A B S T R A C T
Tourism development in environmentally and culturally sensitive areas, such as the Lut Desert, while generating economic opportunities, has also brought about profound transformations in the social, cultural, and environmental dimensions of local communities. These changes, particularly in regions whose ecosystems have been inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, can significantly influence residents’ self-perception and identity. The present study aims to analyze the impact of tourism on the self-perception of local communities in the Lut Desert, based on three dimensions of social, cultural, and environmental identity. The study's statistical population consists of residents living in areas surrounding the Lut Desert in southeastern Iran. Using Cochran’s formula, a sample of 384 respondents was selected through accessible simple random sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire. For data analysis, convergent validity (AVE), composite reliability (CR), Cronbach’s alpha, the Fornell–Larcker criterion, factor loadings, and structural equation modeling were employed using SPSS and SmartPLS software. The results indicate that social interactions with tourists have strengthened residents’ sense of belonging and local pride, leading to a redefinition of their social identity. Exposure to external cultures, while enhancing awareness of indigenous traditions, has in some cases resulted in changes in cultural values and patterns. Furthermore, experiencing the unique desert environment has increased environmental awareness and strengthened residents’ emotional attachment to the natural landscape. Overall, the findings underscore the need for sustainable tourism management and the active participation of local communities in the planning process to preserve and enhance social, cultural, and environmental identity.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Tourism is widely recognized as one of the most dynamic and influential industries in the contemporary world, playing a critical role in promoting cultural exchange, stimulating economic development, and strengthening social relations among communities. Beyond its economic contributions, tourism serves as a transformative social force, reshaping social positions, redefining lifestyles, and influencing the cultural orientations of host societies. In destinations characterized by continuous host–guest interaction, processes of identity construction and residents’ self-perception often undergo profound changes. These transformations may yield divergent outcomes depending on cultural context and the level of local participation: while tourism can reinforce social cohesion, cultural pride, and a sense of belonging, it may also generate identity fragmentation, alienation, and the gradual erosion of social values and norms.
Within this analytical context, self-perception emerges as a key conceptual lens for understanding identity-related transformations. Self-perception is a psychological process by which individuals interpret and evaluate themselves based on their behaviors and interactions within social and environmental settings. This construct provides a valuable framework for examining how tourism-related experiences influence residents’ perceptions of themselves, their community, and their surrounding environment.
Existing literature highlights the multidimensional and often contradictory impacts of tourism on local communities. Outcomes vary according to cultural conditions, the nature of host–guest relations, and the degree of community involvement in tourism development. For example, Smith (1989) demonstrated that interactions between tourists and indigenous populations can revitalize cultural values and strengthen social cohesion. In contrast, Richards (1996) emphasized that tourism may, in certain contexts, contribute to cultural erosion and the weakening of identity structures. Cohen (1988) further underscored the central role of indigenous participation in tourism management, arguing that community involvement is a decisive factor in either preserving or undermining social and cultural identity. More recently, Al-Ezzawi and Carnicelli (2025) showed, in a postcolonial Algerian context, that domestic tourism can foster renewed cultural belonging and collective identity.
Related empirical studies reinforce the importance of identity-based perspectives in tourism research. Wang and Xu (2025) found that place identity and psychological variables such as self-esteem and self-efficacy significantly shape residents’ positive attitudes toward tourism. Similarly, research by Len et al. (2021) in China, Kao et al. (2021) on pro-environmental behavior among farmers, and Agyeiwaah and Zhao (2024) on participatory self-perception in food events collectively highlight the relevance of self-perception and the interrelated dimensions of social, cultural, and environmental identity in understanding tourism experiences. At the national level, studies by Badri, Rezvani, and Mardani (2018) and Gholami et al. (2019) have examined residents’ attitudes toward tourism; however, these works have largely emphasized social or economic impacts and have devoted limited attention to deeper analytical and perceptual processes.
Despite the growing volume of tourism impact studies, much of the existing literature remains descriptive, with insufficient attention to structural and identity-based analyses grounded in self-perception theory. In particular, the mechanisms through which tourism shapes individuals’ perceptions of the self in relation to social, cultural, and environmental identities have rarely been examined through integrated conceptual and structural models. This gap underscores the need for comprehensive research that simultaneously incorporates multiple identity dimensions to explain how tourism influences residents’ self-perception.
The present study addresses this gap by proposing an integrated analytical framework that combines social, cultural, and environmental identity dimensions to examine the mechanisms by which tourism shapes local communities' self-perception. To achieve this objective, careful consideration of spatial and cultural context is essential. Iran, characterized by substantial climatic and geomorphological diversity, possesses considerable potential for natural, historical, and cultural tourism development. In recent years, tourism policies in Iran have increasingly emphasized sustainable development in less-explored regions, aiming to balance economic benefits with social and environmental considerations.
Among Iran’s tourism-prone regions, the Lut Desert represents one of the country’s most distinctive natural and geomorphological landscapes. Spanning the provinces of Kerman, South Khorasan, and Sistan and Baluchestan, the Lut Desert encompasses a wide range of geological formations, including yardangs (kaluts), nebkhas, dunes, salt flats, and polygonal surfaces. Owing to its exceptional scientific and aesthetic value, the Lut Desert was inscribed in 2016 as Iran’s first natural property on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the official title “Lut Desert” (No. 1505).
Within this vast desert landscape, the Shahdad region in Kerman Province—particularly the areas surrounding the villages of Sirch, Chah Ali, Fahraj, Anduhjerd, and Goruk—serves as the primary gateway to the eastern kaluts and has experienced the highest levels of tourist concentration and host–guest interaction. Settlements located along major tourism corridors and adjacent to key natural attractions function not only as destinations but also as dynamic social spaces where identity, culture, and lifestyle are continually negotiated and transformed. Accordingly, the present study focuses on the Shahdad region to analyze these transformations through the lens of self-perception and the three interrelated identity dimensions.
Given Shahdad’s unique geomorphological characteristics and the recent expansion of tourism, it is imperative to examine tourism impacts beyond purely economic indicators, incorporating social, cultural, and environmental dimensions. While tourism development can generate employment opportunities, improve infrastructure, and stimulate local economies, it may also produce complex and sometimes adverse consequences for host communities. When tourism initiatives are implemented without informed and meaningful local participation, they may lead to feelings of alienation, social marginalization, and latent resistance among residents. Continuous exposure to tourists’ cultures can reshape local cultural patterns and lifestyles, sometimes revitalizing traditions, strengthening cultural identity, and enhancing environmental awareness, and at other times resulting in cultural commodification, consumerism, environmental degradation, reduced place attachment, and lifestyle change.
Grounded in self-perception theory (Bem, 1972), this study examines residents of the Shahdad region and surrounding villages located along the eastern kaluts of the Lut Desert. Self-perception theory offers a psychological framework for understanding how attitudes and identities are constructed and redefined through interaction with the social environment. To conduct a structural and in-depth analysis, the study integrates three complementary identity models as social identity theory to assess changes in belonging and social cohesion arising from host–guest interactions; cultural identity theory to analyze transformations in values, traditions, and cultural practices within tourism contexts; and environmental identity theory (Clayton, 2003) to examine residents’ environmental attachment and attitudes toward their surrounding desert landscape.
This integrated theoretical framework enables a multilayered analysis of tourism’s influence on self-perception by identifying the cognitive, social, and environmental mechanisms through which tourism experiences reshape individual and collective attitudes, values, and attachments. Employing a structural–analytical approach, the study systematically examines relationships among tourism development, host community participation, and changes in beliefs, attitudes, and social practices. Furthermore, it explores the dual nature of tourism impacts—both reinforcing and undermining—on social identity, cultural authenticity, and environmental attachment, while emphasizing the importance of active local participation in achieving sustainable tourism management.
Ultimately, by proposing a theoretically grounded and applied framework, this study seeks to contribute to sustainable tourism policy-making, promote responsible tourism models, and support the preservation of cultural and environmental heritage within local communities. Accordingly, the central research question guiding the study is: How does tourism influence the self-perception of local communities in the Shahdad region and its surrounding villages, and how can this influence be explained through the dimensions of social, cultural, and environmental identity?

