Investigating the local community's awareness of supporting the development of ecotourism case: Damavand city

indicators used, based on the indicators, the research model was established with 4 main variables.Due to the use of the structural equation model, first, the relationships between the variables were determined and explained.In the conceptual model, local community awareness affects economic poverty, cultural poverty, and ecotourism development.Cultural poverty and economic poverty are also effective in the development of ecotourism.In the partial least squares method using PLS, after examining the measurement models, the structural model of the research should be investigated.Several criteria have been used to check the structural model of the research.In determining the model fit, the first and most basic criterion is the significance coefficients Z or T-value.This criterion can be used to measure the relationship between the structures in the model (structural section) and to analyze the path between the variables of the model.When the t-statistic values are not in the range of 1.96 to -1.96, it means that the P-value is smaller than 0.05 So with a confidence level of 95 percent, the effect of one variable on another variable is significant and the hypothesis is confirmed.Otherwise, the hypothesis is rejected and the relationship between two variables is insignificant. ConclusionThe research results show that there is a significant relationship at the 99% level and a significance level of less than 0.001 for all indicators.Cultural poverty and economic poverty have a significant relationship with the development of ecotourism and the value of the test statistic is 4.269 and 10.421 respectively.Thus, this finding is similar to the research results (Bai et al., 2023); (Wishitemi et al., 2015b) based on cultural poverty and economic poverty on the development of ecotourism.Also, the awareness of the local community on cultural poverty and economic poverty has a significant relationship.The value of the test statistic is 17.272 and 6.370, respectively.This finding is consistent with the research results (Nheta et al., 2017); (Mnini & Ramoroka, 2020b); Manwa and Manwa, 2014 is consistent.The awareness of the local community on the development of ecotourism has a significant relationship with the test statistic value of 2.032, which is consistent with the results of Zamfar & Popisko, 2006, Blangi, 2011.The awareness of the local community on the development of ecotourism has a significant relationship with the mediating role of cultural poverty and the value of the test statistic is 4.195.Also, the research (Wilson & Garrod, 2003; Bunruamkaew & Murayam, 2011; Cole, 2006; Neth,2008), is based on the awareness of the local community and the development of ecotourism with a cultural role.The awareness of the local community on the development of ecotourism has a significant relationship with the mediating role of economic poverty and the test statistic value of 5.397.In the research of Mosedale, 2005, and Iorio & Wall, 2012; It is also stated and consistent.