Examining the Socio-Cultural Impacts of Iranian Tourists from The Perspective of Residents: A Social Exchange Theory Approach

This study examines residents' perceptions of the socio-cultural impact of Iranian tourists in Van. Social Exchange Theory guided the conceptual framework of this research. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 444 respondents selected via convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and parametric tests were employed to analyse data. The findings revealed that residents’ socio-cultural perceptions of Iranian tourists vary to some extent according to socio-demographic characteristics. Significant differences were identified across gender, age, level of education, occupation, income level, language of communication, and purpose of communication in specific socio-cultural dimensions. In contrast, the length of residence did not reveal statistically significant differences. Overall, communication-related variables and education level emerged as stronger differentiating factors shaping residents’ socio-cultural perceptions. These findings lend empirical support to Social Exchange Theory, suggesting that residents evaluate tourism impacts based on perceived interaction benefits and socio-cultural exchanges. The study concludes with theoretical contributions, practical recommendations for destination stakeholders, and suggestions for future research.

Key Words: Resident, Iranian tourist, Destination, Socio-Cultural impact.