ENVIRONMENTAL SATISFACTION AS A MODERATOR IN THE HARNESSING OF COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Community-based tourism (CBT) has come up as a viable solution towards development of sustainable tourism. Against the conventional tourism models, CBT focuses on the active participation and empowerment of the local communities in the planning, management, and decision-making processes in tourism. Through prioritization of local ownership, cultural preservation and environmental conservation, the CBT seeks to achieve more equitable distribution of tourism benefits and minimizing negative impacts. This is more so applicable in developing areas where tourism can be used as a trigger in bringing about socio-economic development provided it is done in a responsible manner This study aims to investigate how communitybased tourism (CBT), with its three dimensions (economic, social, and environmental), affects long-term tourism growth and explores the moderating role of environmental satisfaction in the relationship between (CBT) factors and sustainable growth (SG). An online survey was conducted, involving 402 participants from the local community, representatives of the tourism sector, and visitors to the Dhofar tourism destination. A two-step quantitative approach was employed, utilizing structural equation modelling (SEM) using WarpPLS software. The findings demonstrated that the economic factor had a positive influence on sustainable growth, whereas the social factor exerted a negative influence, and the environmental factor exhibited no effect. Environmental satisfaction serves as a crucial moderator, amplifying the positive effects of social and environmental factors on tourism sustainability. CBT is a model of tourism that places local communities at the center of tourism management, development, and operation. This approach not only prioritizes environmental and cultural conservation but also enhances local livelihoods, making it a powerful tool for fostering sustainable tourism development. This study represents one of the limited investigations within the Sultanate of Oman in this context. The findings may assist the tourism industry in comprehending the potential advantages and challenges of (CBT) as well as how to employ it in their specific fields.