study and the need to gain understanding from a particular demographic group - Omani women - who significantly participate in community and tourism-related activities in Oman. Data gathering ran from January 21 to the end of February 2024. The authors and research assistants distributed the questionnaires to local markets, cultural institutions, university students and community gatherings, among other places, in order to get a diverse sample of Omani women. The study findings illustrate that economic and environmental variables significantly influence sustainable tourism development within the community-based tourism framework; however, sociocultural aspects show a lesser association. Interestingly, women's sense of belonging functions as a crucial moderating factor, amplifying the positive outcomes of economic and environmental factors on tourism sustainability. The results of the study considerably progress the theoretical knowledge of community-based tourism (CBT) by defining the complex connections between economic, social, and environmental components as well as the moderating function of a feeling of belonging (PS). This research delivers important practical uses to policymakers and tourist planners as well as community leaders in Oman who aim to develop community-based tourism. Environmental stewardship holds significant importance because its positive moderation effects strengthen the connection between ENV and STD, according to study findings.