Methodology
This applied, cross-sectional study employed a descriptive-analytical approach with a quantitative methodology. The research population included residents of Shahdad and surrounding villages. A total of 384 participants were selected using Cochran’s formula and simple random sampling. The primary data collection tool was a structured questionnaire based on 3 identity constructs as social, cultural, and environmental. Each construct comprised validated sub-components, measured via a 5-point Likert scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and SmartPLS. Cronbach's alpha, Composite Reliability (CR), Average Variance Extracted (AVE), and Fornell-Larcker tests were applied to assess measurement validity. The structural model was tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).


Results and discussion
The measurement model demonstrated strong internal reliability and validity across all constructs. Cronbach’s alpha ranged from 0.935 to 0.981, indicating high internal consistency. The AVE values exceeded the 0.50 threshold, confirming acceptable convergent validity.
Social Identity:
Social identity had a significant effect on self-perception (β=0.322). Factor loadings for social cohesion, group interaction, and intergroup distinction were all above 0.28. These results align with Tajfel & Turner’s (1979) theory that group belonging reinforces individual identity.
Cultural Identity:
Cultural identity had the strongest influence (β=0.375). Elements such as cultural awareness, tradition preservation, and intercultural exchange were significant predictors of positive self-perception. This finding confirms previous research by Hall (2014) and McKercher & Du Cros (2002), which emphasized the role of heritage tourism in fostering cultural pride and community engagement.
Environmental Identity:
Environmental identity also showed a positive relationship with self-perception (β=0.318). Factor analysis confirmed the significance of environmental awareness, emotional attachment to nature, and ecological responsibility. These results echo Cao et al. (2021) and Li et al. (2024), who observed that environmental engagement can shape personal and collective self-concept.
While the benefits of tourism are evident, the study also noted concerns such as cultural dilution, consumerism, and environmental degradation. Participants expressed fears of becoming culturally alienated or overwhelmed by tourist inflows, a concern also noted by Richards (1996) and Floričić (2025).

Conclusion
Tourism in Shahdad is not merely an economic phenomenon; it is deeply interwoven with the evolving identity of its residents. Social interactions with tourists foster group cohesion; cultural exposure rekindles heritage awareness, and immersion in natural landscapes strengthens environmental commitment. Tourism policies must prioritize community participation, intercultural education, and environmental protection to sustain these positive effects. The results advocate for a balanced, identity-sensitive tourism model that recognizes the intricate connections between place, people, and perception.


Funding
There is no funding support.

Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work.

Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.