The Social and Cultural Impacts of Sustainable Tourism on Spatial Justice in Rural Areas: A Case Study of Torqabeh and Shandiz in Binalud County

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Professor, Department of Urban & Rural Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili,Ardabil,Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Urban & Rural Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili,Ardabil,Iran

3 PhD Student in Rural Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili,Ardabil,Iran

Abstract

1. Introduction
Justice has long held a central place in philosophical thought and religious teachings, and philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle have regarded it as the most important virtue alongside prudence, courage, and temperance. In recent decades, the concept of justice has expanded and been articulated in forms such as urban justice, environmental justice, and, in particular, spatial justice. Spatial justice refers to the equitable distribution of resources, services, and opportunities across geographic spaces and to the reduction of spatial inequalities resulting from unbalanced development—inequalities that extend beyond income to include areas such as population, employment, education, human capital, and access to public services. Today, this approach is employed as an analytical tool for understanding the roots of inequality and for achieving democracy and sustainable development.  Nevertheless, many rural areas of the country, despite their inherent capacities, have been marginalized and suffer from an inequitable distribution of resources and services. Field studies in Binaloud County (including Torqabeh and Shandiz) reveal clear spatial disparities, such as insufficient access to government services, low social welfare, unemployment, weak political and social participation, a lack of skills and cognitive capacities, neglect of social and environmental responsibility, and a decline in quality of life. While some lowland villages have achieved economic and social development, the mountainous and foothill villages have experienced uneven development and rank low on social and institutional indicators. These spatial disparities have led to wide-ranging social consequences, including migration, poverty, a decline in social vitality indices, reduced resilience, and even the emergence of psychological harm. In light of these conditions, the present study, drawing on the theoretical frameworks of spatial justice and sustainable tourism, seeks to examine the relationship between the social and cultural impacts of sustainable tourism and the realization of spatial justice in the rural areas of Binaloud County. It aims to analyze the extent to which the social and cultural components arising from sustainable tourism influence spatial justice.
 

Methodology

The statistical population of the study includes all villagers of Binalood County, with a total population of 69,640. Out of 54 villages, 19 were selected based on expert opinions and simple random sampling. The initial sample size was determined as 160 individuals using G*Power software, but to increase accuracy, it was raised to 200, and questionnaires were distributed in the selected villages. The study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive–analytical in terms of methodology. Data analysis was conducted at two levels: Descriptive level: This included mean, standard deviation, minimum, and maximum to examine the overall status of variables and demographic characteristics of the sample. Inferential level: This involved checking the normality of the data using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and path analysis through structural equation modeling in PLS3 software to examine the relationship between social and cultural effects of sustainable tourism and spatial justice. The reliability and validity of constructs were confirmed using composite reliability, Cronbach's alpha, and the Fornell–Larcker criteria. Data collection consisted of reviewing credible internal and external sources and a researcher-made questionnaire based on a Likert scale (0 to 100). The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were confirmed through a pilot test and expert review. Data analysis was performed using SPSS, SPLS3, and Excel software, and maps were prepared using ArcGIS.
                                                                   

Findings

The results of the path analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) indicate that the social and cultural dimensions have a significant impact on spatial justice. The path coefficients are 0.447 and 0.426, respectively, with t-values above 7 (well above the critical threshold of 1.96) and p-values equal to 0.000, indicating a very high significance at the 99% confidence level. This suggests that strengthening social capital and cultural values can contribute to improving spatial justice. Spatial justice also has a very strong and significant effect on various dimensions of justice. The highest path coefficient is observed in the relationship between spatial justice and distributive justice (β = 0.840), indicating that the fair distribution of resources is highly dependent on the realization of spatial justice. Spatial justice also has strong effects on epistemic justice (β = 0.819), procedural justice (β = 0.818), and intergenerational justice (β = 0.811). The t-values for all these paths exceed 28, reflecting the model’s strong explanatory power in elucidating causal relationships. Very low p-values (< 0.001) across all paths indicate that all tested relationships are statistically highly significant, and the null hypothesis of no relationship is rejected. These findings emphasize that spatial justice is not only an independent concept but also a key driver for achieving other dimensions of social justice. Therefore, policymakers and planners should pay particular attention to strengthening social and cultural infrastructures to promote spatial justice, as it provides the foundation for realizing intergenerational, distributive, procedural, and epistemic justice.
 

Discussion and Conclusion

The study found that the social and cultural dimensions of sustainable tourism have a direct and significant impact on achieving spatial justice in rural areas, with the social dimension—social capital, local participation, and social cohesion—playing a particularly prominent role. Spatial justice, as a mediating variable, is significantly linked to various dimensions of social justice, including distributive, procedural, epistemic, and intergenerational justice. Statistical indicators of the model (β > 0.8, t > 28, p < 0.001) confirm the framework’s validity and coherence.By focusing on rural areas and employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this study addresses gaps in previous research on the link between sustainable tourism and spatial justice and presents an innovative model.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Village and Space Sustainable Development
Volume 6, Issue 4 - Serial Number 24
December 2025
Pages 69-94

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  • Receive Date: 08 June 2025
  • Revise Date: 26 July 2025
  • Accept Date: 16 October 2025

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